HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-05 Health & Public Safety Health and Public Safety Committee
2005 South Bend Common Council
The January 24, 2005 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by
its Chairperson, Council Member Karen L. White at 4:25 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting
Room.
Persons in attendance included: Council Members Dieter, Pfeifer, Kelly, Puzzello, Varner,
Kuspa, Kirsits, Rouse, and White; Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, City Clerk John Voorde, Assistant
Fire Chief Rick Switaiski, Executive Director of the Department of Community and Economic
Development Sharon Kendall, Liz Rowell, Assistant Fire Chief Howard Buchanon. Battalion
Chief Greg Metzger, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney.
Council Member White noted that the members of the Committee included Council Members
Kuspa, Varner,Rouse and herself.
Council Member White then called for a presentation on Bill No. 2-05 which would appropriate
$374,361 within the Emergency Medical Services Capital Improvement Fund(#288)to purchase
necessary fire equipment.
Assistant Fire Chief Rick Switalski made the presentation. He noted that the monies would be
used to purchase seventy-eight (78) self-contained breathing apparatus units which will be
certified to be used in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident. He noted that
during 2004,the Fire Department received a federal grant for $374,361 to purchase the SCBA's.
70% of the total FEMA grant is $262,053 with the city's matching share of 30% being
$112,308.00. The SCBA's will be state of the art and will provide needed protection to our
firefighters.
Battalion Chief Greg Metzger spoke in favor of the Bill, and noted in response to a question
from Council Member Kuspa that the Fire Department does utilize geiger counters.
Council Member Kuspa made a motion, seconded by Dr. Varner that Bill No. 2-05 be
recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed.
Under miscellaneous business, Dr. Varner noted that the City and in particular the Department
of Public Works and the Street Division did a great job in removing snow, and asked that this be
passed on to the many workers.
There being no further business to come before the Committee, Council Member White
adjourned the meeting at 4:28 p.m.
Rctfully submitted,
Council Member Karen L. White, Chairperson
Health and Public Safety Committee
KCF:kmf
Attachment
Health and Public Safety Committee of the 2005 South Bend Common Council -page 1-