Rockford aldermen hear from union leader on contract talks

ROCKFORD ? Dozens of city union workers and their supporters made their presence known Monday at City Hall, cramming into the council chambers and overflowing into the hallway.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees protested outside the building, chanting ?You say cut back. We say fight back.? They entered the building and continued chanting loudly outside rooms where committees were meeting. Later, they stood quietly as AFSCME staff representative Richard Berg addressed the council.

?Our employees haven?t gotten raises in years,? he said, describing workers? frustration. ?The people here are not asking for big things. They?re asking for conversation. ... We?re just not getting off the dime here.?

Aldermen received a memo from City Legal Director Patrick Hayes informing them that the city?s last negotiation session with AFSCME last week was cut short because of a lack of discourse.

?We sometimes have to look past the angry and frustration and take a small break and come back and negotiate,? said Ald. Carl Wasco, D-4. ?We have employees who work hard for us and at least deserve more than a five-minute negotiation because somebody lost their temper.?

Wasco praised city staff for their hard work and keeping their decorum.

Panel approves longer deal with OSF
The city is looking to extend its Resource Hospital Agreement with OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for an additional three years.

OSF wants the contract extended based on its performance and contributions to the Rockford Fire Department. OSF conducts emergency medical training for the department and is opening a training facility on West State Street.

Fire Chief Derek Bergsten recommended approval of the extension, which the Finance and Personnel Committee voted unanimously for Monday. The contract will expire Dec. 31, 2015.

Aldermen voted 12-0 to suspend rules and approve the extension. Ald. Venita Hervey and Ald. Bill Timm were absent.

East State/Mulford TIF under scrutiny
In the Planning and Development Committee, alderman raised concerns about a proposal to create a tax increment financing district being proposed for the area surrounding East State Street and Mulford Road.

Ald. Karen Elyea, D-11, said she?s not convinced that bonds won?t be sold in the new TIF district to address water-retention issues, which could put the city in debt and dependent on the TIF income to pay them off.

Chairman Lenny Jacobson asked that the committee forward the request for a public hearing to the council floor so all aldermen can have their say.

The committee voted ?no action? on the matter to do just that. The resolution was read in at the City Council meeting and laid over for one week. A vote to suspend rules failed.

Plan for partnership money gets initial OK
A new way to distribute $3.6 million in city funds to a few dozen partner agencies got preliminary approval from aldermen.

The Planning and Development Committee voted 3-1 to adopt the Rockford Economic Development, Education and Entrepreneurship Network master plan, which helps to outline how individual groups will work together and work with the city on common goals that include business growth and crime reduction.

Members of the network include bigger organizations, such as the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority, and smaller groups like the Miracle Mile Association and Rockford Area Arts Council.

Ald. Linda McNeely, D-12, expressed concerns that smaller organizations will be at a disadvantage to getting money, under the new structure. McNeely voted against the master plan.

Mayor Larry Morrissey said the new system will help all groups understand what?s expected of each group?s receiving of money and have an opportunity to obtain funding.

The council will vote on the matter next week.

Reach staff writer Corina Curry at ccurry@rrstar.com or 815-987-1371. Read more at rrstar.com/blogs/corinacurry and rrstar.com/news/corinacurry or follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/corinacurry.

amas 2011 black friday elliot elliot la galaxy la galaxy jordy nelson