City Council

Florence City Council Special Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2024 6:00 p.m. MINUTES The City Council of the City of Florence, Kentucky, met in special session on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, Kentucky, with Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon presiding as chair. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon called the special meeting to order and declared the meeting open for the presentation of items on the special meeting agenda. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Aubuchon and Members of City Council recited the invocation. All attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The roll was called, and the following six (6) members of council were registered present: Mel Carroll, Lesley Chambers, Jenna Kemper (Vice-Mayor), David A. Osborne, Patricia Wingo and Gary Winn. Staff members present were: City Attorney, Thomas R. Nienaber; Fire/EMS Chief, Rodney Wren; Chief of Police, Jeff Mallery; Public Services Director, Eric Hall; Director of Administration/City Administrator, Joshua J. Hunt; City Clerk, Melissa Kramer; Finance Director, Jason Lewis; Videographer, Perry Weber; and Police Sergeant, Sam Riley. The following were also present in the audience: Florence Police Department new police officer, Caleb Hightchew; Friends and family of new police officer, Caleb Hightchew; Florence Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning, Florence Firefighter /EMT Brayden Collins, Florence Firefighter /Paramedic Christian Ritchie, Florence Firefighter /EMT Ryan Johnston, Florence Fire/EMS Captain Jon McNamera, Florence Fire/EMS Captain Chris Fuhrmann; Florence Fire/EMS Department Personnel; Assistant Fire/EMS Chief, Ryan Born; Assistant Fire/EMS Chief, Chris Miller; Battalion Chief of Training, Matt Pleiman; Battalion Chief of EMS, Danielle Stiner MBA, MPT, NRP, RN, CP-C; Representatives of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Chris Vogelphol, Manager of EMS Community Outreach, Josh Cox, EMS Outreach Coordinator, Missy Miles, Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services and Dr. Kevin Miller; Gateway Community and Technical College EMS Program Instructor/Clinical Coordinator, Alex Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 Riesenbeck; Former Florence Mayor, Diane E. Whalen; Northern Kentucky Tribune Reporter, Trisha Scheyer; and Resident of Florence, Thomas Judd. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the minutes of the October 8, 2024, business meeting. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve the minutes with a second from Councilmember Kemper. All councilmembers present voted aye. OATH OF OFFICE: Chief of Police, Jeff Mallery, introduced the newest member of the Florence Police Department, Caleb Hightchew. Chief Mallery stated Caleb was twenty-two years old and resided in Warsaw with his parents and siblings. Recruit Hightchew is a 2020 high school graduate of Hightchew Academy. After high school, Caleb continued his education at Thomas More University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. Previously Caleb worked at Potter’s Ranch and is very active in his church. Chief Mallery stated Caleb will start his online portion of the academy next week before reporting to the Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) in Richmond on November 24th for an additional eighteen weeks of training. Mayor Aubuchon administered the oath of office to Caleb, followed by Chief Mallery presenting him with his badge. RECOGNITION: Mayor Aubuchon called upon Chief Wren with regard to recognition of the Florence Fire/EMS Department personnel including Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning, Firefighter /EMT Brayden Collins, Firefighter /Paramedic Christian Ritchie, Firefighter /EMT Ryan Johnston, Captain Jon McNamera, and Captain Chris Fuhrmann. Chief Wren introduced representatives of St. Elizabeth Healthcare including Chris Vogelpohl, Manager of EMS Community Outreach, Josh Cox, EMS Outreach Coordinator, Missy Miles, Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services and Dr. Kevin Miller to recognize the Florence Fire/EMS Department personnel. Mr. Vogelpohl stated on April 24, 2024, the Florence Fire/EMS Department responded to a cardiac arrest call on Dream Street. CPR was already in progress by the Florence Police Department. He explained the patient received multiple medications and was defibrillated three times, eventually regaining a pulse. The cause of the cardiac arrest was identified as a heart attack, and the patient was stabilized by the Florence Fire/EMS Department and taken to the Edgewood Emergency Department, then to the Cath Lab where a 100% coronary artery occlusion was treated. Due to the continuous CPR and early defibrillation by the Florence Fire/EMS Department, Mr. Vogelphol highlighted that the patient belongs to the fortunate 10-12% of cardiac arrest victims who survive to discharge neurologically intact. In recognition of their outstanding care, the Florence Fire/EMS Department personnel were awarded a challenge coin and certificate. Mr. 2|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 Vogelpohl noted that the challenge coin has only been awarded three times in the past two years and honor those who truly go above and beyond. Dr. Miller presented the certificates and challenge coin to the personnel. Mayor Aubuchon commended the Florence Fire/EMS Department for their dedication and exceptional service. RECOGNITION: Mayor Aubuchon called upon Chief Wren for the next recognition received by the Florence Fire/EMS Department. Chief Wren introduced Alex Riesenbeck, EMS Program Instructor/Clinical Coordinator from Gateway Community and Technical College to recognize Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning. On behalf of Gateway Community and Technical College, Mr. Riesenbeck recognized Firefighter/Paramedic, Vince Lanning. Mr. Riesenbeck explained that the award was voted on by all the students enrolled in the Paramedic Program Field. The Preceptor of the Year is someone who consistently shows positivity, loves having students, takes excellent care of patients, and challenges students to become better paramedics. Mr. Riesenbeck stated this year, the outstanding individual recognized was Florence Fire/EMS Department Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning. He explained that Vince had frequently appeared on the list and his exceptional dedication truly stood out this year. With students completing about 9,000 hours of ride time and encountering around 2,000 patients in the field, Mr. Riesenbeck stated preceptors like Vince play a crucial role and the City of Florence can be very proud to have him on their team. Mayor Aubuchon commended Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning and thanked everyone for their attendance. FIRST READING ORDINANCE O-18-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-18-2024. An Ordinance Relating to Personnel: Amending Ordinance O-13-2024, O-9-2024 and O-4-2024 Relating to Personnel Policies, Job Descriptions, Authorized Positions and the Pay Plan. The purpose of Ordinance O-18-2024 makes revisions to the Job Descriptions, Pay Plan and the list of Authorized Position Sections of the Personnel Policies and Procedures. The full text of Ordinance O-18-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance O-18-2024. Councilmember Carroll motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Osborne. Councilmember Carroll acknowledged the significant impact of recently retired Linda Chapman, highlighting her instrumental role in the city’s operations. He emphasized that while the city 3|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 comprises of buildings, equipment and parks, the true essence lies in the employees, such as the dedicated members of the Florence Fire/EMS Department in attendance and that all are doing an excellent job. He explained that currently, a few departments are understaffed and overstressed, and the plan is to provide the necessary support to alleviate the stress. Based on the motion to approve Ordinance O-18-2024 by Councilmember Carroll and seconded by Councilmember Osborne, Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, yes; Councilmember Winn, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes; Councilmember Osborne, yes. Roll call recognized six yes votes approving the first reading of Ordinance O-18-2024 by unanimous vote. CLOSED SESSION: There was no need for Closed Session. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting. Councilmember Wingo so moved, with a second from Councilmember Winn. Councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:15 p.m. APPROVED: /s/ Julie M. Aubuchon Julie M. Aubuchon, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Melissa Kramer Melissa Kramer, City Clerk 4|Page