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From YouTube: Committee on Labor and Civil Service 6-7-2017
Description
The Committee on Labor and Civil Service of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 to hear testimony on the following item:
170366 An Ordinance amending Section 21-105 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Hero Awards," by increasing the amount that may be awarded to family members of firefighters, police officers, and prosecution detectives killed in the course of performing heroic deeds, and by making certain technical changes; all under certain terms and conditions.
Committee on Labor and Civil Service
Chair: Councilwoman Cherelle Parker (9th District)
Vice Chair: Maria Quiñones-Sanchez (7th District)
A
Enough
reading
someone
else
is
going
to
give
just
bear
with
me
a
second,
so
good
good
afternoon
is
here
in
this
hall
to
order.
This
is
the
public
here
in
to
the
City
Council
Committee
on
labor
and
civil
service.
The
purpose
of
this
public
hearing
is
to
hear
testimony
on
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Three,
six
six
I
recognize
that
the
presence
of
a
quorum
of
committee
members
are
present.
Members
of
the
committee
and
attendants
are
councilman
Dom
council,
member
talboom
Berger.
A
B
Chair,
thank
you
very
much
and
and
and
and
this
bill
hopes
to
address
a
problem
for
many
people.
It
is
a
deeply
personal
problem
to
me
and
that
my
son
is
at
Pennsylvania
State
Trooper
and
many
a
night
I
lay
awake
worrying
about
his
safety
and
dreading.
What
would
become
of
his
family
and
his
wife?
If
God
forbid,
he
should
die
in
the
line
of
duty.
B
We
as
a
city
need
to
do
more
to
protect
our
police
officers.
Our
firefighters,
our
paramedics,
our
EMTs
and
raising
the
amount
of
the
hero
wards
is
really
a
great
start,
and
we've
asked
for
an
increase
in
this
amount,
but
hopefully,
madam
chair
and
members
of
the
committee,
it
is
my
wish
and
hope
that
none
of
this
ever
has
to
be
spent
that
none
of
this
ever
has
to
be
allocated.
I
think
it
is
a
great
start,
though,
to
show
the
families
that
we
care
deeply.
B
A
C
Section
21
105
of
the
Philadelphia
Code
entitled
hero
Awards
by
increasing
the
amount
that
may
be
awarded
to
family
members
of
firefighters,
police
officers
and
prosecution,
detectives
killed
in
the
course
of
performing
heroic
deeds
and
by
making
certain
technical
changes
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank
you
will.
A
C
A
D
You
and
good
afternoon,
chairman
Parker
and
members
of
the
Committee
on
labor
and
civil
service
I
am
Adam
tiel
Commissioner
of
the
Philadelphia
Fire
Department
I
am
here
today
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
three:
six:
six
sponsored
by
councilmembers
taubenberger,
Dom,
O'neil,
Parker
and
council
president
Clark,
which
seeks
to
increase
the
amount
awarded
to
family
members
of
firefighters,
police
officers
and
prosecution,
detectives
killed
in
the
course
of
performing
heroic
deeds.
The
hero
award,
which
currently
stands
at
twenty-five
thousand
dollars,
was
last
increased
in
2002.
D
The
cost
of
living
has
gone
up
since
then,
and
bill
number
one,
seven,
zero.
Three
six
six
would
help
close
this
gap
by
raising
the
award
to
$35,000.
The
bill
would
also
shorten
the
period
over
which
the
funds
are
distributed
from
50
months
to
35
months.
Both
changes
would
signal
strong
support
for
grieving
families.
Firefighters
have
been
serving
Philadelphia
for
more
than
280
years.
They
risk
their
lives
every
day
to
protect
the
residents
of
this
city
when
they
make
the
ultimate
sacrifice.
The
city
should
honor
that
loss
and
support
the
family.
D
Members
behind
our
colleagues
in
law
enforcement
deserve
the
same
recognition.
Thank
you
for
inviting
me
to
testify
and
support
the
supported
legislation.
I
would
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
and
further
I
understand.
There
has
been
an
amendment
proposed
and
we
are
in
full
support
of
that
amendment.
Thank
you.
E
Good
afternoon
Council,
my
name
is
Edward
Marx,
a
vice
president
of
local
22
of
the
International
Association
of
professional
firefighters
and
paramedics,
I'm
honored
to
be
here
today,
speaking
on
a
matter
as
important
as
this
I'd
first
like
to
thank
councilman
Tauber
for
introducing
this
amendment
to
the
current
legislation.
It
is
an
orphan
that
we
have
the
ability
to
address
these
kinds
of
matters,
usually
usually
we're
focusing
our
time
and
energy
when
trying
to
prevent
the
tragedies
the
hero
award
recognizes.
E
They
speak
for
myself
and
the
men
and
women
I
represent
in
thanking
you
for
taking
the
time
to
take
this
proposal
into
consideration.
Like
the
commissioner
said,
when
councilman
Sultan
Berger
told
me
about
this,
I
did
some
research
and
found
out
that
the
hero
award
was
established
in
1953
the
last
time
there
was
any
changes
made
to
was
15
years
ago
where
was
raised
to
$25,000,
and
that
was
proposed
by
then
councilman
Jim
Kenney
I'd
like
to
give
you
a
brief
history
of
my
career
in
the
fire
department.
E
E
You
know
being
up
here
with
the
training
and
especially
when
we
train
new
recruits,
but
the
downside
of
being
assigned
up
that
the
academy
is,
if
the
Academy's
responsibility
to
bury
our
lowest
members
when
they
die
in
the
line
of
duty
in
the
two
years
that
I
was
up
there
I
had
to
handle
four,
it
was
excuse
me,
who's,
firefighter,
Jim,
Allen,
lieutenant
Eric,
Harvey,
Captain,
John,
Taylor
and
firefighter
ray
Rubio
I'm
sure
most
everyone
in
this
room
attended
the
funeral
of
a
fallen
firefighter
or
police
officer.
It's
quite
impressive.
E
When
you
see
the
turnout
of
our
members
and
the
members
from
outside
departments,
you
see
the
ceremonies
the
formations,
the
processions
to
the
cemeteries,
there's
civilians
along
the
procession
route,
they're
holding
flags
saluting
our
fallen
members
and
down
in
our
head
and
saying
prayers.
What
our
duties
don't
stop
after
the
funeral.
We
continue
to
support
the
families
through
this
terrible
judgment
period
with
counseling
and
any
other
support
that
we
can
offer
so
I
sit
here
today.
E
Confident
proud
that
I
am
able
to
tell
you
that
the
brave
men
and
women
that
down
our
uniforms
are
some
of
the
very
best
individuals
that
this
city
has
produced.
They
do
their
work,
not
for
the
glory
or
the
accolades,
not
for
the
money
or
the
rewards.
They
do
their
work,
because
it's
a
life
calling
having
seen
firsthand
the
sorrow
and
a
hardships
that
a
line
of
duty
death
places
on
our
members,
family
I,
can
tell
you
that
this
award
has
an
immediate
impact
on
helping
the
family
through
these
difficult
times.
E
F
You
good
afternoon,
chairman
Parker
members
of
the
Committee
on
labor
and
civil
service.
My
name
is
Francis
Healy
and
I'm.
Special
advisor
to
commissioner
Ross
on
behalf
of
the
Commissioner
I,
would
like
to
thank
you
for
giving
the
police
department
the
opportunity
to
voice
its
opinion
regarding
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
three,
six:
six
relating
to
hero
Awards.
As
you
know,
the
current
hero
word
set
forth
in
city
or
city
code.
F
21
105
is
$25,000
awarded
through
the
five
surviving
spouse
or
dependent
children
or
dependent
parents
of
every
firefighter
or
police
officer
and
detective,
as
well,
killed
in
the
course
of
a
form
of
heroic
deed.
The
payment
of
this
amount
is
currently
five
hundred
dollars
stretched
over
a
50
month
period.
I'm
here
today
to
fully
support
the
increasing
this
award.
$35,000
I
also
understand
the
amendment
is
up
to
50.
We
fully
support
that
as
well.
The
fear
of
the
police
officers
and
I'm
sure
the
same
is
true
for
firefighters
is
not
the
dangers
we
face.
F
The
family's
money
can
never
replace
the
heroes
we
lose,
but
to
those
police
and
firefighters
on
the
street
today,
this
bill
will
show
that
the
city
cares
about
them
and
equally
important
about
their
families.
So,
on
behalf
of
my
commissioner
and
my
officers,
I'd
like
to
thank
councilman
Kevin,
burger,
councilman,
DOM,
Councilwoman,
Parker
and
Cal
to
president
Clark
for
an
interest
in
this
bill,
discontent
I'd
happy
be
answer
any
questions
it's
concluded
by
just
annoying.
Thank
you.
G
Good
afternoon
good
afternoon,
council
president
clark,
chairperson
parker
council,
madam
Tom,
burger,
Mayor,
Eric,
Tsang,
says
and
O'neal
on
behalf
of
President
John
Makdessi.
My
name
is
Nick
denofa
I'm
other
vice
president's
of
eternal
order.
Police
I
would
like
to
personally
thank
this
committee
for
your
consideration
and
heroes
award
bill
increase,
no
amount
of
money
can
ever
replace
the
family
member
who
was
suddenly
destroyed
by
violence.
This
is
particularly
true
when
the
family,
members
or
public
servants
who
voluntarily
give
up
their
lives
for
the
fellow
citizens.
G
The
financial
assistance
provided
by
the
heroes
award
helps
take
one
new
verdun
off
the
shoulders
of
a
grief-stricken
family.
However,
with
that
everything
else,
costs
has
steadily
risen,
since
the
original
bill
was
passed,
its
fixed
amount.
This
is
the
reason
we
are
respectfully
requesting
a
generous
increase
in
the
amount
offered.
The
additional
funds
will
allow
you
to
compensate
future
families
with
the
same
level,
generosity
of
your
shown,
the
families
in
the
past,
on
behalf
of
our
members
and
their
families,
we
are
counting
on
your
continued
compassion
and
support.
Thank
you.
H
Just
a
couple
of
quick
things:
one
I
want
to
thank
and
congratulate
councilman
tog
regarder
for
bringing
this
proposal
to
the
council
in
the
form
of
a
bill,
but
also
obviously
working
with
parties
to
increase
it.
I
know
it's
based
on
discussions
and
outreach,
but
thirdly,
the
administration
two
commissioners
here
and
represented
I
blessed
in
the
last
term,
I'm
not
sure
that
we
would
have
not
had
some
pushback
and
it
was
nice
to
know
that
everybody
feels
exactly
the
same
way
and
that
this
is
not
a
money
issue.
H
I
Councilman
Sanchez.
Thank
you.
I
also
want
to
thank
my
colleague.
He
was
lobbying
last
night
I
was
like
this
is
a
no-brainer
one,
but
I
did
have
some
logistical
questions
for
Healy
in
terms
of
to
all
of
the
survivors
get
grandfathered.
Are
people
going
to
be
able
to
go
back
and
receive
additional
money,
or
this
is
moving
forward,
so
everyone
who's
entitled?
What's
that
universe,
look
like
it.
F
Would
be
my
understanding?
I
can't
speak
for
a
lot
apartment
interpretation
of
the
code,
but
the
code
would
be
not
retroactive,
so
there's
individuals
that
were
killed,
committing
heroic
acts
prior
to
the
enactment
of
this
amount
would
be
entitled
to
the
$25,000
so
every
time,
because
every
time
the
amendment
goes
up,
it
doesn't
go
retroactively
up.
That
would
be
my
understanding.
Okay,.
J
You,
madam
chairwoman,
and
thank
you
to
this
illustrious
panel
by
the
way
everybody
here
today,
I
want
to
thank
my
colleague
out
counseling
talent,
murder.
This
is
a
good
good
bill.
I
just
have
a
couple
of
questions.
I
wanted
to
understand:
god
forbid,
we
have
a
loss
in
the
future.
Is
there
life
insurance
for
police
and
fire
that
also
had
additional
benefits
to
the
families?
It's.
F
D
If
you
councilman
I
think
it
actually
varies
depending
on
depending
on
the
individual,
because
folks
generally
have
a
choice
about
whether
to
elect
higher
amounts
of
coverages
the
benefit.
There
is
a
federal
benefit.
Public
safety
officers
benefit
that's
administered
through
the
Department
of
Justice
one
of
the
challenges
with
that,
although
certainly
it's
appreciated,
it
generally
takes
a
fair
amount
of
time
to
get
through
the
federal
process.
D
So
this
is
actually
one
of
the
the
earliest
forms
of
assistance
that
the
city
can
provide,
while
they're
waiting
for
the
survivors
are
waiting
for
the
state
monies
to
become
available
or
the
federal
process
to
unfold,
and
then
the
life
insurance
are
really
is
sort
of
a
by
case
basis.
We
can
that
really
would
be
a
risk-management.
Probably
that
could
answer
that
question
more
precisely,
and
we
can
get
back
to
you
with
an
answer
through
the
energy
I
just.
J
Feel
like
this
is
great
that
my
colleagues
increasing
it,
but
the
amount
even
or
giving
is
extremely
low
in
today's
world.
It's
embarrassing
to
say
fifty
thousand
dollars
for
someone
who
lost
his
life.
I
would
like
to
see
us
have
a
life
insurance
program
where
it's
several
hundred
thousand
dollars
that
the
family
gets
I
mean
this
is
a
big
deal
so
and
maybe
there's
a
way
to
leverage
by
the
way,
the
fifty
thousand
a
year
into
much
bigger
life
insurance
for
those
who
actually
get
affected.
J
B
You,
madam
chair,
and
thank
you
for
your
leadership
and
calling
the
committee
together
and
being
supportive
of
the
entire
process
and
being
a
co-sponsor
to
this
I
want
to
thank
the
panel
for
their
service,
obviously
their
testimony
and
their
their
willingness
to
work
with
us
and
also
the
administration.
I
think
it
does
send
a
very,
very
important
note
that
the
Kennedy
administration
is
supportive
of
these
measures.
I.
Thank
you
all
and
Madam
chair
whenever
you're
set
for
my
motion.
I
will
do
that
sure.
Thank.
A
You
is
there
anyone
else
present
who
wishes
to
testify
on
build
number
one:
seven:
zero,
three,
six,
six,
so
hearing
none!
This
concludes
the
public
hearing.
We
will
now
go
into
a
public
meeting
to
consider
the
action
to
be
taken
on
the
bill
that
was
heard
today.
The
chair
recognizes
council
member
talboom
burger
for
emotion
on
the
amendment
to
build
number
one:
seven,
zero,
three
six
six,
madam.
B
A
Has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
the
amendment
to
build
number
one,
seven,
zero,
three
six
six
be
approved.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying
aye
aye
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
in
the
amendment
to
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Three
six
six
has
been
approved.
The
chair
now
recognizes
councilmember
talbin
burger
for
motion
on
bill
number,
one:
seven,
zero,
three,
six,
six
as
amended.
Thank.
B
A
Has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
the
bill
number
one,
seven
zero
three,
six
six
as
amended,
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
to
next
session
of
council.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying
aye
aye
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
in
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
A
Three,
six
six
as
amended,
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
with
the
request
that
the
rules
of
channels
will
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
at
the
next
session
of
council.
While
this
concludes
the
business
of
the
Committee
on
labor
and
civil
service.
Today
we
want
to
thank
each
and
every
one
of
you
for
participating
today
and
for
those
at
home
who
are
watching.
A
I
do
want
to
say
to
you,
councilman,
Chow,
Bamberger,
again,
a
special
thanks
for
your
leadership
on
this
issue,
but
I
think
vice
chairman
councilman
O'neill
hit
the
hammer
directly
on
top
of
the
nail
when
he
noted
that
the
kumbaya
togetherness
that
was
reached
in
order
to
move
this
forward.
If
we
can
find
a
way,
councilman
O'neill
to
duplicate
that
in
all
other
areas
of
government
and
policy
that
we're
working
on
it
would
definitely
be
a
move
in
the
right
direction.