04-27-76 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 27, 1976 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $17,000 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Elroy Kelzenberg, Director of the Bureau of Employment and Training, made the presentation for the ordinance.- He said that last year a total of 637 sites were cleaned and cut at least once, and many were cut a second time. He said $15,000 in federal revenue sharing funds were appropriated for the effort. He said that a per lot cost of controlling weeds through the program is about $32 in equipment and supplies. This does not in- clude wages and fringe benefits for the youth, which is provided by CETA. He said the size of the program is contingent on the amount of funds made available by the City. He said that last summer it cost approximately $20,000 to control the 637 sites. He said it was the Mayor's decision to request a program size roughly equivalent to last summer. Council Member Kopczynski asked if they were hiring the proper amount of minorities. Mr. Kelzen- berg indicated they were, and that they were hiring the economically disadvantaged. He said ap- proximately 85% of the youths eligible were minorities. Council Member Kopczynski asked which group they were composed of. Mr. Kelzenberg said they were primarily black. He said of the eighty -five per cent minority, ninety -five per cent were black and five per cent were Spanish American. Council Member Kopczynski asked if any one knew the population throughout the City. Mr. Kelzenberg said in the 1970 census the black population was approximately fourteen per cent and the Spanish American was in the neighborhood of one to two per,,cent. Council Member Kopczynsl asked if they had set guidelines for hiring. Mr. Kelzenberg said they did and that he would mail one to Council Member Kopczynski. Council Member Dombrowski asked that one be mailed to all Counc Members. Council Member Adams asked if they had hired all the summer youth. Mr. Kelzenberg said they were going through the state employment service, and have gone to the high schools to en- courage the youths to go to the employment service. He said they had processed about 450 that were eligible. Council Member Adams asked how many they planned to hire. Mr. Kelzenberg said they had funds for 1,200. Council Member Adams said she would like the news media to have a copy of the guidelines in order that it could be printed in the paper, so more youths would see it, anc apply for the program. Mr. Kelzenberg said they were in the process of releasing something to the press. Council Member Horvath asked if the Board of Public Works was monitoring the weed control program. Mr. Kelzenberg said from a practical standpoint no, but from an organization standpoint yes. He said in the past the funds have always been through the Board of Public Works, however, since the employment is under the Human Resources Department, we felt the funds should be `handled through this department. He said they would continue to work hand and glove with Mr. Farrand. Council Member Horvath said he thought the Board of Public Works would have most of the informa- tion as to where the problems were, and he wondered if they were getting this from the Board. Mr. Kelzenberg said the lots they cut last year were on a register and they were assuming they would all need cutting again. He said that additional information on lots not on the list, would be added to the register. Council Member Serge said that the enviromental officers should be able to tell you what needs to be taken care of. Mr. Kelzenberg said that was a good point. Council Member Kopczynski asked if they had to use one hundred per cent CETA funds within the low income guidelines, or do they have discretionary funds that can be used for supervision, etc., and what is the percentage of discretionary spending that does not have to be within the low income guide- lines. Mr. Kelzenberg said it was only the administration cost and that has been twenty per cent. Council Member Serge made a motion that this ordinance be recommended favorably to they _Council, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried. There being no further business to come- before the Committee of the Whole, Council Member Taylor made a motion to rise and report to the Council, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried. ATTEST: ATTEST: City Clerk Chairman REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED Be it remembered that the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend re- convened in the Council Chambers at 9:00 p.m., Council President Parent presiding, and nine mem- bers present. Council Member Szymkowiak made a motion to recess, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The meeting recessed at 9:00 p.m. REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED Be it remembered that the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend re- convened in the Council Chambers at 9:10 p.m., Council President Parent presiding, and nine mem- bers present. Council President Parent said he had asked Council Member Adams to read the Council minutes. He said he thought it would be a good idea if all the Council Members read the minutes occasionally. REPORT FROM THE SUB - COMMITTEE ON MINUTES To the Common Council of the City of South Bend: Your sub - committee on the inspection and supervision of the minutes would respectuflly report that it has inspected the minutes of the April 12, 1976 meeting of the Council and found them correct. The sub - committee, therefore, recommends that the same be approved. Is Mary Christine Adams Is Roger 0. Parent