02-10-75 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 1975 REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) selection of the Fair Campaign Practices Commission. Councilman Taylor made a motion to select th County Election Board to serve as the Fair Campaign Practices Commission, seconded by Councilman Serge. Councilman Nemeth again repeated that he felt there would be some interested citizens who would like to serve on the commission. He felt that, just because no one had responded to Council President Parent's question, it did not mean that the citizens were not interested. He felt there were many people outside of the audience who would be willing to serve. Council President Parent felt politicians were very interested persons. He stated that politics managed the community, and he commended those involved in politics. He felt it was unfair to say citizens were more involved than politicians. Councilman Nemeth indicated that he had not said that; he only wished the citizens to be given a chance to serve.on the commission. There was a call for the question, and Council President Parent ruled that the motion carried. There was a brief discussion among Counci members, at which time Councilman Nemeth requested a roll call vote on the motion. Council President Parent questioned the amount of time that had elapsed since the voice vote and the request for a roll call vote. Councilman Newburn stated that he felt that discretion was up to the chair. Council President Parent asked the Clerk for the roll call, and the motion was defeate by a roll call vote of three ayes (Councilmen Serge, Taylor and Parent) and five nays (Councilmen Szymkowiak, Miller, Kopczynski, Nemeth and Newburn) with Councilman Horvath absent. Council President Parent indicated that he felt the selection should be taken care of within the next few weeks. He asked that persons interested in serving on the commission notify the Council. Council Nemeth indicated that the Mayor was designated to make the appointments and the Council was to approve those appointments. Council President Parent disagreed, indicating that he felt the appointments were to be dual appointments. Councilman Taylor asked the Council for support of Senate Bill 182 being sponsored by State Senators Kovach and Lundquist concerning traffic regulations on school property. The purpose of the law would be to require law enforcement officers to enforce traffic regulations adopted by the governing body of a school corporation. He referred to the incident last year at Jackson High School concerning jurisdiction of enforcement. He indicated that he would be sending a telegram supporting the measure and he asked for the Council's support of the bill. There was discussion on whether or not a motion to that effect would be in order, and Council President Parent declared that a motion was not necessary. It was the concensus of the Council that its support of the measure be given. Councilman Taylor stated that he would send the telegram in the morning. Councilman Serge talked about the problems of minors committing crimes and the fact that the persons could not be identified by the news media. Mr. James Roemer, City Attorney, indicated that state law prohibited the publication of minors' names if a crime was committed in an effort to try and protect the child. Councilman Serge wondered if parents might give stricter attention to the matter if their child's name was published and the child was identified. He felt this wou make them more responsible for their children. Mr. Marchmont Kovas, South Bend Tribune reporter, indicated that state law does not prohibit using the child's name. He stated that, if the police officers would not give the names, the paper could not print them. Councilman Kopczynski directed the City Clerk to write a letter to the City Attorney requesting a report on the number of city code violations which the City Attorney's Office prosecuted in 1972, 1973 and 1974, and the amount of fines and costs assessed against the violators, and the problems experienced, if any, in the enforcement of the city code. He also asked for a recommendation from the City Attorney to correct the shortcomings concerning enforcement of the code. He indicated that he was referring to the trash ordinance, parking on tree lawn areas, etc. Councilman Nemeth thanked Council President Parent for responding to his request that the Council look into various city departments in an effort to cut budgets concerning the city's deficit. Councilman Kopczynski asked Council President Parent to revive the vehicle committee in order to start the work on the city car fleet. Council President Parent indicated that he had thought this was incorporated already in the Administration and Finance Committee of which Councilman Kopczynsk was chairman. Councilman Newburn asked that his proposals concerning a merit plan for the Police and Fire Departments be brought out of committee. He stated that his proposals had been referred to the Public Safety Committee in 1973. Council President Parent indicated that the Public Safety Committee would be considering the proposals. Councilman Miller made a motion to have public hearing on Councilman Newburn's proposals on February 24, 1975, seconded by Councilman Newburn. Council President Parent felt the committee should consider the issue before a hearing by the Council. He felt a public hearing on the issue at this time would be premature. Councilman Taylo: agreed, stating that a committee meeting would be held on February 11, 1975, at 7:30 p.m., and consideration would be given the proposals. Councilman Nemeth indicated that most of the promotio: made in the past were made on political activity. He felt strongly against that, and he hoped the Council agreed with him. He felt politics should be taken out of the Police Department. Councilman Taylor made a motion to adjourn. There was no second to that motion. Council President Parent indicated that the Hatch Act was unduly restrictive, in his opinion, and he hoped the Council would not deny city employees from participating in politics. Councilman Kopczynski felt a merit system should be included for the Fire Department as well as the Police Department. Councilman Taylor felt considerable discussion should be had on the issue, and he supported public discussion of the matter. He stated that considerable time had been spent on preparing a merit plan by the administration and still no such plan existed. He felt it was time for the Council to take care of the matter. He felt it would be advisable to have state legislation on the subject. He mentioned the plan that had been proposed by the administration, saying that the Mayor had blamed the police for its defeat, and the police had blamed the Mayor. He was hopeful that everyone's ideas could be discussed and a logical step -by -step procedure followed. He felt the Council would not be ready, at this time, to intelligently discuss Councilman Newburn's proposals. Council President Parent asked for a motion to close debate. Councilman Taylor made such a motion The motion lost due to lack of a second. Councilman Newburn felt a contradictory statement was being made. He wanted his proposals to be given consideration. He hoped an incentive could be created within the Police and Fire Departments. Councilman Taylor stated that the proposals shoul come out of commitee when the Council was ready to take action. Councilman Kopczynski wondered if the press was invited to attend the Public Safety Committee's meeting, and Councilman Taylor indicated that all news media had been invited. He wanted the matter to be made public. Councilm Szymkowiak wanted to see Councilman Newburn's proposals come out of committee. Council President Parent indicated that Councilman Newburn's proposals would be given consideration before final Ls C 1 1