05-28-74 Council Meeting Minutes

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ITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) I lCouncil President Nemeth made a motion to so amend the ordinance further, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. Councilman Miller stated that he felt this was an admirable attempt to try and solve some of the problems facing the community regarding housing. He felt that housing was a personal responsibilit and not a community responsibility; however, where the social conditions are such that the housing problems within a neighborhood are creating blight, this might then become a community responsibili He did not feel that all housing was the responsibility of a governmental unit. He stated that the purpose of the ordinance was to encourage people to rehabilitate their homes, and he felt it more profitable to fix the homes than relocate the residents. Councilman Miller stated that he felt the amount of $438,000 was very adequate to get the program started and, after the preliminary development of the program, the Council would re- evaluate the issue. Councilman Parent made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, as amended, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. Council President Nemeth indicated that he hoped none of the residents of the southeast side would view the ordinance as a "panacea" to the housing problems. He felt this was an experimental step and it would need the cooperation and hard work of the residents in the area. 11 ORD I NANCE AN ORDINANCE ENABLING THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, THROUGH THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE PLANNING AND ACTION DEVELOPMENT TEAM, INC. TO ADMINISTER A NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. Councilman Miller indicated that the Housing Committee had met regarding the proposed ordinance and recommended that the ordinance be stricken from the files. The committee.further recommended that the ordinance creating a Division of Community Development within the City of South Bend be acted upon favorably by the Council. Councilman Miller made a motion that the Committee of the Whole recommend that the ordinance be stricken from the files, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A NEW ACCOUNT, 260, "OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ", AND TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF $4,000.00 FROM ACCOUNT 110, "SERVICES PERSONAL ", 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 opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Walter Lantz, Deputy Controller, made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that, when the budget was prepared for the Common Council, the services of an attorney were put into the Services Personal Account. The attorney was hired on a contractual basis; therefore, the money must be transferred into a contractual account in order to meet the necessary requirements. Council President Nemeth indicated that the Council utilizes the attorney's services only for certain legal questions that arise. He indicated that the attorney was not requested to be present at every Council meeting because there was an attorney on the Council. He stated that, in the event there was no attorney on the Council at some future date, perhaps the services of an attorney would be needed at all Council meetings. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, stated that every separate organization with the government is inclined to have its own separate attorney. He wondered about this, and Council President Nemeth stated that it was very essential the Council have its own attorney because the City Attorney would be placed in a precarious position if the Council and Mayo: failed to agree on a certain issue, especially since the attorney is employed by the Mayor. He felt the City Attorney could not give proper advice and service to the Mayor and Council on a con- troversial item to which the two do not agree. Councilman Taylor felt that, when there is a certaii degree of competition between the branches of government, the government works more efficiently. Councilman Parent stated that some councils have full -time councilmen with full -time legislative assistants for each, plus research workers. He felt the Council of South Bend was working very efficiently with no staff and only a part -time attorney. ouncilman Serge made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by ouncilman Taylor. The motion carried. RDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BUREAU OF WATER OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND McCULLOUGH & ASSOCIATES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, FOR VARIOUS ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES RENDERED AND FEES AND EXPENSES INCURRED PURSUANT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY DATED FEBRUARY 20, 1973, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $14,157.24. 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, indicated that the employment agreement had been entered into pursuant to approval by the Public Service Commission establishing increased rates and charges for the City of South Bend Water Utility Council President Nemeth indicated that an amendment should be made to Section II of the ordinance, ! as follows: Insert the following after the words "from and after its ": "passage by the Common Council, its approval by the Mayor and the fulfillment of all statutory requirements." He made a motion to so amend the ordinance, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried. Councilman Szymkowiak then made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, as amended, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried.