02-09-81 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 9, 1981 REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED (CONTINUED) /s/ Beverly D. Crone Member of the Common Council /s/ Robert G. Taylor Member of the Common Council /s/ Beverlie J. Beck Member of the Common Council /s/ /Richard C. Dombrowski Member of the Common Council /s/ Joseph T. Serge Member of the Common Council A public hearing was held on the resolution at this time. Council President McGann indicated this resolution will set the guidelines the Council will use this year in discussing wages with the Police and Fire Department. He made a motion to amend the resolution in Section 3 by changing the day and date to Tuesday, April 28, seconded by Council Member Taylor. The motion carried. Council President McGann indicated nego- tiations will start March 2, first reading will be April 13, and public hearing and second reading will be April 28. He indicated this will narrow the scope of wage dis- cussions with the Council. Joseph Kernan, City Controller, read the following: TO: City Council Members City Council Attorney From: Joseph Kernan, City Controller Date: February 9, 1981 The resolution establishing guidelines for the salary and fringe benefit negotiations with the FOP and Firefighters will weaken the City's (both Administration and Council) position in the bargaining process. First, an elementary principle of labor negotiations is that each side speak with one voice on all money related issues such as salary and fringe benefits. The Council resolution would separate not only the fringe benefits from the salaries, but also splits the bargaining team in two components - City administration and City Council. Although Indiana law may allow the separation of the issues and the negotiation teams, it would be a giant step backward for us to detract from the South Bend tradition of the City Council and City administration dealing with the salaries and fringe benefits with one voice. Second, although it would be nice to finalize the negotiation process early in the year, the financial information which•we need when negotiating salaries and fringes will not be available to coincide with the timetable outlined in the resolution. While it is already very difficult to make budget projections with a June or July timetable, our fiscal visibility into 1982 will be even more limited with a March and April schedule The bargaining process with the different City employee units will require the utmost professionalism on the part of all parties involved. I feel that this resolution is not in line with the well established principles of labor negotiations. Professional and effective negotiations require that we speak with one voice on all money related matters. The resolution which was filed without any prior discussions with me or anyone in the City administration is not the way to begin what will be a long and difficult process. But I hope that at a minimum you delay final action on the resolution to allow me the time to meet with the proper City Council Committee. Council President•McGann indicated that fringe benefits have always been negotiated with the Board of Safety. Mike Swanson, F.O.P.,. wage negotiator, indicated their main objet-'M-6h was the time limit -put on the p.rocoss. Council-Mem oorde indicated that the Board of Public Saf- ety`has yet to -act on the benefits recommended- by the Council"- last year. Council Member Crone indicated that six weeks was time enough to settle the agreement. Council Member Beck made a motion to adopt this resolution, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of nine ayes. RESOLUTION NO. 858 -81 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND AUTHORIZING THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS TO NEGOTIATE THE SALE OF A CITY -OWNED LOT LOCATED AT 1212 S. FRANKLIN STREET. WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works of the City of South Bend, pursuant to the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend, Chapter 14.5, has offered for sale the fol- lowing described property. North 1/2 of Lot Numbered 19 as-shown on the Recorded Plat of Samuel G. Stull's Second Addition to the City of South Bend, also known as Samuel C. Stull's "South Park" Addition, more commonly known as 1212 S. Franklin Street. at an offering price of $879.00; and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works of the City of South Bend has now received an offer to purchase the property at 1212 South Franklin for a price of $500.00; and