05-01-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 1, 1972 PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED Mrs. Barbara Vaszari, 830 S. Falcon Street, spoke for the ordinance. She said that she is a housewife and that she was very impressed with the mayor's presentation of the government re- structuring and feels that the ordinance should pass for the good of the future of South Bend. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, said that as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, she had not been informed about the resolution adopted by the Chamber and read before this meeting tonight. She said that she did not support the resolution. She said that some city departments have already been reorganized without this ordinance and called attention to the fact that three assistant engineers had been hired by the City Engineer whose salaries are not in the budget. She questioned whether the Ford Grant Mayor Miller mentioned as a possible means of financing new cabinet style departments had ever come through. She said the Director of Safety would appear to be a social service department which might require two assistants, a secretary, and funds for other personnel and supplies. The position of Safety Director was put into the 1970 budget at $17,500 but was deleted as unnecessary. She questioned the advisability of putting an extra person between the Fire Department and Police Department and the Mayor. She emphasized the fact that it was not the initial cost of such departments but their upkeep. She said that the ordinance gives the power to establish within the dpeartments such additional officers and bureaus as are deemed necessary. She continued that this ordinance would not simplify government but would be opening Pandora's box. She said there is no need for more highly paid department heads to demand a full day -'s work for a full day's pay to deliver the services to the people. She urged the Council to further study the ordinance. Mr. Charles Hahn,,.1619 E. Colfax Avenue, President of the Civic Planning Association, said that as an interested citizen he had studied the ordinance first presented and the amended one and that it would take much more study to fully understand it. He said that the Civic Planning Association is concerned that the Park Department not lose its bonding power. He said that the Association supports a cabinet type of government but, since the amended ordinance was just available Friday, perhaps more time should be spent in studying it before the Council votes. Councilman Nemeth made a motion that the Council adjourn for a ten minute recess. Seconded by several and carried. Adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Be it remembered that the meeting of the Committee of the Whole reconvened at 10:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the County -City Building with nine members present, Chairman Newburn presiding. Public Hearing Continued on Ordinance to Restructure Government Mr. Lowell Spalding, 3422 Woldhaven Drive, spoke in favor of the ordinance. He said he wondered if the women who said we are still operating under a Constitution and Bill of Rights written over 200 years ago would like to be living without the amendment which gave women the right to vote and the 26th amendment. He said that it is better to try to livein the 20th century, looking into the 21st century. Mr. Edwin T. Smith, of the South Bend Civic Planning Association, said that the Council members and members of the city administration had received letters outlining the Association's feelings and recommendations on the ordinance. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said that there now have been three versions of this ordinance in a short time. The 41 page ordinance, a five page ordinance and now a seven page ordinance with considerable changes. There are gaps between the three ordinances. She asked what the effective date on the ordinance would be. She recom- mended that (1) the Council consider not taking final action until May 8 1972,,and (2) that they consider making the Human Resources Department effective the lst of June or the 1st of July. She recommended that the ordinance not take effect until January 1, 1973 to provide an opportunit to study the realignment of the budget. Mr. Joseph Guentert complained that this public hearing was held at the same time as the public hearing by the School Board and said that many governmental meetings are held in conflict with one another so that interested citizens cannot attend all of the meetings. He said that the bureaucratic, appointive system of government is removed from the participation of the people. Mayor Miller spoke again for the ordinance. He said that the ordinance would not affect city and county elected officials. He said that the Council had studied the ordinance and made recommended changes, and that the state law now provides for the cabinet style of government in South Bend. He said that the two new positions being created would not involve additional costs as they would make cuts in other departments to fund these. He said that the new restructuring will result in economy and in better service to the community. The Council would have to approve any additional money. Mr. William Richardson, City Engineer, answered a question raised about three assistant engineers hired in his department. He said that it was merely a matter of realigning of titles and respon- sibilities and was possible within his existing budget. Councilman Nemeth said that the proposed ordinance, on page four, calls for the director of each department to prepare and submit a report for the preceding fiscal year. He asked if this in- cluded the Water Works. Mayor Miller answered that this would apply to every department of government, including the Water Works. - Councilman Horvath asked if Stanley Ladd was speaking for the unions or for himself. Phil Crone, Chairman of the UAW -CAP Council, said that the CAP Council had taken no action on the ordinance, but had asked the Council for a 30 day delay in voting on the ordinance. He said that they had met with members of the administration and had had their questions answered and were now retracti the request for the delay. Councilman Kopczynski asked the Mayor where cuts in the existing budget would be made to pay the additional expenses. Mayor Miller replied that the Controller was studying the budget and would decide where the cuts would be made.