Public Health & Housing Committee

JOINT POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE & PUBLIC HEALTH & HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES January 14, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers IN ATTENDANCE Police & Fire Health & Housing____________ Members: Alderman Johnnie Anthony Members: Alderman Jane Pusa Alderman Joe Hazel Alderman Raffi Ovian Alderman Jane Pusa Alderman Scott Tyler Alderman Kent Randle Alderman Roger Barfield Alderman Shelley Schaefer Alderman Mary Stiehl Alderman Andrew Gaa Tricia Tialdo Alderman Phil Elmore Alderman Roger Wigginton Guests: Alderman Mike Buettner Alderman Dennis Weygandt Staff: Mayor Mark Eckert City Treasurer Dean Hardt Police Chief William Clay III Assistant Police Chief Matt Eiskant Fire Chief Tom Pour EDPZ Director Annissa McCaskill HR Director Sherry Salvatore Assistant Director of H & H Jeff Heidorn Mayor Eckert called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Chairman Anthony took roll call of the Police & Fire committee. All present except for Alderman Elmore who entered a little later. Chairman Pusa took roll call of the Health & Housing committee. All present. Motion made by Alderman Wigginton, second by Alderman Hazel to approve the minutes for Police & Fire from October 18, 2018 regular meeting. All present voted Aye, motion carried. Motion made by Alderman Tyler, second by Alderman Stiehl to approve the minutes for Public Health & Housing from December 5, 2018 regular meeting. All present voted Aye, motion carried. There was no Public Participation. Fire Department – Chief Pour gave a brief overview of the year-end report for 2018 stating calls were up for the year. He is still working on the report; when it is completed, it will be put on the February agenda. Alderman Pusa discussed the concerns regarding 626 Garden Boulevard. Lt. Col. Eiskant stated a 5-day notice was issued but nothing was done to clean up the residence, so a ticket was issued that hasn’t been served yet. Jeff Heidorn stated the Home Occupation application, which he didn’t sign for when they granted it, has been revoked by letter via certified mail and it has been served, so they can no longer run a business out of there. Next, Mayor Eckert stated after discussing with his staff, he is willing to try a pilot program on what is being called Residential & Commercial Development Services (RCDS). This program will link EDPZ, Health & Housing and the Police Department and will eliminate the Director of Health & Housing position. Annissa McCaskill will become the Interim Director of RCDS, and Jeff Heidorn will become the Assistant Director. With the elimination of the Health & Housing Director position, and taking on additional responsibilities, they will each receive a stipend for the trial period, along with Police Chief Clay and Lt. Col. Eiskant who will take on additional responsibilities as well. Alderman Wigginton stated that once this is all set, the Aldermen will need to know who to call for housing & nuisance issues and they must get answers back on what the end result was so they can go back to their constituents with the resolution. He also asked if after one year and the program doesn’t work as set up, does the stipend go away or does it become part of the salary. Mayor said if program doesn’t work, there is no stipend. Also, he feels it’s very important that the Aldermen get a progress report quarterly from all involved on what is working, what is not, so that they can weigh in if necessary along the way, so that after the one-year pilot program is over, they’ve all been informed periodically. Alderman Randle said when they have a committee meeting, all four (4) department heads need to be present. He also asked and was discussed on upgrading the technology so that the Aldermen might have a portal to check. Annissa McCaskill spoke about the quarterly report; which would give the number of calls, specific calls etc. in addition to upgrading how everything is tracked by computer so that the Aldermen who make the concern can get a response back in a timely manner. Much discussion is taking place to figure all this out. Alderman Ovian asked the Mayor about the vacant housing ordinance and if it’s been checked to make sure the list is up-to-date. Some commercial businesses in his ward are filthy. The Mayor stated he and the police department are aware of some of the issues with certain businesses and they will be issuing tickets if they aren’t cleaned up or being kept up. Alderman Wigginton then asked Annissa why does it seem like opening a new business is so laborious in the City? Some discussion took place regarding what it takes. Alderman Hazel inquired how much the cost will be to upgrade the tracking system for RCDS – the total cost is still being figured out. Alderman Randle asked that we move forward and vote on the motion. A roll call vote was taken on the Motion to approve the reorganization proposal for Residential and Commercial Development Services (RCDS), formerly Health, Housing & Building Department: Health & Housing – Alderman Pusa, Ovian, Tyler, Stiehl, Ms. Tialdo all voted yes. Mayor Eckert also voted yes. Alderman Barfield voted no. Motion made by Alderman Ovian, second by Alderman Stiehl to approve the motion. Motion carried. Police & Fire – Alderman Anthony, Hazel, Pusa, Randle, Schaefer, Gaa, Elmore and Wigginton all voted yes. Mayor Eckert also voted yes. Motion made by Alderman Wigginton, second by Alderman Schaefer to approve the motion. Motion carried. There was no New Business. There was no Old Business. Meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m. Prepared by Lynda Bohanon