02-26-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 26 1973 REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $405,000.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. Councilman Horvath made a motion that the ordinance be amended as indicated by Mr. seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried. Councilman Miller then made a the ordinance, as amended, be referred to the Council Committee on Public Safety, Councilman Newburn. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $500,000.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR VARIOUS CIVIC CENTER EXPENSES, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. Barcome, motion that seconded by Councilman Horvath made a motion that the ordinance be amended as indicated by Mr. Barcome, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried. Councilman Miller then made a motion that the ordinance, as amended, be referred to the Civic Center Committee, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,163,756.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND, 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 PUBLIC WORKS. Councilman Taylor made a motion that the ordinance be amended as indicated by Mr. Barcome, seconded by Councilman Horvath. The motion carried. Councilman Parent then made a motion that the ordinance, as amended, be referred to the Council Committee on Public Works and set for public hearing and second reading on March 12, 1973, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The motion carried. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Mrs. Frances Wilson, 1625 Hilde Court, President of the Legal Services Client Council, indicated that she and other members of the Client Council had come to the Council meeting to speak on the president's cutback of federal funds; however, a few of the members had to leave the Council meeting as they were not given an opportunity to be heard sooner. She requested a meeting with the Common Council. She then read a petition circulated by the Client Council against the cutbacl and referred to a resolution adopted by the House of Delegates, American Bar Association, and a resolution of the City of Chicago, urging the President of the United States to take appropriate action to cancel the proposed budget changes decreasing funds for human service programs. She stressed the fact that there is a growing need for legal services for the poor, and she asked the Council to draft a similar resolution to be sent to the president and congress. She presented a copy of the two resolutions to the City Clerk. Council President Nemeth thanked her for appearinc before the Council. Mrs. Wilson again asked when she could meet with the Council, and Council President Nemeth indicated he would have to check his calendar. Mrs. Sandra Abregg, 3602 East Edison Road, also expressed her concern for the human service programs. She mentioned that many of these agencies have helped people in this community, and with the president's cutback of these funds, many of these programs will no longer exist. She asked if the city would be able to take over and budget enough money for its elderly, public housing, etc. She asked the Council's help in this matter. Mrs. Harlan Holt, 720 South Rush, another representative of the Legal Services Client Council, indicated that their program is a vehicle that provides justices for the poor people, and the poor people definitely need these services. She, too, asked the Council's support. Mrs. Lee Swan, 2022 Swygart, indicated to the Council that Mr. Gallagher has practically closed his Board meetings to the public and the audience had not had the opportunity to question him at this Council meeting. She commented that Mr. Gallagher had given a very fine speech; however, he had made no mention of the article which appeared in the South Bend Tribune on February 25. She mentioned that the Mayor has stated there has been a serious internal problem within the department. She indicated that there are officers who were reported to have said that they just don't give a damn anymore. She felt this had a definite bearing on the lack of calls being answered by the Police Department. She also indicated that Mr. Gallagher had stated that, in order to get one man on the force, he must have five men, and everyone keeps saying the departmeni needs additional manpower. She mentioned that the Police Chief had stated that there is lethargy on the police force. Council President Nemeth asked Mrs. Swan if she had any suggestions on how to take care of the problem. She, in turn, asked Council President Nemeth what he would recommend. Council President Nemeth answered that Mr. Gallagher is looking into the problem and the Council is hopeful that he will be able to come up with a solution. Mrs. Swan asked if there were any groups interested in trying to find out why there is a morale problem in the department. She felt that Mr. Gallagher was biased. Councilman Parent indicated that the Council was trying to assess the facts and all Mrs. Swan had told them were allegations and not facts. He felt that Patrick Gallagher could bring the degree of independence to the job that the department did not have before. He also indicated that the Council had requested Mr. Gallagher to look into this situation and he had come before the Council at this meeting with a report on his findings. Mrs. Swan felt that some definite action should be taken, and Councilman Parent indicated that the Council wanted to take some action but not a rash action. He mentioned that the Council CommitteE on Public Safety, which was newly established, is starting,_. ,,to meet regularly and some action has part of the c been taken so far. He also mentioned that u'�"_._, city's revenue sharing money would be goinc for public safety. He concluded by saying that the criminal justice system is very complex and the public safety is just one leg of this.