07-28-75 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 28 1975 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) call vote on Councilman Miller's motion to delete the increase in the Firefighter First Class position. The motion lost by a vote of five nays (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Taylor, Newburn and Parent) and four ayes (Councilmen Miller, Kopczynski, Horvath and Nemeth). There was a call for the question on the original motion to amend the ordinance made by Councilman Taylor. A roll call vote was again requested. The motion carried by a roll call vote of nine ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Nemeth, Newburn and Parent). Firefighter Tim Brassell of the Wage Committee wondered if the pension plan for the policemen would be increased and not that of the firefighters. He did not feel this should be so. Councilman Miller felt there was a difference because of the change in the date to December 31, 1975. He felt a legal interpretation was required. Council President Parent felt there was a difference of six months; however, the concept was the same. He stated that the attorney for the policemen had felt there would not be a conflict. Firefighter Brassell indicated that the police pension had increased $240 last year over the firefighters. Councilman Taylor stated that the Council had cut in half the disparity that existed. Firefighter Brassell stated that there was a surplus within the salary account in the Fire Department of approximately $40,000. He wondered why this surplus could not be used for increased salaries and clothing allowance. He talked about the transfers of funds which occur within the salary account during the year, and he wondered why a transfer could not be made for the $40,000 surplus in order that it could be used for salaries i 1976. He stated that he wondered where the city's priorities were at times. He talked about the possibility of collective bargaining in the future. Firefighter Randy Magdalinski, Chairman of th Wage Committee, thanked the Council for appropriating additional funds for the paramedics. He indicated that, prior to the amendment concerning the $300 for the policemen, there would have bee some officers who would not have received the $416 increase. He stated that now, at least they would receive no less than $300. He indicated that 23 firefighters would be eliminated from the pay raise for next year unless such a provision was included in the salary ordinance. Firefighter Don Luckett felt the three lowest ranked salaries should be increased the same amount as the other ranks. Mr. Evans indicated that there was a difference in the clothing allowance for policemen and firemen. He stated that the association hoped the allowance would be the same for both departments. Councilman Miller indicated that it was difficult to negotiate wages. He felt it wa understandable that each side would present positions which would favor one side. He felt this was a disadvantage to the Council because it had to look at the total picture. He also felt that the policemen and firefighters have conducted themselves in a professional manner throughout the negotiations, and he commended the officers for this. He stated that the Council's efforts showed that it wished to improve some of the inequities that existed. He indicated that the police and fire pensions were a "hang -up" and would continue to be. He stated that the city did not know how this pension would increase in future years and this presented a problem. Council President Parent felt that, in view of the financial condition of the city, the ordinance, as amended, was fair although not exactly what he would have proposed. Council President Parent made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably, as amended, to the Common Council, seconded by Councilman Taylor. Chairman Newburn requested a roll call vote The motion carried by a vote of nine ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Kopczynsk Horvath, Nemeth, Newburn and Parent). Councilman Taylor made a motion to recess, seconded by Council President Parent. The motion carried, and the Committee of the Whole recessed at 8:40 p.m. Reconvened at 9:00 p.m. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING MAXIMUM SALARIES AND WAGES OF APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE YEAR 1976. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the abc opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. James Roer sentation for the ordinance. He stated that the ordinance inch policemen and firefighters. He stated that what was recommender across - the -board of $500 or 24 � an hour for the hourly personn( last several months, there had been many items requested by the counteroffered. Only one of the issues had come to the Council; He referred to his letter dated July 10th which had been sent tc the entire negotiations. He stated that the union ratification the proposed ordinance had been filed in the Clerk's Office. HE change in the ratification in that, rather than the 244 an hour be made with $84 towards dependent hospitalization by the city. the Teamsters Local 364. which consisted of approximately 350 c: ve ordinance, proponents and er, City Attorney, made the pre - ded basically all employees except in the ordinance was an increase 1. He explained that, over the union and all the requests had bee that being the 25G per hour rate. the Council, in which he summariz had occurred on the evening that stated that there was a slight increase, a 20� an hour increase Mr. Michael Lawrence, representin tv emplovees, indicated that the committee had met with the Council and had hoped for a greater increase. The total package; however, was ratified on July 9th with the 20fi an hour increase and the $84 contribution by the city toward dependent hospitalization. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, questioned the salary of the Greenskeeper in the Park Department. He indicated that the salary had been raised from $10,000 to $13,000. Mr. James Seitz, Director of the Department of Public Parks, explained that a $3,000 increase had been proposed because of the qualifications and training of the greenskeepers. He talked about the amount of money put into the city's golf courses and the need to maintain the courses in the best way possible. He felt sure the revenue from the gold courses would be increased. He indicated that the average greenskeeper salary ranged from $17,000 to $20,000. Mr. Evans wondered about the $618 increase for the Director of the Newman Center, and Mr. Seitz explained that the department was trying to equalize the salaries of the directors for the centers. Mr. Evans indicated that there was a large increase made in the position of Director of the Communications Bureau, and also the addition of three new positions. He questioned this, and Mr. Michael Carrington, Public Safety Director, stated that the department was in desperate need of additional personnel and an increased salary for the director because of the qualifications and responsibilities. He indicated that the department was trying to make that position more in line with comparable positions. He indicated that, with the three additional positions, a wage differential would be realized. Councilman Serge wondered if the $3,000 raise for the greenskeeper would keep the men in South Be and Mr. Seitz indicated that he could not guarantee that; however, he felt the increases would definitely help the city keep the professional greenskeepers it presently had. Councilman