2025 05-21 Board of Public Safety Meeting Minutes

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MAY 21, 2025 41 arson, the speaker's role is to help prevent such incidents from causing harm. The number of incidents has risen, but ongoing public education efforts aim to reduce them and protect citizens, property, and firefighters in the future. Pam Claeys asked who the new public information person (PIO) was at the Fire Department. Chief Buchanon stated that the new PIO and Digital Media Specialist was Melissa Stevens from WNDU. She is doing a phenomenal job, really expanding the South Bend Fire Department in social media as well as in the public’s perspective. She works really well with all the firefighters by getting them more involved. Firefighters don’t generally pat themselves on the back or mention what they do on a daily basis, but she is doing an excellent job putting their faces and their actions out there so they can be commended for the job that they do. 4. APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 05-2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPOINTING AN AGENT/CHIEF NEGOTIATOR TO REPRESENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE UPCOMING FIRE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATIONS Attorney Taylor advised that this resolution will begin on June 1st and there will be an initial meeting on Thursday of this week. This clarifies who the lead negotiator is for the city and that is Corporate Council or designee and they will be the lead negotiator for the Fire Department. Upon a motion by Darryl Heller, seconded by Pam Claeys, and followed by a roll call the Board approved Resolution No. 05-2025. A RESOLUTION NO. 05-2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPOINTING AN AGENT/CHIEF NEGOTIATOR TO REPRESENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE UPCOMING FIRE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATIONS WHEREAS, the Board of Public Safety is the administrator of the Fire Department and has the “exclusive control over all matters and property relating” to it and the authority to adopt the rules governing the Fire Department pursuant to Indiana Code §36-8-3-2; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Indiana Code § 36-8-3-3(d), the Common Council has until November 1, 2025, the exclusive authority to fix by ordinance the annual compensation for all members of the South Bend Fire Department; and WHEREAS, the 2024 Working Agreement between the City of South Bend, Indiana and the South Bend Firefighters Local 362 will expire on December 31, 2025; and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Safety desires to appoint a Chief Negotiator who would appoint an Advisory City Negotiating Team to represent the Board and to provide it updates during executive sessions called for the purpose of discussing strategy with regard to collective bargaining pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.l(b)(2)(A); and WHEREAS, the Advisory City Negotiating Team shall not be considered a “governing body” or “public agency” under Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-2; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend Administration and the Board of Public Safety believe that this Resolution is in the best interest of promoting positive and harmonious labor negotiations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Public Safety of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I. The Board of Public Safety of the City of South Bend, Indiana hereby appoints the Corporation Counsel for the City of South Bend, or her designee, as its Agent for the upcoming labor negotiations with the South Bend Firefighters Local 362. The Corporation