07-31-72 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING JULY 31, 1972 PUBLIC HEARING (CONTINUED) the Chief if men who make application for the Fire Department are tested to see if they are capable of doing the job. Chief Bland said that the men are on a nine -month probationary period and the department can wash a man out if he does not meet the standards of the job. Councilman Serge asked what can be done if a man cannot do the work after the probationary period has elapsed. Chief Bland said that disciplinary measures would be taken if a man did not do his job. Councilman Szymkowiak said that he has a great respect for both the police and fire departments. He said he is opposed to any disparity between the departments. He said the duties of one department are just as hazardous as the other. He feels there should be no dis- crimination of one department over the other. He said he feels the $100 bonus after twenty year., of service should also apply to the Fire Department. Councilman Parent said he does not approve of the disparity either but it goes back to a situation created under the previous administra- tion. He said he would be in favor of remedying the disparity but the difficulty is that the maximum raise allowed is 5.5% and in order to remedy the disparity this year would either put one department over the 5.5/ figure or cause lowering of the rate proposed for the other depart- ment. He said this is something to consider for the future. He said that the matter of the bonus came to the Council as a request from the Police Department Wage Committee. The Council is trying it as an experiment in one department to see what happens. Councilman Kopczynski asked Chief Bland if he had figures on the number of lives lost on duty since 1934. Chief Bland said that he did not have those figures at hand but could get them. Councilman Kopczynski said that he did have those figures from the Police Department and that figures like these are helpful to the Council in making decisions on salary increases. Chief Bland said that a national survey showed that the death and injury rate for fire fighters is the highest in the United States of any group of workers. Councilman Kopczynski said that he was interested in the figures for the City of South Bend and asked Chief Bland how many fire fighters are on dis- ability pension in South Bend. Chief Bland said that there are 35 to 40 at the present time. Councilman Kopczynski said that he would like factual information in order to know how to budget insurance and other items for the department. Councilman Horvath said that he is in sympathy with the firemen about the disparity but does not feel anything can be done about this now in view of the 5.5/ guidelines. He said that other employees of the city were only given a 4% increase. He said that a young man going on the Fire Department at the age of 22 can retire after 20 years of service at the age of 42. He said that the pension cost for this man from age 42 to age 62 is approximately $90,000. He said there is no private industry where a man can retire at age 42 and draw a pension. The departments may not be making top pay but over the years they are getting,their fair share. Councilman Newburn said that he is opposed to any dis- parity in pay for the two departments. He said he is concerned that police department personnel are not finding ways to implement new methods gained by attendance at various schools, such as F.B.I. Schools, and so forth. He said the amendments he offered tonight were to give assurance there would be new educational programs in the Police Department. Councilman Nemeth said he is confident that the police and firemen are performing their jobs to the best of their ability. He said that the Council is also trying to perform its job to the best of its ability. Council- man Taylor moved to amend the Fire Department salary ordinance as follows: In Section 2, Line 6, change the amount of pay for regularly assigned drivers from $180 to $225 per year. The motion was seconded by Councilman Newburn. Councilman Serge asked if this applied to the ambu- lance drivers. Fire Chief Bland explained that the ambulance drivers are paid the same as regular drivers. Councilman Kopczynski asked Chief Bland if firemen are subject to a mandatory physical examination after a certain age. Chief Bland said no. Councilman Kopczynski asked how it was determined if a man was physically fit after 20 years on the job. Chief Bland said that such a mandatory physical examination would require an ordinance unless it is in violation of the state law. Councilman Kopczynski asked Chief Bland several questions regarding the rank of engineer on the Fire Department and whether the various ranks were based on skill or hazard. Chief Bland said that rank is based on skill. The question was called on the motion to-amend and the motion carried. Councilman Szymkowiak moved that there be no disparity between salaries of the police and fire departments. The motion was seconded by Councilman Parent. Councilman Taylor asked how this would be accomplished, by lowering the percentage of the police raise or by violating the federal guidelines. Councilman Horvath said that before the Council made a decision on this issue they should consider what it would cost. Councilman Szymkowiak moved for a ten minute recess, seconded by Councilman Taylor, and carried. Time 9:25 p.m. The Council reconvened at 9:45 p.m. Councilman Szymkowiak amended his motion to read: Pay for a Lieutenant to be $10,790; Engineer $9,968; Fireman First Class $9,263, and Fireman $8,559. A roll call vote was requested on the amendment. The motion failed by a roll call vote of three ayes (Councilman Szymkowiak, Parent and Newburn) and five nays (Councilmen Serge, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath and Nemeth). One absent (Councilman Miller). Councilman Horvath made a motion that the ordinance setting police salaries be passed as amended. Seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried by a roll call vote of eight ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth) one absent (Councilman Miller). Councilman Kopczynski made a motion that the ordinance setting firemen's salaries be passed as amended, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried by a roll call vote of eight ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth) one absent (Councilman Miller). The Council recessed at 9:55 p.m. to allow the City Controller time to recompute the changes in the salary ordinances. The meeting reconvened at 10:30 p.m. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1973 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1973, INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGATIONS AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT. This Ordinance had first reading by title and second reading in full. Councilman Horvath made a motion that the ordinance be set for public hearing on August 28, 1972. Seconded by Councilman Newburn. The motion carried.