Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. 10/21/10 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 100539.
An ordinance amending Section 9-3300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Erection, Use and Inspection of Tower Cranes," by revising the certification requirements for the operation, signaling and rigging 10/21/10 - STATED - 2ND READING of tower cranes.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 100537.
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Noise and Excessive Vibration," by providing for certain exceptions, including, but not limited to, sounds created by school bells, church bells, and similar devices.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll. 10/21/10 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having affirmative, the bill passes. That concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Madam President. Council leadership wants to make clear to the public Council's position and process on the DROP program. We have been deliberate, gathering data and information, and we have reviewed the Solicitor's opinion. We have engaged national experts who design and study pension plans, including DROP programs, to provide this Council for the first time with an actuarial review of Philadelphia's DROP program and a review of the Administration's Boston College report. Upon receipt of the actuarial analysis, we will schedule a public be a time for us to gather information and testimony from stakeholders. They have entrusted us to make informed decisions, and we have a fiduciary responsibility to conduct our due diligence to ensure that we make a sound decision, respecting the rights and opinions of all. As evidenced by the resolution we passed this morning, acting in haste and without all the necessary information to make a sound decision can result in unintended consequences. Depending on the testimony we receive at the hearing, we may require additional sessions to determine the impact and ramification of our options. At the conclusion of the hearing process, we will deliberate on the Mayor's proposal. Council basically has three options at that point: One, eliminate the DROP program; two, continue the is; three, modify and amend the program. We will let everyone know when the hearing is scheduled. Now, Council President, speaking personally, this is a request, as far as I'm concerned, by the Mayor to review the DROP program. I believe it is clearly the Mayor's opinion we should end it, but what the full effect of it is and what actually will happen and is happening is, we're looking at the program, its costs, its benefits and any changes that may be made or whether it should be eliminated. But I want to make it clear that this is the first time Council has been asked to do any kind of review of the DROP program. It's a ten-year review basically. In 2003, I'm told Mayor Street sent over requests to the Pension Board to end the program. The Pension Board voted not to. There were no discussions among Council and the Mayor or the Pension Board and Council that time or what the issues were, pro, con, for or against the Mayor's request or the Pension Board's ultimate rejection of that request. One thing, though, is clear. DROP is costing money. We all agreed up front that it shouldn't cost money. The question is, is it correctable. We'll find all that out. But DROP is a drop in the bucket when it comes to our pension fund, and it's the pension fund's problems are getting lost in this drop-in-the-bucket issue, legitimate as it is. We in Philadelphia for the last at least 50 years, talking to people who have been around during those different administrations, one thing has been a common thread from administration to administration and it's -- I'm sure it's been habit-forming -- is that our pension fund is underfunded by each administration. the Mayor to join Council and for Council for the first time to take a more active role, because when these budgets come over, the Mayor makes the decision as to what amount will be funded in the pension contribution that year. Council has never been involved in that. That's been the Mayor's prerogative. We can't let it become the Mayor's prerogative anymore. We need information. Remember, the pension fund -the Pension Board communicated with us when we did a pension bill for the bonds. They communicated with us when we did the bonus for retirees, the bonus program, and they're communicating to us now, but they never communicated to us over ten years that maybe this could be adjusted or that could be adjusted or maybe this problem was starting to surface with a program like the DROP.
They never come to us and say, as other groups do, and say, The Mayor is not giving us enough from the Art Museum, we hear from non-profits, we hear from City departments, but we never hear from the Pension Board, and I think this is a point in time where we can take the Mayor's request and turn it into something more than just a review and an analysis and a decision on a very small program in terms of its impact on the pension fund. The pension fund is critical, and our fiduciary responsibility I believe requires more of us than we have been exercising. And so hopefully more will come out of this than just the review of the pension fund. As we learn more about the pension fund, we'll be able to maybe have, as a Council, have more impact on decisions that are being made that are hurting the pension fund now. Thank you.
You're welcome. the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, 10:00 a.m., October 28th, 2010. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 28th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on October 21, 2010, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)