05-14-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 14, 2012 Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that he would like to have an update from Code Enforcement and the Park Department on uncut grass. Councilmember Davis also stated that TRANSPO is looking to adjust the bus route to meet the needs of the residents of the Prairie Apartment Complex. NEW BUSINESS There was no New Business to come before the Council at this time. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR COMMENTS REGARDING THE DEMOTION OF DARRYL BOKYINS AND THE FIRING OF COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR KAREN DEPAEPE Jesse Davis, 1333 E. Calvert, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is puzzled about the facts regarding the demotion of Darryl Boykins and the firing of Karen Depaepe. He stated that the City Administration needs transparency and the citizens have the right to know what was on the tapes. Samuel Brown, 222 E. Navarre, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is representing a concerned citizens group and they want to know what was on the tapes. COMMENTS REGARDING YOUTH VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND Rhonda Neil, 2404 Frederickson, South Bend, Indiana, stated that there needs to be trust and communication in government. She stated that she is raising her young grandchild and is scared for his safety. She stated that she has joined various neighborhood watch programs. She stated that she has contact the police department and left various messages and no one has returned her calls. She stated that she has been asking the same questions for over two (2) years. COMMENTS FROM CARLA FLOREK REGARDING A COMPLAINT ON CODE INSPECTOR BRIAN HAYGOOD Carla Coar, 1402 Lawndale, Niles, Michigan, advised that she is a certified arborist which means she owns and operates a tree service and her credentials don’t mean anything until it matters. She stated that she is here for two parts, but first she wanted to apologize because her issue seems so entirely petty compared to all the big issues that the Council is faced with and is truly sorry for bring this issue tonight. On May 1, 2012, they were removing a tree in the historical district in South Bend and have been licensed to work in the City for nineteen (19) years. She stated that they run the most premier tree service here. She stated that she totally cares about everything about her company and the integrity with which it is run. She stated that Chief Inspector Brian Haygood from the City of South Bend’s Department of Code Enforcement visited the site and was acting in a very unprofessional and non-business like manner, very aggressive and uncalled for. She stated that she cannot explain why it happened. Her crew of five (5) were giving Mr. Haygood all the answers that he required. His attitude continued to get worse and worse as the meeting went on. He stated that they were not licensed; however, they were and ticketed her company for $50.00 for not having a small arborist plate on every single vehicle at the site. She stated that is the true reason that she is here tonight. The ordinance for arborists is 4-19 she stated that if you go to the Business Licensing Department, and ask for Michelle Adams and request from her the application and the ordinance nowhere on there does it say that you have to have a plate affixed to every single vehicle prominently if you are going to operate in the City limits. She stated that she has been licensed for nineteen (19) years and she didn’t know it and certainly wants to follow the laws. She stated that she has contested the ticket, but she would like to see a change in the ordinance for current and future arborists so that they have the laws in front of them, simply put, so that they can see and follow the law. She stated that she has information to file with City Clerk John Voorde. She stated that she is placing on record a copy of the ordinance marked so that it can be clearly seen where the errors are and a copy of the letter of complaint for Mr. Haygood’s behavior. 23