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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-27-1996 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - August 27, 1996 3:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; H. Brigham, Chairman; Zetterberg, Vice-Chairman; Kuhlke and Mays, members; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; Chief W. L. Maddox, Fire Department; Bat. Chief Dennis Atkins, Fire Department; Lori D'Alessio of the Attorney's Office; Steve Smith of the Marshal's Department; Sheriff Charles Webster; Barry Smith, Director of Trees & Parks; Warden Robert Leverett, RCCI; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle, Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio, other members of the news media and Hons. J. Brigham, Commissioner. Communication from the Sheriff's Department requesting that the bid for 200 ballistic vests be awarded to G. T. Distributors as the best bid for $417.67, was read. Mr. Kuhlke: I move it be approved. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered a request from the Sheriff to hire three deputies to supervise inmate labor crews for the Cemeteries. Sheriff Webster: We have people in the Stockade now who are able to go to work and if I can get three more guards, I can have three more teams out. This will put out seven or eight crews working in the cemeteries as well as other areas. If the Commission office would designate priority areas in both the City and County, we would take care of putting out the inmates in whatever areas they are needed. Mr. Kuhlke: I think that either Charles Dillard or Barry Smith should carry out the communication with the Sheriff's Department in coordinating the work at the cemeteries and other places. We also need the equipment to do the work when we put out these crews. Mr. Smith: I equipment we need. poor condition and think we can work At this time the we have enough to together to get the cemetery equipment is only work ten people. in Mr. Kuhlke: Do you have a list of the equipment you need? Mr. Smith: I do and I was going to bring that forward when we got regular inmates in the cemeteries. Mr. Mays: I would think we could purchase some of this equipment under our emergency procedures since this matter has received much attention. Will the inmates be assigned to certain areas by means of the priority list by the Urban Services Administrator? I Sheriff Webster: priorities are and we The inmates that have I think it would depend on whatever the can make adjustments where it is necessary. been working have been producing. Mr. Dillard: The inmates will be in the cemeteries working now and then we would work on a priority list wherever the work needs to be done. Mr. Kuhlke: If there is a problem that arises, who would a Commissioner contact? Mr. Dillard: They can call me and I'll work from there down to the department heads. Mr. Mays: We will have to look at the permanent personnel needs on a long-term basis as well as the need for additional equipment. Mr. Zetterberg: I move that we hire three deputies to supervise the inmate labor crews. Mr. Kuhlke: I second. I Mr. Chairman: And that we determine between now and Tuesday how this will be funded. Mr. Zetterberg: Yes, I'll add that. Mr. Kuhlke: And Mr. Dillard needs to work with Barry Smith on the equipment part of this so that it gets on the agenda for Tuesday also. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Attorney stating I have met with Sheriff Webster and have reviewed with him the existing contracts for medical services at JLEC. As you will recall, a contract was originally entered into with CMS for a 14 month period, which carried the contract through December 31, 1995. The contract provided for an automatic renewal, with a provision for an increase, for calendar year 1996. Subsequent to the renewal of this contract, additional billings for calendar year 1995 have been coming in, which have exceeded the cap on the company's exposure, resulting in increased costs to the County for medical treatment at the JLEC. However, because efforts I are made not whouse inmates with medical problems at either the stockade or RCCI, the caps for these contracts are not being reached. In reviewing this matter, it is apparent that it would I I I be better to have one contract covering all three facilities, such that the cap is applied across the board. The contracts have a provision for an automatic renewal, unless notice is given prior to September 30. I have spoken to Sheriff Webster and Robert Leverett and there is agreement that one contract covering all three locations would be better. Therefore, it is recommended that the three existing contracts be terminated December 31 and that a request for proposals from competing companies be sought, and analyze what will be most cost effective. An additional consideration is the fact that the 4th Street addition to the JLEC, which will contain a medical unit, will hopefully be open by the first of the year, and must be made a part of the new contract. Also, because of concerns over existing billings from CMS, Sheriff Webster has requested that the Internal Auditor review these billings and compare them to the contract, was read. Mr. Zetterberg: I move for approval. Mr. Kuhlke: I'll second that. Would that include the part about the Internal Auditor reviewing the billings? Mr. Zetterberg: I'll include that. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Marshal's Department stating in regards to consolidation effects on our department, the Ordinance Division of Magistrate Court has had a case load increase of about 30%. This has increased the workload to an already understaffed Marshal's Department. In June we requested three deputy marshal positions and we were put on hold until the mid- year review was completed. At this point, to continue to provide adequate service to our customers we need at least two new deputy marshal positions which may initially be added as temporary positions. We have incurred a 41% increase in bench warrants which results in lost revenue to the County. As I have stated in the past, a portion of the increase needed to fund these positions will be recovered by revenue generated by these new positions, was read. Mr. Mays: Do you have a financing source? Mr. Smith: We didn't discuss a funding source at the time I appeared before the Finance Committee. After a discussion of the matter, Mr. Kuhlke: I move for approval subject to the approval of the Finance Committee and Butch McKie that we've got the funds. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: was adjourned. NWM There being no further business, the meeting Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council I I I