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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-1996 Meeting I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 29, 1996 3:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. H. Brigham, Chairman; Zetterberg, Vice- Chairman; Kuhlke and Mays, members; Pam Smith, Emergency Management Director; John Etheridge, Human Resources Director; Jim Wall, Interim Attorney; Moses McCauley and Gayle Scott of the Human Resources Department; Linda Beazley, Interim Administrator for Administration; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; A. B. McKie, Jr., Comptroller; Bill Carstarphen, Consolidation Project Manager; Sheriff Charles Webster, Sheriff's Department; Bat. Chief Dennis Atkins, Fire Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. ABSENT: Hon. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television, Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio and Hons. Beard and Todd, Commissioners. Communication from the Interim Attorney regarding the possible subcontracting by University Hospital of the ambulance service to Rural Metro, was read. I At this time representatives from University Hospital and Rural Metro appeared before the Committee regarding the above communication. Mr. Wall: The contract entered into in 1971 was prior to the E-911 service coming into being. You have to look at the transportation of indigents to the hospital and the service to provide for emergency transportation. It is my opinion that University Hospital needs our approval to subcontract that service. The agreement is silent about that. Since I feel that providing emergency medical care along with this transportation service is indeed a professionaL service, the Commission-Council would need to give its approval for subcontracting this service. The subcontracting would only go to the emergency care. Any ambulance service could come before the East Central Georgia Emergency Medical Service Council and apply for 911 jurisdiction within a certain area or the County as a whole. It would be up to that Council to decide whether or not any other service would respond to calls within a certain area. I After a lengthy discussion between Committee members and representatives from the Hospital, Mr. Kuhlke: I move that we ask University Hospital to check with the East Central Georgia Commission to see first if this service can be subcontracted and to put everything on the table and later this year to advertise for proposals for ambulance service. Mr. Mays: I'll second. This is not totally a dollars and cents situation that must be considered. Motion adopted unanimously. I The Committee next considered salary adjustments for the Fire and Sheriff's Departments. Mr. Etheridge: We have tried to eliminate the disparity in these two departments. We are probably going to begin this the first payroll in July and are looking at about $651,000 for the last six months of this year. Mr. Zetterberg: I make a motion we approve the salary increase starting the first payroll in July contingent on the money being in the budget. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered Rules and Regulations governing the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department. Mr. Zetterberg: I move that these be approved as written. Mr. Kuhlke: I'll second the motion. Motion adopted unanimously. I The Committee next considered bids for inmate uniforms. Capt. Gene Johnson: We would like to change the bid to Robinson Textiles for inmate uniforms. You can see the disparity in these two samples between the sizes because they shrink when they are washed. A size large shrinks down to a size small. Robinson Textiles is the second low bidder. Mr. Mays: I move we accept the best bid of Robinson Textiles and that this discrepancy is so noted in terms of the problem with the low bidder so that we are protected legally. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Zetterberg out of the room. The Committee next considered receiving the Universal Hiring Grant and the equipment needed to implement it. Sheriff Webster: This is a grant that enables us to get a suppression team to work in a high crime and heavy drug area. It includes the equipment necessary as well. We'll try to get as much of it as we can. Mr. Chairman: This includes item 6 for the equipment as I well. I Mr. Mays: I make a motion we approve item five. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Mays: I move that we approve item six. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Interim Attorney requesting ratification of the contract between Augusta-Richmond County, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the State of Georgia, was read. Mr. Wall: This is a grant of $1,055.20 and had to be received in Atlanta on May 20. Mr. Kuhlke: I move for approval. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Interim Attorney concerning additional 911 equipment needed at the new facility. Essentially, because of the number of lines and the amount of equipment, it was determined that the 30 button set was not sufficient to insure full coverage of all the existing needs. In addition, even if certain of the functions were eliminated, there would be no room for future growth and expansion. In discussions with Robert Jenkins and representatives of the users (Sheriff's Department, Fire Department and EMS), it is my recommendation that we expand the system to the 60 button sets, was read. Mr. Wall: This would be an increase of about $34,000. Mr. Zetterberg: I so move. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. I Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council NWM