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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 27, 1976
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />Our concern stems from an awareness of the potential number of agencies which may make ap-
<br />plication to the administration and the position in which the administration will find itself
<br />if this appropriation is approved. To some degree this has already happened with the YWCA request
<br />for funds.
<br />This is not to say that these many needs are not genuine and worth consideration but that we
<br />are not sure the governmental funding sources can meet these additional needs. The priorities
<br />established to this point in time have in fact been in other areas of need within the community.
<br />And we seriously question whether these several organizations do in fact wish to become de-
<br />pendent on governmental funding. We can envision agencies which no longer meet needs which the
<br />community is willing to pay for. We believe the best test of the need for a service is whether
<br />the community is willing to support the cost.
<br />There is no question of our support for the work which Goodwill does, we regret that they
<br />have chosen this means of obtaining support. Thank you for your consideration of this statement.
<br />Very truly yours,
<br />s/ Gene Evans
<br />Executive Secretary
<br />Mr. Robert Swanson,_. 2037 Arrowhead, said that two years ago he applied to the Council for help in
<br />securing Healthwin as a rehabilitation center for the handicapped in northern Indiana, since the
<br />closest center is Chicago and Indiana will not pay for anyone to go to the Chicago center. He
<br />said he had talked with some one at Goodwill and they thought they were at a point where they coulc
<br />start a rehab center. He said he would like to know what they were going to teach. He said that
<br />$100,000 is a lot of money for the 90 people they employ. He indicated some one should investi-
<br />gate some of the wages at Goodwill, since he was told they were paying $2.30, which is government
<br />standard, and if they do not meet reevaluation they can cut this pay. He said the handicapped
<br />wants education and employment, but they do not get it from Goodwill.
<br />Mrs. Jane Swan, 2022 Swygart, said this was a dangerous precedent to set. She asked if these
<br />people would in fact be employees of the City. Mr. Mullen, City Controller, said the City was
<br />contracting with Goodwill and that in consideration, Goodwill would provide the service. Mrs.
<br />Swan asked if this would continue from here on in. Mr. Mullen said this was a one year contract.
<br />Mrs. Swan said it may be legal, but is it moral or ethical to do something you could not do ac-
<br />cording to revenue sharing funds.
<br />Dr. Lillian Stanton, 919 Oak Ridge, said she was all for helping the handicapped and wondered if
<br />any one has', °explored the idea of using CETA funds to do this.
<br />Mr. Larry Neff, 501 Blackford East, President of Goodwill, said he did not know how to answer all
<br />the questions and that he thought Mr. Mullen had stated things pretty well. He said they did not
<br />follow the guidelines of the state on the original ordinance, but they now are doing what the law
<br />permits. He explained the service Goodwill is providing to the Community through employment and
<br />rehabilitation of the handicapped and the use of the retail sotre. He said their budget for 1975
<br />is $700,000 and they raise from store sales, etc., 940, which leaves 6% they depend on from the
<br />community. Council Member Adams said that it was never popular to say no, and realizing the good
<br />benefits the community derives from Goodwill, she felt the Council should look to the commitments
<br />of the City. She made a motion that the Council delay decision on this matter until they have a
<br />decision from the Public Service Commission regarding the proposed increase, seconded by Council
<br />Member Kopczynski.
<br />Council Member Serge said that last year the Council made a. commitment to Goodwill and he thought
<br />they should follow through on their commitment.
<br />Council President Parent said he would like to speak against the motion to delay action on this
<br />request. He indicated there was a need for services, other than Goodwill, for the handicapped.
<br />He said he thought the Council on the whole had been responsive to the general--area of providing
<br />money for social services. He said whether or not this was going to start a trend where all kinds
<br />of agencies would request federal revenue sharing funds was a good question, but last year there
<br />were two commitments made by the City Council, one was to goodwill and the other to the YWCA. He
<br />said he felt the Council was well within the priorities of the City of South Bend and the federal
<br />government in terms of revenue sharing. He said he felt a commitment had been made to both agenci(
<br />and he urged Council to defeat the motion to delay action.
<br />Council Member Szymkowiak said that in examining his conscience he felt we do not appreciate what
<br />Goodwill does for the handicapped. He said if we had someone in our family that needed help it
<br />would be a different thing.
<br />Council Member Kopczynski said he did not think it was a question of whether Goodwill was doing a
<br />good job. He said the question was in the use of general tax revenue for a specific group. He
<br />said as someone suggested, perhaps they could use CETA money to handle this. He said it sounds
<br />like someone is trying to circumvent the Tax Board, and he did not feel it was fair to the com-
<br />munity. Council Member Adams said the taxpayers look to the Council to see that the City's bills
<br />are paid, and we must be in a position to pay our bills. Mr. Mullen, City Controller, indicated
<br />that the State Tax Board will have another crack at this ordinance.
<br />A vote was taken on Council Member Adams' motion and it was defeated by a roll call vote of seven
<br />nays (Council Members Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Dombrowski, Horvath and Parent) to two
<br />ayes (Council Members Adams and Kopczynski). Council Member Taylor made a motion that this ordi-
<br />nance be recommended favorably to the Council, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion
<br />carried with a roll call vote of seven ayes (Council Members Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor,
<br />Dombrowski, Horvath and Parent) and two nays (Council Members Kopczynski and Adams).
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