08-11-14 Health and Public Safety

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HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 11. 2014 3:50 P.M. Committee Members Present: Derek Dieter, Henry Davis (AB), Dr. Fred Ferlic, Tim Scott Citizen Members Present: Robert Emery (AB) Other Council Present: Valerie Schey, Dr. Davis Varner, Oliver Davis, Karen White, Gavin Ferlic Others Present: Mark Neal, Chief Gary Horvath, Chuck Bulot, Kathryn Roos, John Murphy Agenda: Bill 41 -14 Amending Ambulance Service Fees Bill 14 -73 PSAP Interlocal agreement Derek Dieter, Chairman of the Health and Public Safety Committee, with a quorum present, called the meeting to order with two items scheduled for consideration. The first bill 41 -14, initiated by the City would adjust ambulance service fees. Chairman Dieter announced he had received a request to continue this bill until the next meeting on August 25, 2014. The full Council would vote at the 7:00 P.M. meeting to accept or deny that request. The next item, bill 14 -73, asks the Council to approve an interlocal agreement to consolidate Public Service Answering Points (PSAP). Currently there are four dispatch centers: Roseland, County Police, Mishawaka and South Bend. The state law requires each county have no more than two centers. After years of analysis a special blue ribbon committee chose an alternative which means the construction of a dispatch center south of Mishawaka on Capital. The South Bend dispatch center would be upgraded to act as back -up facility. Most of the Council questions that followed the presentation (attachment) focused on the fate of the City's dispatchers in that if the interlocal agreement were to be adopted, they would become County employees January 1, 2015. Tim Scott led off followed by Karen White and Derek Dieter. Before it was over Dr. Fred Ferlic and Dr. David Varner had employee transition questions as well. Mark Neal who had made the presentation tried to answer all the questions. In his answers he said while current City employees would not have job guarantees they would be given first priority in job interviews to be conducted over the next few weeks. In addition their sick leave and vacation would be honored in the transition. Should they choose to retire, these accumulated benefits would be paid in full. Mark also said the new work schedule would likely be a 5 day traditional 40 hour workweek as opposed to the current 6 days on three off schedule. 11 Page