03-26-73 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING MARCH 26 1973 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) of employment, age and job classification; payroll expense distribution among the separate funds of the city; and a manning table or report to control the numbers of employees and their job classifications, salaries, and the year -to -date expenditures in those classifications. He mentioned that, in the accounts payable, three goals are presently planned: Providing all accounts payable checks on computer by June 1, 1973,providing distribution totals by department and fund, so that the department can accurately obtain appropriation balances; and providing an audit trail of paid claims by vendor and warrant number. He mentioned that, in the appropriation accounting, five projects are currently being developed: An accounting code to control fund, major and minor accoun classification, program and department records; complete budget control system; a general ledger report showing all detailed transactions for the current month; a trial balance report of the general ledger; and a monthly expense budget report to each department showing the current monthly and year -to -date expenditures vis -a -vis the authorized appropriation. Mr. Barcome indicated that the development cost of these new programs would be $15,538.00 and the operation cost would be $22,094.00 for a total of $37,632.00. In order to meet the costs involved, he requested $19,500.00 from the federal assistance grant monies. He indicated that, included in the request would be an appropriation for $30,500.00 for awards,_ refunds and indemnities because $10,000.00 out of $20,000.00 is all that remains. The $30,500.00 would be used for payment to Hickey Construc tion Company of which $22,000.00 would be used for that purpose, with $8,500.00 remaining. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, asked if the total amount was $37,000.00, and Mr. Barcome indicated that it was. Miss Guthrie asked if Mr. Barcome could look for a reduction in staff, and Mr. Barcome indicated that he would not guarantee that. Miss Guthrie questioned the Hickey matter and the approval of the addition by a change order. Mr. James Roemer, City Attorney, indicated that this was true and that there was a dispute between the contractor and the city and the contractor went ahead and did the work under written protest. Miss Guthrie asked about arbitration, and Mr. Roemer indicated that Hickey filed suit. Miss Guthrie felt this was a serious matter, and Mr. Marchmont Kovas, writer for the South Bend Tribune, asked if the suit was settled, and Mr. Roemer indicated that it was by a negotiated settlement based on the complete engineering and legal analysis. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, asked if there wasn't already an amount in the budget for this purpose. Mr. Barcome indicated that there was not and that some of the money was used from the parking garage land and acquisition fund. Councilman Kopczynski asked about computerizing the city -owned vehicles, and Mr. Barcome indicated that he hoped this would be done; however, more study was needed on that phase at this time. Council President Nemeth asked if this money would enable Mr.Barcome to complete the program, and Mr. Barcome indicated that this would take care of everything he had presented to the Council and was discussed. He added that there would be on- going costs of about $1,700.00 for the new programs for next year. Council President Nemeth questioned the Hickey matter, and Mr. Roemer indicated that this would be for settlement and claim accounting. He mentioned that this was discussed previously, and it was the responsibility of the Attorney's Office to settle these suits. He indicated that $10,000.00 out of $20,000.00 already has been used to settle cases and that at least another $10,000.00 is projected for the remaining nine months and this would probably not carry them through. He indicated that it was essential that this money be available because the only alternative the city would have would be to tell an individual or firm to sue. Council President Nemeth asked if the claims were getting higher, and Mr. Roemer indicated that he could not make any comparison but stressed the fact that he only had $10,000.00 remaining. Council President Nemeth asked about the average amount of the claims settle and Mr. Roemer indicated that he would guess that they range from $400.00 to $500.00 a claim. Councilman Szynkowiak made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Serge. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4990 -68, AS AMENDED, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (CHAPTER 40, MUNICIPAL CODE) - 2813, 2817, 2821, 2901 and 2905 SOUTH MICHIGAN STREET. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Robert Richardson from the Engineering Planning Services in Mishawaka made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that the petitioner desired to rezone five lots on Michigan Street for additional parking facilities. He mentioned that the zoning request had been granted pending approval of the site plan and this has been done. Council President Nemeth asked what had taken so long since the time of filing the original petition. He noted it was referred to the Area Plan Commission at the July 10, 1972, Council meeting. Mr. Douglas Carpenter of the Area Plan Commission presented a slide showing the area in question, and he indicated that the initial site plan for rezoning was approved subject to a site plan which requires that any stipulation have to be remedied before it comes to the Council. He explained that there was a problem with the entrances on Michigan Street, and the petitioners would use the existing alley and not have additional entrances on Michigan Street. Mr. Richardson indicated that there are two existing entrances now which would be widened. He mentioned that there was also a problem on site grading and draining; however, these have all been cleared with the Engineering Department. Councilman Serge asked if the Area Plan Commission had approved this, and Mr. Carpenter indicated that they had. Councilman Taylor made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Serge. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BUREAU OF WATER OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND GATES CHEVROLET CORPORATION, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE PURCHASE OF A 1973 CHEVROLET SERIES CE66003 CAB AND CHASSIS AND A COMBINATION DUMP BED AND HOIST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,210.00 This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Paul Krueper, Manager of the Bureau of Water, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that the Bureau of Water had advertised for this particular piece of equipment and, as of February 5, they had received four bids. He further indicated that Gates Chevrolet in the amount of $5,210.00 was the lowest qualified bid.