WORKING FOR SAFER SCHOOLS

December 14, 1989

Chicago Tribune

SHILLER`S PROPOSAL VOTED DOWN

COUNCIL REJECTS PLAN FOR MORE POLICE, NURSES IN SCHOOLS

James Strong.

The Chicago City Council defeated a compromise measure Wednesday to create a pilot program for increased police protection and full-time nurses at selected city schools.

Although Ald. Helen Shiller (46th), sponsor of the ordinance proposed to reduce the overall funding for the experimental program to $6.3 million from $9.4 million, the amendment lost by a narrow 25 to 22 vote.

Shiller said she will try to gather enough votes from aldermen she can persuade to change their minds, or who were not present for the vote, to revive the issue at next week`s council meeting.

Mayor Richard Daley appeared to be annoyed at the length of the debate over Shiller`s proposal, and her microphone was cut off over her shouts for recognition before the mayor upheld a motion to end the discussion and vote on the issue.

In scaling down her budget amendment ordinance in an attempt to assuage opponents, Shiller cut to 200 from 250 the number of nurses needed for health care in schools with high absenteeism.

She retained the proposal for 50 police officers to act as coordinators of the state`s Safe School Zone Act at troubled schools requesting additional police supervision.

Shiller contended that her compromise would have cut the costs to $6.3 million from $9.4 with funding created by marginal across-the-board cuts in the city`s overall budget.

Neither Daley nor any aldermen opposed the concept of assigning additional police officers and full-time nurses to city schools, but insisted that the responsibility for paying for those moves belonged to the Chicago Board of Education and the Illinois legislature.

Daley`s $3 billion budget and amendments for 1990 were approved by a 43 to 1 vote, with Shiller casting the lone dissenting vote.

Before taking that vote, the council buried in committee, the proposal by Ald. William Beavers (7th) to restore 120 battalion chiefs` drivers in the Fire Department budget.

Daley had ordered the so-called ``buggy drivers`` to be assigned to other duties over the objection of the firefighters` union. It was part of an effort to plug a $120 million hole in the 1989 budget.

The council also rejected a proposal by Ald. Lawrence Bloom (5th) to add $400,000 to the $395,000 now appropriated for the city`s upcoming negotiations with Commonwealth Edison Co. on a new franchise agreement to supply electric power in the city.

Daley formally submitted an official notice of termination of the current agreement that expires Dec. 31, 1990, and the city`s intent to acquire Edison`s facilities if a new agreement is not reached.

He described the action as a legal move designed ``to preserve the options that can help us negotiate the best deal for residential and business customers alike.``

The only option the mayor said he will rule out is having city employees run the utility and its power plants.

The council also approved negotiated settlements totaling $610,000 to be paid to survivors of two men who died as the result of actions by Chicago police officers.

Survivors of Pedro Tico, who died in 1983 after being beaten by police officers investigating a disturbance call, will receive $400,000, while the family of Timothy Phillips, who was fatally shot by a police officer attempting to serve a petty theft warrant in 1988, will receive a $210,000 settlement.

Negotiated settlements were recommended by the city corporation counsel`s office to avoid the possibility of far more substantial damages being awarded if the city lost civil lawsuits resulting from the deaths.

The council also approved the appropriation of $93,500 in annual salary for the newly created post of chief financial officer, a position that Daley announced on Tuesday would be filled by Edward Bedore, the city budget director.

Copyright 1989 Chicago Tribune Company