City Council

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -240- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the meeting of the Canton City Council. With a quorum being present the Chair calls this meeting of Canton City Council to order, roll call vote please Madame Clerk. ROLL CALL TAKEN BY CLERK TIMBERLAKE: 10 COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: ( JOE CARBENIA, MARY CIRELLI, BILL SMUCKLER, GREG HAWK, THOMAS WEST, JAMES GRIFFIN, CHRIS SMITH, TERRY PRATER, DAVID DOUGHERTY, & PATRICK BARTON ) TEN COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT (DON CASAR AND KARL “BUTCH” KRAUS JR ABSENT) CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Two absent, ten present Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you Madame Clerk. Tonight’s invocation will be given by Ward 6 Council Member, David Dougherty and if you’ll also please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. The regular meeting of Canton City Council was held on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 7:30 P.M. in the Canton City Council Chamber. The roll call was taken (see above) by Clerk of Council Cynthia Timberlake. The invocation was given by Council Member David Dougherty, the Pledge of Allegiance led by President Schulman. AGENDA CORRECTIONS & CHANGES PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We’re now under agenda corrections and changes and Members of Council your going to be asked to suspend Rule 22A to add the 2nd reading of Ordinances 4 through 8, Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move 22A be suspended to add 2nd readings Ordinances 4 through and including #8. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to suspend Rule 22A to add the 2nd reading Ordinances 4 through 8 to this evening’s agenda. Are there any remarks? If not Madame Clerk roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Two absent, ten present, Mr. President. Yeas. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you Madame Clerk. The motion carries. Rule 22A is suspended and the Ordinances are a legal part of your agenda.. PUBLIC HEARINGS PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under Public Hearings. We have no Public Hearings this evening. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -241- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 PUBLIC SPEAKS PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under Public Speaks on Ordinances and Resolutions for adoption. We have no speakers signed up this evening. INFORMAL RESOLUTIONS PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under Informal Resolutions and we have no Informal Resolutions but Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia, the chair will recognize a motion to excuse Leader Casar and Member Kraus MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we excuse Member Casar and Member Kraus from tonight’s meeting. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to excuse Leader Casar and Member Kraus. Are there any remarks? I will only indicate to the audience and on the record that Butch Kraus had knee surgery and he apparently over did it and is unable to attend tonight and we wish a speedy recovery and Leader Casar was involved in an automobile crash today. I think he’s fortunately alright but he was shaken up considerably and that’s the reason he is not in attendance tonight. I know both of them would be here but for those problems. So if there are no other remarks, roll call vote please Madame Clerk. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Two absent, ten yeas, Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you Madame Clerk. The motion carries and Leader Casar and Member Kraus are excused from this evening’s meetings. COMMUNICATIONS PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under Communications. Let the journal show that all communications are received as read. NOTE: ALL COMMUNICATIONS WHICH FOLLOW, LISTED BY AGENDA TITLE, ARE ON FILE IN THEIR ENTIRETY IN THE COUNCIL OFFICE WITH THE AGENDA ITEMS FILE DATED APRIL 27, 2009. 195. AUDITOR MALLONN (CITY): CERT OF TOTAL AMT FROM ALL SOURCES FOR 2009. - RECEIVED & FILED 196. FINANCE DIRECTOR ALGER: AUTHORIZE SUPP APPROP & VARIOUS APPROP TRANSFERS. - FINANCE COMMITTEE 197. HATTIE HARRIS GOOD SPIRITS CLUB INTERNATIONAL: REC OF PROCLAMATION OF APPRECIATION & ADVISING OF SPONSORSHIP OF 4/25/09 NATIONAL THANK YOU DAY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -242- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE US & 11/6/09 INT’L THANK YOU DAY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS & WORLD LEADERS. - RECEIVED & FILED 198. LIQUOR CONTROL DIVISION (OHIO): REQ TRANS OF D5 LIQ PERMIT FR: MARGARET K HAAS DBA T BIRD TO: ANGELA SEIFER @ 1425 15TH ST SW. - RECEIVED & FILED 199. MAYOR HEALY: REC OF DRAFT OF PROPOSED ETHICS ORDINANCE. - RECEIVED & FILED 200. MAYOR HEALY: REQ RE-APPT OF CHET WARREN TO SARTA BD FR: 4/1/09 - 3/31/12. - PERSONNEL COMMITTEE 201. SAFETY DIRECTOR NESBITT: AUTHORIZE TO ENTER INTO PROF SVCS CONTRACT W/ANGELA CAVENAUGH TO SERVE AS CITY’S CHIEF BLDG OFFICER NOT TO EXCEED $65,500.00; REQ TRANS OF $65,500.00 FR: PERSONAL SVCS TO: OTHER. - PERSONNEL & FINANCE COMMITTEES 202. SERAN, J, APPLICANT: APPLICATION FOR ZONE CHANGE FOR 619 30TH ST NW FR: R1-A (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO: PB-3 (PLANNED GENERAL BUSINESS) TO CONSTRUCT NEW WAREHOUSE ADDITION ONTO EXISTING BLDG (DUMONT’S SEED CO). - PLANNING COMMISSION 203. SERVICE DIRECTOR PRICE: AUTHORIZE SERV DIR TO ENTER INTO CHANGE ORDER #1 W/CENTRAL-ALLIED ENTERPRISES, INC IN AMT NOT TO EXCEED $136,512.35 FOR 30TH ST NE STORM SEWER, ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION & STORM WATER BASIN PROJ, GP 1083. - FINANCE COMMITTEE 204. TREASURER SCHIRACK: MARCH 2009 RPT OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS & CITY’S OUTSTANDING INVESTMENTS AS OF 3/31/09. - RECEIVED & FILED ORDINANCES & FORMAL RESOLUTIONS FOR FIRST READING PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under first reading Ordinances & Formal Resolutions for the first reading. Let the journal show that all Ordinances are being given their reading as required by State law. Madame Clerk, would you please read the first reading Ordinances by title. NOTE: PRESIDENT SCHULMAN CALLED UPON CLERK TIMBERLAKE TO READ ORDINANCES #1 THROUGH #3 FOR THE FIRST TIME BY TITLE & ANNOUNCED THE COMMITTEE REFERRAL, AS FOLLOWS. #1. (1ST RDG) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LAW DIRECTOR TO APPROPRIATE A PERMANENT EASEMENT AND A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT IN REAL PROPERTY OUTSIDE THE CITY’S CORPORATE LIMITS; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY Referred to Community & Economic Development Committee COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -243- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 #2. (1ST RDG) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 105, CONTRACTS, OF TITLE ONE - GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CANTON Referred to Community & Economic Development and Judiciary Committees #3. (1ST RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE 71/2009 AN ORDINANCE DECLARING 9 BUILDINGS TO BE PUBLIC NUISANCES; AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT FOR THE DEMOLITION OF SAID BUILDINGS; AUTHORIZING THE CLERK OF CANTON CITY COUNCIL TO CERTIFY THE COSTS OF DEMOLITION TO THE STARK COUNTY AUDITOR; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY Referred to Community & Economic Development Committee PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: With regard to Ordinance 3, at this time the Chair will declare an in house recess for Community & Economic Development Committee to meet in regard to Ordinance 3 on your agenda this evening. We are now in recess. (COUNCIL RECESSED @ 7:41 PM FOR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE #3; RECONVENED @ 7:43PM) PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you Assistant Majority Leader. Council therefore will now reconvene after the recess and Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we suspend Rule 22A and place Ordinance #3 back on the agenda. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to suspend Rule 22A to place Ordinance #3 back on the agenda.. Are there any remarks? If not, Madame Clerk roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Motion carries and Ordinance 3 is now a legal part of your agenda. Majority Leader, Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia.. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we suspend the Statutory Rules on Ordinance #3. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to suspend statutory rules on Ordinance #3. Are there any remarks? If not, Madame Clerk roll call vote please. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -244- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: The motion carries and Member Carbenia you’ve heard the three readings. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we adopt Ordinance #3. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #3. Are there any remarks under this Ordinance? Hearing none, Madame Clerk roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. #3 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO.71/2009 PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Ordinance #3 is adopted ORDINANCES & FORMAL RESOLUTIONS FOR SECOND READING PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We’re now under Ordinances for their Second Reading. Madame Clerk will please read Ordinance 4 by title. NOTE: PRESIDENT SCHULMAN CALLED UPON CLERK TIMBERLAKE TO READ ORDINANCES #4 THROUGH #8 FOR THEIR SECOND TIME BY TITLE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, AS FOLLOWS. #4. (2ND RDG) A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE TAX INCENTIVE REVIEW COUNCIL’S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ENTERPRISE ZONE TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY #5. (2ND RDG) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL AND ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE ASSOCIATION (WIA); TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR YEAR-ROUND YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY #6. (2ND RDG) AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 159, ANNEXATION, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES #7. (2ND RDG) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 193/2008. AS AMENDED, BY MAKING THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION HEREIN DESCRIBED; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -245- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 #8. (2ND RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE 72/2009 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT/FILE WITH THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AN AMENDED CONSOLIDATED PLAN OR OTHER APPLICATIONS HUD DETERMINES, EXECUTE GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH HUD AND ACCEPT THE CITY’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT AND HOMELESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS FROM THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT; AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO ESTABLISH THE 2220 HOMELESS PREVENTION FUND; AMENDING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE NO. 193/2008; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Member Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: Yes, Mr. President. I move we suspend the Statutory Rules on #8. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to suspend the Statutory Rules on Ordinance #8. Are there any remarks? If not, Madame Clerk, roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: The motion carries and the Statutory Rules are suspended on Ordinance #8. Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we adopt Ordinance #8. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to suspend, to adopt Ordinance #8. Are there any remarks? MEMBER CIRELLI: Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Member Cirelli. MEMBER CIRELLI: What we all heard in there tonight is City Council more or less put under the gun on this issue. You know there’s a saying that goes “Lack of organization on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine”, however, we hear that this is an emergency or else we’re going to lose these, potentially lose these stimulus dollars and unfortunately the Chairman was ill. That was Mr. Carbenia and out of respect for him, then what the administration should have done was contact the other two members of that committee because they knew April 2nd that this was pending. So that is quite inexcusable that that did not happen. We COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -246- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 all agree that we’re going to have to pass this tonight but I think we also need to send a message that doing business that is not good enough, so should that occur again, there are other members on the committee and they definitely apprised of such of the situation. Thank you, Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Are there any other remarks? I would like to follow up on what Member Cirelli said and I don’t what it to seem as if this is a constant criticism of the administration, it is not, but I think Mayor Healy and the Economic team clearly understand that they’re dealing with the recovery and reinvestment funds that the President and Congress have appropriated to put our community back to work. And it is at an extraordinarily unfair, #1 not to bring this to the attention of Council Members early on and it really must be brought to Council Members early on, because they represent the people of the City. They know who the homeless people are and they know who the jobless people are and they know where the stimulus money should go in their Wards. Secondly, I think it was really somewhat outrageous to blame Member Carbenia for not being available. That’s just, that’s unacceptable. That’s an unacceptable excuse. We have a Majority Leader, Don Casar who’s been elected by Members of City Council who should be notified of every single Ordinance that is coming down to City Council. He was not notified. Similarly Member Carbenia has two other Members on the committee and they were not notified. I am raising my voice because this is way too important to play games with, and I am not suggesting that anyone did this intentionally but it better not happen again. People’s lives are at stake here and we really need to know in advance rather than being in my opinion, speaking for Council because I can see that they were somewhat taken aback. We need more time than just 10 minutes, to discuss a $1,180,000.00 grant to homeless people. We, these people deserve that. They are the representatives of the citizens. So I hope, following up on what Member Cirelli said, that the next and the Mayor has indicated that the spigot, is the, you know the funds are coming out like a hydrant. Well, let’s, we don’t them washed down the drain. We want these funds to be targeted so people get back to work. And, you know, we have union people here tonight. They’re at 50% unemployment, so come on, let’s just, you know we should work together in a better fashion. And I think the person I’m directing it to, I hope you’re hearing what I’m saying. And I, again, I am not trying to be disrespectful it’s just too damn important. Any other remarks? Now I’ve forgot where we are. OK, I know. We are on Ordinance #8. It’s been a motion to adopt. Madame Clerk, roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. #8 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE 72/2009 PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you, Madame Clerk. Ordinance #8 is adopted. ORDINANCES & FORMAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD AND FINAL READING PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Now we’re under Ordinances & Formal Resolutions for the third and final reading. Madame Clerk would you please read Ordinance 9 by title? #9. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE 73/2009 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO PAY A MORAL OBLIGATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $23,480.00 TO MOTTER & MEADOWS ARCHITECTS; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -247- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we adopt Ordinance #9. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #9. Are there any remarks? If not, Madame Clerk roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. #9 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE 73/2009 PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Ordinance #9 is adopted. Ordinance #10 please. #10. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 74/2009 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH PHILIP SEDLACKO FOR ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: I move we adopt Ordinance 10. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #10. Are there any remarks? If not, Madame Clerk roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. #10 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 74/2009 PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Ordinance #10 is adopted. ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We’re now under Announcement of Committee meetings. And by the way we will not meet next Monday. Next Monday we will not meet. So, folks who come here regularly, don’t come here next week. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -248- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 MEMBER CARBENIA: Community & Economic Development Committee will meet 5/11 at 6:00 PM. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you. MEMBER WEST: Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Member West. MEMBER WEST: Judiciary will meet May 11th at 6:00. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you. MEMBER PRATER: Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Member Prater. MEMBER PRATER: Personnel Committee will meet May 11th at 6:00 PM. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you. Any other committee announcements? PUBLIC SPEAKS (OPEN FORUM--CITY BUSINESS ONLY) PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under Public Speaks in our Open Forum. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, if I could? Mr. Price you going to speak at the 11th one, right? On the Sewer rates? PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Director Price. SERVICE DIRECTOR PRICE: Thank you, Mr. President. Yes, I will. MEMBER CARBENIA: That’s why we have more time. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: So the next meeting is 5/11 and the committees will meet at what time, again? MEMBER CARBENIA: 6:00 PM. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: 6:00 very good. Thank you. We are now under Public Speaks in our Open Forum. We have no speakers signed up this evening. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: We are now under Miscellaneous Business. Is there any? Member Cirelli. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Member Carbenia You, COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -249- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 MEMBER CARBENIA: I would like Mr. Adams from the Health Department to go over lightly for the Swine Flu epidemic. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Director Adams. Good evening, thank you. And thank you for all your hard work, by the way, if you’ll step forward and just tell us your name, and HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: Don’t thank me yet. Mr. President, thank you for the chance to address Council very briefly and I hope it’s also OK to address the members of the audience with the same comment. If you don’t mind, I will turn around a little bit. Please excuse my back. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: No, that’s fine. HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: OK, I just, I’m, for those of you who don’t know my name is Jim Adams and I’m the Health Commissioner for the Canton City Health Department. We have had a fairly busy day today. First of all, I just do want to acknowledge that there’s a fair amount of uncertainty about what’s going on with the Swine Flu situation. That causes a lot of anxiety for you folks and it causes me some concern also, because we have, we don’t have all the answers to all the questions that are out there, but we’re working hard to try to get that. We know this is a very early and a very complicated investigation. Any time you do disease investigations, especially for new types of viruses that are out there, it takes awhile until you get all the information. I do think it’s, on a personal note, I think it’s amazing the kind of laboratory work the CDC has done already and we know exactly what kind of virus we’re dealing with. We know that it’s not a brand new disease. We know that this is an influenza disease which is much like seasonal flu. We have considerable experience in treating and dealing with seasonal flu, so it’s not like a brand new exotic disease that we’ve never seen before. What’s new is the virus that’s causing the disease and so because it’s new, we don’t really have an effective vaccination for that. There is some treatment that’s available if people would become ill, there are treatments available for seasonal influenza and those kind of treatments are still there in place. Like I’m saying, what we know, what we do know is this is a flu. It’s caused by Swine influenza. Currently in the United States there is 40 cases, I know that as soon as I say that, there’s going to be 45 or 50 or 60. Your likely to see these numbers change rather dramatically over the next few days as people get a handle on investigating laboratory samples that are already in the pipeline and those kinds of things. So your likely to see changing case numbers and you’re also gonna likely to see changing recommendations coming from us or from other public health officials, as we learn more about the disease. As you’ve noticed on the news this is getting a very full and a very vigorous support from both state and local public health officials and our federal partners, so this is, this is a pretty big deal for everybody. What we’ve done so far is we have done planning in the past for pandemic outbreaks. We’re not classifying this as a pandemic outbreak but they’re treating it like it is one. So we do have these plans in place and we’re kinda pushing these plans forward, so we’re reviewing our contacts for these plans. We’ve started some structures within our department that we’ve pre-planned as far as how do we address a large scale outbreak of infectious disease. We’re coordinating with our public health officials and local public, local, state and federal public health officials. We’re really looking, looking actively for new cases of influenza that might meet the Swine flu definition. Not all influenza is Swine flu, you know, we’re just at the end of our regular influenza season, if fact we were going to report that last week we saw about our last seasonal influenza case but today’s a new day. What you folks can do is keep informed about what’s going on. The information we’re using as a kinda our goal standard for information is on the internet at the CDC website cdc.gov has the most up to date information really about influenza and Swine flu influenza in particular. If you do not have access to the internet as Member Cirelli kinda likes to remind us, or you don’t have that kind of access to that information, you know, please give us a call at the Health COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -250- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 Department. We’ll try to work through whatever questions you have. Try to prevent the flu. We’re still thinking about hand washing, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. If you feel ill, stay home. You know, please don’t infect your co-workers or friends or people from school. You know if you do feel ill the best thing to do is try to stay home. If you think you have a serious illness call your doctor. Call first and they’ll advise you on what to do. So just a couple final thoughts. You’re gonna see the information on this change dramatically over the next few days as we try to get a handle on the investigation as new information develops, we can refine our recommendations. You’ll see that there’s already been a whole host of fact sheets that are presented on what to look for, what the physician’s are looking for, how to handle laboratory samples, and things like that. We also will expect the nature of the disease to change a little bit. Right now you’ve heard on the news that cases in Mexico are more severe than cases in the United States. We don’t know why that is. Disease outbreaks have a way of kinda taking on a life of their own, but expect that kinda information to change as we complete our investigations. And we’re kinda in an operational mode for this, and we’re continuing to work on that and we’ll try to make information available to you just as soon as we get it also. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Director. HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: Thank you Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: With just one last question. My understanding, this is a treatable disease? HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: There are treatments for influenza. If caught within the first two days or so, there are effective treatments that kinda tend to minimize, minimize the impact of the disease but most influenza is largely, is largely, you resolve the infection in a self limiting manner. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: OK. HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: But there is treatment that is available. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Thank you very much, director. Anything else? HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: Any questions? PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: I think that’s any questions for the director. OK, director thank. Ruby you can ask a question. RUBY BROGDAN: There’s so many people that don’t have insurance to go to the doctor. How would you go about treating those people? HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: I don’t know. That’s a long standing question that we have as far as access to health care for people that may not have insurance. MEMBER CIRELLI: Mr. President. RUBY BROGDAN: Well I think they should be treated, because if they don’t HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: Absolutely. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -251- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 RUBY BROGDAN: They can be spreading the disease to us. HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADAMS: Absolutely. And when you show up at the emergency room or something like that, you will be provided treatment. Nobody is going to deny you care because of the ability to pay. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: OK thank you very much director. Thank you. We give Ruby the opportunity. She’s sorta like our Helen Thomas so we want to make sure that. For those of you who know who Helen Thomas is. Member Cirelli. MEMBER CIRELLI: Thank you Mr. President. I just wanted to bring this to the full Council’s information for them..... PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Can you speak into your microphone? MEMBER CIRELLI: Oh, I’m sorry sir. I’m sorry. I just wanted to bring this, I had brought this out from the newspaper. Everything’s about the economy and the City of Toledo is laying off 75 police officers. There finding themselves in a $20,000,000.00 budget deficit and they’d already let 25 officers go but now 75 more 75 of officers and 300 city workers, so it is all about the economy that’s why some of us are really watching very close here, every dollar that comes and goes because it’s going to have a trickle down effect and it’s going to have an effect here. I might also say, the City of Toledo did contract with the Redflex cameras hoping to take in $2,000,000.00 and it was not for safety, it was for to bring in general fund revenue dollars and they fell short and only brought in $660,000.00. And as well as that the City of Cleveland was just announced they lost a large lawsuit on their safety cameras as well and is paying a lot of money back, so we have to really be cognizant of every dollar we spend, and be very, very aware of the taxpayers dollars that they get the best bang for their buck. Thank you sir. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Well and I think Member Cirelli we’d all agree that credit goes to the Administration and the Finance Committee and it’s chair and City Council for not being in the position of being $20,000,000.00 in the hole and not having to be in the position to lay off 75 police officers and not being in a position to lay off 300 of our city employees, so credit goes all around. (APPLAUSE) Any other, Assistant Majority Leader Carbenia. MEMBER CARBENIA: Mr. President, I move we adjourn. MEMBER CIRELLI: Seconded. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: It’s been moved and seconded that we adjourn. Madame Clerk roll call vote please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL: 10 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK TIMBERLAKE: Ten yeas, Mr. President. PRESIDENT SCHULMAN: Meeting is adjourned. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. We’ll see you May 11th. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 97 JOURNAL PAGE -252- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2009 ADJOURNMENT TIME: 8:05 P.M. ATTEST: APPROVED: CYNTHIA TIMBERLAKE ALLEN SCHULMAN CLERK OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT