10-25-76 Council Meeting Minutes

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"7 REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 25,1976 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATINGTHE SUM OF $46,000.0070 ACCOUNT NO. 5` .0 "INSURANCE" WITHIN THE BUREAU OF STREETS`\,BUDGET OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY FUND OFTHE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. 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. Peter Mullen, City Controller, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that this was being appropriated from the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund because a.:large portion of our insurance livability is brought about by coverage of Street Department properties and Workmen's Compensat""n. He said in the past, be- cause of shortages in gasoline tax receipts, the Street Department':'has not paid for its own insurance. He said the payment has been made from the General Fund ",with property taxes. He said they felt that with the twenty to twenty -five percent increase in gasoline tax distributioi and the availability of Community Development funds for street programs, the Street Department is financially capable of supporting itself, and still provide full service in maintaining streets. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association asked if this fourth quarter payment was for both General Fund insurance and MVH. Mr..`.Mullen indicated it was partially both. Council Member Adams asked what the balance would be,'in the fund if they appropriated the $46,000. Mr. Mullen indicated he did not know. Council "Member Adams indicate, they would be taking money from a material account to shore up 'the Civil City's budget. She asked if this money could be taken from another account. Mr. Mullen indicated it could be take: from another account, however, the MVH fund is twenty -five to thirty percent.,higher than last year. Council Member Adams indicated that the money in the MVH fund was to 'fix streets, and therefore, she would like to table this until the next meeting in order to find out the balance in the fund, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. Mr. Mullen indicated that': :this account would be handled this way for the entire year in 1977. Mayor Peter J. Nemeth indicated this was part of the cost of operating the Street Department, so in effect they were"trying to al- locate the insurance costs, by trying to make the Street Department pay their portion of the insurance costs. Council Member Adams indicated the Council would like to know the balance in the MVH fund. The motion carried. Mr. Walter Lantz, Deputy Controller, indicated'..that the balance in the fund had to be provided to the state and there would be no problem in providing a financial statement for the MVH fund. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A NEW ACCOUNT 724 "RADIO EQUIPMENT" AND TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF $800.00 FROM ACCOUNT 215 "CAR ALLOWANCE" TO THIS ACCOUNT, BOTH ACCOUNTS BEING WITHIN THE COMMON COUNCIL BUDGET, CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Council Member Walter T. Kopczynski made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated he represented the Councilmen who were requesting monitors. He said this would permit them to be more knowledgeable of what is going on in the City. He said he felt this would help the Council to determine certain priorities. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of Civic Planning Association said he found it a little hard to be- lieve the Council Members would have time to sit and listen to a scanner. He also questioned that monitoring activities could determine what is happening within a department. Council Member Kopczynski indicated that he felt that the scanner would help the Council to determine activities within a department. Mr. Evans questioned the amount of $800 being spent for three scanners. Council Member Kopczynski said this amount would be amended to $600.00. Mr. Casimer Kaczmarczyk, 2205 S. Scott, spoke against the purchase of the scanners for the Council. He said he thought they should purchase the scanners from their own funds. He said he did not this money should be taken from car maintenance for the City to purchase scanners for the Council. Mr. Lester Fox, of REAL Services, indicated he felt the Council should rely on the information given them by the Administration. He said he would suggest the Council not get into the area o: administration. He said the Council should be fully knowledgeable about what is going on in the community, but this was not the proper approach. Council Member Adams indicated she would like to clear up a misconception. She said the City Council had budgeted $2,200 for car allowance, which is $300 per Council Member for travel. She said that perhaps $200 of this has been used for the year. She said she personally did not take mileage because she felt it was part of her job. She spoke in favor of the scanners being used to help the Council Members answer question: She said the Council Members felt this would benefit the Council more than using the car allow- ance money. She made a motion to amend this ordinance from $800 to $600 wherever it appeared in the ordinance, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. Council President Parent indicated that the Council had been operating in the "horse and buggy state" for too long. He said it takes at least twenty hours a week to do even a creditable job as a Council Member. He in- dicated he personally was not requesting a scanner for his use, but if a Council Member feels that a scanner will improve his effectiveness then he has the right to request this type of equipment. He said he strongly supported the request for $600. Council Member Dombrowski ex- plained the scanner and its use. Mr. Evans indicated he had not had occasion to use a scanner and this was the basis for his questions, but he wondered how they arrived at three. Council Member Szymkowiak indicated the scanners were important. Council Member Horvath indicated he thought this would benefit the taxpayer. He said they were not trying to monitor the Adminis- tration for a "Watergate ", they were trying to help them save money. Council Member Adams made a motion that this ordinance be recommended to the Council favorably, as amended, seconded by Council Member Taylor. The motion carried. There being no made a motion t motion carried. ATTEST: City Clerk further business to come before the Committee of the Whole, Council Member Tayl D rise and report to the Council, seconded by Council Member Kopczynski. The ATTEST: Chairman