09-22-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 implemented the $5,000.00 several years ago, but as was mentioned it has been kept it flat at that point. Councilmember Kirsits stated that what he hears from many of the firefighters is that it isn’t worth $5,000.00 for the tremendous amount of time going 24/7 it wears them out and takes three days to recover. Mr. Marks stated that as Mr. Skwarcan had mentioned, they get letters on numerous occasions from various Departments looking for folks. Recently, they received a letter from a city south of Indianapolis looking to recruit three members of the Fire Department and they were offering to allow a lateral transfer, keeping their rank and status, so they would not loose anything by going down there. He stated that South Bend cannot continue to be a training facility for other departments. They have good folks and it’s hard to keep them and the paramedic field is getting very thin and there is absolutely no doubt about that, but they are looking at ways to keep their paramedics. They are of great value to this community. There are dedicated folks and had they not had dedicated folks, they would be three short, because the door was open for three of them to walk away. He stated those are the kind of things that need to keep an eye on when they talk about numbers, personnel and how to keep good people in this City on this department. They did not loose any of their members because of the commitment here. He wanted the Council to keep those kinds of things in mind when deliberations come up again. Of course, support this ordinance, it’s not the best but it works. There was no one else present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Puzzello made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill as substituted. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes and one (1) nay (Councilmember Rouse) BILL NO. 58-08 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL LEVYING TAXES AND FIXING THE RATE OF TAXATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING REVENUE TO MEET THE NECESSARY EXPENSES OF THE CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH BEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009 BILL NO. 59-08 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2009, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009, INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT BILL NO. 60-08 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE DESIGNATED ENTERPRISE FUNDS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2009 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009, INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT 14