Loading...
08-03-1983 - Special ~ .;-. :-. to '-> o CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 3, 1983 tHNUTES Mayor David Ledbetter called the Special Meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Community Center. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Rescue program with Edgewater Volunteer Emergency Rescue members and other interested parties. ROLL CALL Mayor David Ledbetter Councilman Melbourne Wargo Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Councilman Neil Asting Councilman Jack Spencer Present Present Present Present Present City Attorney Jose'Alvarez City Cl erk Conni e Ki nsey Police Chief Earl Baugh Present Present Excused Lieutenant Rickelman was present in the absence of Police Chief Earl Baugh. Mrs. Gayle Harmon, President of EVER, thanked all the people who had called, written, had personal contacts, and made donations in support of EVER. She said the meeting was requested to resolve the rumors regarding the Rescue vehicle. She said that Mayor Ledbetter had suggested a task force but their organization already has by-laws and standard operating procedures. She said they were organized in 1975 to increase response time since there was only one ambulance for all southeast Volusia. She stated they're dispatched by the Police Department to the scene of an illness or an accident. She said they are paid no salary and they do not charge for their services. There are two people on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and one person has the Rescue vehicle at his home and the other uses his personal car to respond. Mrs. Harmon said she wanted a question answered at this meeting and it was, is the taxpayers' dollar being abused by that organization by using the truck for personal errands or mutual aid calls outside the City limits? She said the Rescue budget is $9,660.00 for everything which is .09% of the total budget and 24% of that amount is for gasoline. She stated she's been with the organization for 8 years and has put in over 20,000 hours. She noted that when the Rescue van is in use, it doesn't always have the lights on as they1re sometimes returning from a call or on a Code 1 or Code 2 call which doesn't require lights and sirens or they could be changing shifts. She said they work long hours and are short staffed and sometimes do have to run a personal errand. Mr. Sam Holland of Sam Holland Auto Painting said all the ambulances in Florida come under State law and are the same color. Mrs. Harmon said there are occasions when they take the van out of the City limits for repairs, if the repairs cannot be handled at the City barn, and at times they need repairs to the communications equipment. They also go to Fish Hospital at times and they co-operate with Civil Defense on the disaster drills and handle mutual aid calls. She noted that Council approved a resolution in 1980 regarding the mutual aid agreement. She stated that individual members use their personal cars for rescue calls and never request reimbursement for gas or oil or insurance. She distributed copies of the callout sheets for the period from May 15 through June 5; and said they have a complete log that can be checked at any time. She said they run approximately 28 miles a day which includes two shift changes. She reviewed the salaries of an EMT if the City decides to have a paid Rescue team, and the costs for a building for the team. She said she felt they have a good reputation in this town and she felt they deserve an apology and a vote of confidence. She said she hoped the controversy could be resolved. and brought a message from the other members to either let them be and back them or don't back them and figure out a way to run the outfit. Councilman Wargo said he felt EVER has done a tremendous job and they are performing a useful service to the community. He stated he has never criticised, chastised, or degraded their efforts at any time, and that a vote of confidence doesn1t always solve the problem. He suggested a committee be formed to handle the problem and report back to Council. ~ ~ o o Councilman Spencer said he wasn't in favor of referring this to a committee and all interested people should be given the opportunity to speak. Councilman Asting said he felt the Standard Operating Procedures and the records they keep certainly justify any expenditure of City funds and he didn't feel a committee vias necessary. He stated he felt they're doing a good job. Councilman Spencer noted that through the month of June they had spent 50% of their budget, which is three-fourths of the way through the fiscal year. Mayor Ledbetter said it appeared held been made the heavy in this situation and he's heard rumors that he's the instigator of this situation. He stated he was not the instigator and he's tried to work with them for the past five years. He said he'd only mentioned one night about some instances held seen, when it was brought up at a Council meeting. Mrs. Harmon said if someone has a question they should just come to the person involved and the rumors make it very difficult to function. Mayor Ledbetter said the man who brought this question up asked to speak to Council and it1s not his affair as he is just one member of the Council. He said he didn't feel he should take the brunt of this hassle. Mrs. Harmon said she wanted to resolve this and Mayor Ledbetter said he wanted to eliminate the problem and that's why he called for a task force. Councilman Wargo asked if the problem would be solved by giving them a vote of confidence and said he wanted to solve it once for all. He suggested a statement that they have investigated this and cleared it up and ask the public to refrain from disturbing these people as they go about their duties. Mrs. Harmon said she didn't feel they ever had a problem and didn't need investigating. Councilman Wargo asked her why they asked for a Council meeting and a vote of confidence if she didn't feel there was a problem. Mrs. Harmon said she came to answer questions because Council members had been dis- furbed by people calling them and she felt it was a good idea to get it all out in the open. Councilman Asting said the only calls he had were in praise and in favor of their activities and work in the community, and he didn't feel any reason for a committee to investigate. Councilman Spencer said other interested parties in the audience should be given an opportunity to speak and Council members agreed to this. Mrs. Harmon asked to reserve the right for rebuttal and Mayor Ledbetter approved this. Mr. Robert H. Christy, 1916 Evergreen Drive, said he organized the Rescue in 1974 and worked hard for two years to get it established. Mr. Christy said Mr. Richardson gave a complete description of the Rescue squads trips and there's a State Statute 316., which forbids chasing any emergency vehicle so he violated the Statute and should be punished for it. He said one of the Rescue members was harrassed by Mrs. Mary Opal. He referred to when the ordinance was passed establishing Rescue and said a referendum was not needed because it did not change the form of government. Mayor Ledbetter said Mr. Davis from Port Orange had rendered his opinion that they didn1t have to go to refer- endum. Mr. Christy said Mr. Hardee had also given his opinion that it was legal, and Mr. Weaver. Mr. Christy said he felt Rescue has done a magnificent job. Mr. Bucky McEver said he's one of the specimens of their actions and when he was in an accident a couple of years ago they greatly assisted him in getting out of the vehicle. He said he's been very impressed when they assist, especially with Mrs. Harmon. Mr. Norm Billups, 1860 Pine Tree Drive, thanked the members of the Rescue squad and said he's a living example of their efforts. He said there have been numerous occasions when rumors are flashed all around town and he hoped the display that night will be an example to those who start rumors to force them back into their rat holes. -2- Special Council Meeting Minutes August 3, 1983 - - " o o Mrs. Miller said three times during this past year Rescue has been across from her in a time of emergency and she hopes they'll be there when she needs them. She thanked all the Rescue members. Mr. John Siburn, Connecticut Avenue, said after 30 years in emergency services in New York, and three in Rescue, he has never seen anyone work so hard as this Rescue team. Mrs .Terry Hoover said she'd seen the Rescue squad do tremendous work and thankless work. Shesaid if they plan to form a task force to investigate allegations against Rescue they should form one for every public servant in the City and investigate every complaint that is received. Mayor Ledbetter said he understood what he's saying as there was a situation with an employee in the garbage department that has to be investigated. Mrs.Hoover suggested setting up a committee to review all allegations. Mrs. Mosher, 201 West Park Avenue, said if there aren't provisions for Rescue to stop at a store, there should be, as sheld like to think the ambulance is close by and they wouldnlt have to go back home to get it for a call., Reverend Harvey Hardin, Hubbell Street, said he fainted once and Rescue came quickly, and he had to call them at midnight once when a neighbor died. He expressed his deep appreciation for the fine work they've done, and said he has full confidence in them. Mr. Charles Brummett, Commander of the American Legion Post in Edgewater, asked the audience for a show of hands for those that support Rescue and for those against it. He said when his wife was involved in an accident they were there in 2t minutes. He suggested instead of investigating it they should settle it there that night. Mr. Dana Armstrong, former Mayor, said he was Mayor when Rescue was started and Council voted Rescue down twice 2-3 before that because they wouldn't submit it to a referendum. He said they offered to put it to a vote of the people and after House Bill 1040 was passed and they received legal opinions everyone assumed it was legal. He asked how it got in the Charter. Mr. Christy called a point of order and said they aren't there for the Charter. Mr. Armstrong told Mr. Christy held extended him the courtesy of saying what he thought without interruptions and he supports Rescue and thinks they do a good job,but he wants them to do it legally. He suggested making it a legal line item department. He said he's heard on the radio requests for donations to be sent to a post office box other than the City Hall post office box and he thought their department should be under Council with Council IS approval of all the bills. He said he wanted Rescue to be a City supported and City operated organization. Mrs. Harmon stated she couldnlt speak on the legality but they have insurance and are certified to perform anyplace in the United States. She said they have never solicited on the radio but they do receive donations and are incorporated as a non-profit organi- zation. She said they have a charter in the State of Florida and they file with the Internal Revenue Service. Councilman Asting moved the Council give a vote of confidence to the Rescue squad and to dismiss any idea of an investigation since they do maintain adequate records of their activities. Councilman Spencer seconded the motion. Councilwoman Wargo amended the motion that the Council should publicly issue a statement on behalf of EVER that they support their efforts and to discourage any member of the public from interferring with these people in the discharge of their duties. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the amendment. -3- Special Council Meeting Minutes August 3, 1983 ,..; ,,-, Q o Councilman Spencer stated held personally never had to call EVER but he was in a situation where they were called and they responded very promptly and gave very pro- fessional service. He noted that the views of the public that night expressed their support of the fine work of the organization. The amended motion CARRIED 5-0. The original motion CARRIED 5-0. Mayor Ledbetter advised Mrs. Harmon that in the future if any problems arise he would 1 i ke to meet wi th her and ta 1 k them over to get them worked out. ~1rs. Ha rmon s ta ted shels in complete agreement with that. Councilman Spencer moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned approximately 8:15 PM. Minutes submitted by: Lura Sue Koser Gjz)t~tr( Zh ~ ~ ~-U 71/-tt. w t/J- C U GILMAN - ZONE ONE ~'!~7 ~. COUNC~ MAN - ZONE TWO .~ ~ COUNCIL~1AN - ZONE THREE ~~~- COU~C1LMAN ~ Z E FOUR ~~ , ATTEST: ~T/K~ Authenti ca ted thi s /~..eX day of ~~ , 1983. -qi~t ~~ MA'i'BR' . -4- Special Council Meeting Minutes August 3, 1983