|
REGULAR MEETING JULY-20L 1975
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />questioning the rai
<br />persons' parts. He
<br />better services. H
<br />ment were resolved.
<br />Parent talked about
<br />amount of services
<br />cities the size of
<br />se of the councilmen's salary). He felt there was a lack of cooperation on some
<br />could not see any correlation in the statement made concerning more salary, the
<br />e felt there should be no increase at all until the problems within the depart -
<br />He recommended that the ordinance not be voted upon. Council President
<br />the scheme of payment that would be required if the officers were paid on the
<br />performed. He indicated that he felt the base pay was comparable to other
<br />South Bend.
<br />Councilman Horvath made a motion to recommend the ordinance to the Council with no recommendation
<br />until a recess was taken, seconded by Councilman Nemeth. Council President Parent felt those
<br />councilmen who had voted to approve the $300 increase should not support Councilman Horvath's
<br />motion. Chairman Newburn requested a roll call vote on the motion. It appeared the motion had
<br />carried; however, Councilman Serge indicated that he wished to change his vote to nay because he
<br />had misunderstood the motion. The motion was declared lost by a vote of five nays (Councilmen
<br />Serge, Szymkowiak, Taylor, Newburn and Parent) and four. ayes (Councilmen Miller, Kopczynski,
<br />Horvath and Nemeth). Councilman Taylor then made a motion that the ordinance be recommended
<br />favorably, as amended, to the Common Council, seconded by Council President Parent. Chairman
<br />Newburn requested a roll call vote. The motion carried by a vote of eight ayes (Councilmen Serge,
<br />Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Horvath, Nemeth, Newburn and Parent) with one nay (Councilman
<br />Kopczynski).
<br />ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF
<br />FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1976.
<br />This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and
<br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Council President Parent made the presentation
<br />for the ordinance. He indicated that the proposal represented a $400 increase across the board
<br />except for the first three ranks. In addition, the Council had recommended that $84 be paid in
<br />dependent hospitalization, and an additional $25 be added to the clothing allowance. He indicated
<br />that a provision was also included in the ordinance to provide an additional $600 per year for the
<br />paramedics, and an additional holiday was given. He felt that, with the present frozen tax rate
<br />and the high cost of the pension plan, the proposal was reasonable. In addition, he indicated
<br />that an amendment would be made to increase the amount of the raise from $400 to $416 and also
<br />increase the salary of the Firefighter First Class from $9,480 to $9,600. He indicated that
<br />tillermen would also be included to receive additional pay like the regularly assigned drivers of
<br />fire trucks and other heavy equipment.
<br />Councilman Taylor made a motion to amend the ordinance as follows:
<br />In Section 1, amend to increase the salaries of Battalion Chief, Captain, Electrician,
<br />Lieutenant and Engineer by $16. Amend to increase the salary of Firefighter First
<br />Class to $9,600.
<br />In Section 2, include tillermen with assigned drivers of fire trucks and other heavy
<br />equipment to receive an additional $225 per year.
<br />Add a new Section 4 as follows: The Common Council recommends that the contribution
<br />to dependent hospitalization be increased by $84.00 per year and that the Firefighter's
<br />clothing allowance be advanced from $250.00 to $275.00 per year.
<br />Section 4 becomes Section 5.
<br />Council President Parent seconded the motion to amend. Councilman Kopczynski stated that it was
<br />his understanding that a promotion in rank was to be given a man as a reward for acquiring skills
<br />on the department. He indicated that each year, additional pay was given for various skills. He
<br />wondered about this. Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Nagy indicated that, when the incentive pay was
<br />started, the engineer had extra responsibilities and was compensated for this. He indicated that,
<br />for about five or six years, the tillermen had been overlooked. He indicated that the paramedics
<br />should also be included for extra pay for duties performed. Councilman Kopczynski wondered why
<br />these skills were not used to determine promotion in rank. He felt that, if certain skills were
<br />needed, promotions should be given to those men. He felt the firefighter with more skills should
<br />be rewarded accordingly by a promotion in rank. He felt this should be spelled out as to what
<br />skills were required for the various ranks. Assistant Chief Nagy indicated that this information
<br />was available and he stated that he would furnish it to Councilman Kopczynski.
<br />Councilman Miller made a motion to amend the amendment by deleting the increase of the Firefighter
<br />First Class to $9,600, seconded by Councilman Nemeth. Councilman Taylor stated that he felt both
<br />pensions should be the same for policemen and firefighters, and the amount of the pension was
<br />based on the salary of the Patrolman First Class and Firefighter First Class. He indicated that
<br />the Council acted as an administrative body by state law in negotiating salaries. He felt that
<br />retired policemen and firefighters should receive the same amount of money. He indicated that
<br />his amendment would cut in half the difference that existed, and be a start to end the disparity.
<br />Councilman Kopczynski wondered how many regularly assigned drivers of fire trucks were needed.
<br />Assistant Chief Nagy indicated that the department was requesting money for an additional six more
<br />people for tillermen. Councilman Kopczynski wondered about the scuba divers, and Assistant Chief
<br />Nagy indicated that there were 10. Councilman Kopczynski wondered how many shifts these men worke
<br />on. Assistant Chief Nagy indicated that the men are split so that three to four of them work on
<br />each shift. Councilman Nemeth supported the motion made by Councilman Miller because the state
<br />legislative determined the pension plan and the cities were forced to come up with the money to
<br />implement the plan. He stated that the state has also seen fit to freeze the city's tax rate. He
<br />felt the salary should likewise be frozen until the law was amended to provide the city with a
<br />means to implement the pension plan. He felt the base should be kept down so that the pension
<br />would not be increased with a frozen tax rate. He stated that, in seven years, the pension has
<br />increased approximately 1500. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning
<br />Association, referred to a problem which had created the disparity in pay between the policemen an
<br />firemen some time ago. He commended Councilman Taylor on his motion to try and resolve that
<br />disparity. Councilman Miller indicated that the firefighters themselves helped to increase the
<br />disparity between departments because they wished to have an across - the -board increase last year
<br />rather than the program which was approved for the policemen. Chairman Newburn requested a roll
<br />
|