07-19-76 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 19 1976 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED These excesses occur primarily in the top positions in various departments. We recognize the need for adequate salaries to attract qualified people and retain them, and the contention that these increases are necessary to bring the level of compensation up to allow the city to compete in the manpower market may be valid. But we believe an increase which has less immediate impact is needed. It is our recommendation that salary increases be limited to a maximum of $1500 this year. If increases are needed to raise city salaries to levels comparable to industry and other cities, our recommendation will allow for this to occur over a span of 2 to 3 years. We would further recommend that the proposed salaries for Director, Controller, Engineer, and Park Superintendent in the Community Development Salary Ordinance be reduced to one -half of the proposed amount. We have attached a breakdown of the salaries as they would be constituted under our recom- mendations. Thank you for your consideration of these suggestions. cc: City Administration News Media Very truly yours, SOUTH BEND CIVIC PLANNING ASSN. INC. Gene Evans Executive Secretary He said there have been comments regarding performances, and they would point out that this ad- ministration has only been in office less than one year. He said one of the concerns of Civic Planning is the source of funds that will be available to fund these positions if they are in- corporated into the budget. He said we all recognize we are still operating under the frozen tax rate. He said the administration talks about money saved as though that money belongs to them, and the money does not belong to the administration it belongs to the taxpayers. Ms. Lois Dress, personnel director for a local CPA firm, spoke regarding the reduction of salaries for the personnel director and assistant personnel director. She said the City was not paying a salary commensurate with experienced personnel people. Council Member Adams said that on page 6 of the ordinance, cutting out the court liaison position is actually costing the taxpayer, since a full -time police officer is filling that position and we are costing the taxpayer more by leaving it as a policeman rather than a civilian, since the policemen made more money. She made a motion to reinstate the court liaison position at $10,000, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. Council President Parent indicated he had asked this pos- ition be eliminated since the administration plans to place it in another category, and he agreed with Council Member Adams that this should not be done by a police officer. Mr. Peter Mullen, City Controller said that at budget time they planned to put this position in as an accounting clerk at the same dollar value. Council Member Adams asked why they did not call it what it was, and she thought the position name should reflect what they are doing and that is not an accountin clerk, secretary, or etc. Council Member Kopczynski indicated it should be retained as court liaison so there will be some record as to that position. Council Member Horvath said he was in- clined to agree that the position should be called court liaison. A roll call vote was taken on the motion and passed by nine ayes (Council Members Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Kopczynski Adams, Dombrowski, Horvath and Parent). Council Member Adams indicated we are trying to bring our positions in line with other public an private business and on page 1 under Century Center, the security chief is proposed at $14,700 and amended to $12,000. She said it was her understanding that the security chief of the County - City Building is in the $8,000 range. Council Member Adams made a motion that this salary be . amended to $10,000, seconded by Council Member Serge. The motion lost on a roll call vote of fou ayes (Council Members Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller and Adams) and five nays (Council Members Taylor Kopczynski, Dombrowski, Horvath and Parent). Council Member Adams made a motion to change the assistant director of personnel to 11,550, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. Mayor Nemeth indicated that he resented some of the things that had been said about some of the management people. Council Presi.dent Parent said the salary of the assistant personnel director that was proposed at $15,000was substantially under what the mater requestgd.The motion was lost on a roll call vote of three ayes (Council Members Kopczynski, Adams, and Horvath) and six nays (Council Members Serge,.Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Dombrowski and Parent). Council Member Adams made a motion that the Community Development ordinance be referred to Counci: favorably, as amended, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. The motion carried, Council Member Miller opposing. Council Member Adams made a motion that the ordinance fixing maximum salaries of appointed officel and employees go to Council favorably as amended by Councilman Parent, seconded by Council Member' Dombrowski. The motion carried, Council Member Miller, opposing. Council Member Horvath said that he was not thoroughly in agreement with some of the salaries but he went along with them. He said he thought this was a fairly good proposal. Council Member Kopczynski said the record clearly shows it was a five -four Council and he thought it was unfortunate. He said he thought theCouncil should put more thought into these things. Council President Parent indicated he did not think it was fair to insinuate that others did not use their intelligence when voting on this ordinance. He said this was obviously a compromise bu- one has to give in. He said he would like to commend Council Member Adams for all the work she did on this salary ordinance. Council Member Taylor made a motion to recess, seconded by Council Member Adams. The meeting was recessed at 8:10 p.m., and reconvened at 8:25 p.m.