02-28-00 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Comm at** **port: Health and Public Safety Committee "eo tbt Common Coma of ttjt ttty of goutfj tnb: The February 28, 2000 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Andrew Ujdak, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Aranowski, White, Varner, Coleman, Kirsits,Ujdak,Pfeifer,and Kelly; Fire Chief Luther Taylor,Battalion Chief James Lopez of Special Operations and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Ujdak noted that the first item on the agenda was Bill No. 21-00 which would appropriate$21,300 from the Indiana River Rescue Fund(Fund#291). Fire Chief Luther Taylor introduced Battalion Chief James Lopez to the Committee. He noted that the proposed appropriation would purchase 15 hp motors,ropes and pullies, life jackets & helmets, boats and radios as further detailed on the attachment to the Bill. He also noted that $ 2,000 is proposed as "working capital" to address unforeseen emergencies. Monies in this fund are generated by the River Rescue instructors who teach a minimum of two (2)forty-hour classes each year for public safety officers throughout the United States. Following discussion on the Bill, the Council Attorney noted that she has issued an advisory legal opinion on whether Council Member Kirsits could vote on this Bill as well as Bill No. 22-00 while also serving as a member of the South Bend Fire Department. She noted that she had contacted the Indiana Ethics Commission and the City's Legal Department as a part of her research. She has concluded that Council Member Kirsits does NOT have a conflict of interest on either of the Bills pending before this Committee and will be able to participate in their discussion and disposition. She further added that these matters would be reviewed on a case by case basis. (A copy of the advisory opinion is attached to these minutes). Council Member White then made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kelly that Bill No.21-00 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Chief Taylor then reviewed Bill No. 22-00 which would appropriate$ 8,350 from the Has- Mat Fund for the purchase of the eleven (11)types of equipment listed in the detail to the ordinance. He noted that $ 1,000 is being proposed as "working capital" for unforeseen emergencies. This fund has a balance of$ 16,000 as of January. Following discussion, Council Member Kelly made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kirsits that Bill No. 22-00 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Under miscellaneous business, Council Member Pfeifer noted that she would be reinstituting the special sub-committee on "traffic calming". There being no further business to come before the Committee,the meeting was adjourned by Council Member Ujdak at 5:07 p.m.