05/18/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 5/18/2004 ,,,~,, renewal agreement with Grusenmeyer and Associates for an additional one-year term to serve as plans examiner for North Olmsted. The Mayor explained that Paul Deichmann, former City Engineer, also served as our plans examiner during his tenure with the city. Since his retirement, it has been necessary to cornract for this service. At the time this became necessary in 2003, four bids were presented and the Grusenmeyer firm was the lowest bidder. The Mayor attested to the good work the firm performed for the city over the past year. Service Director Driscoll stated that the firm is seeking another one-year contract and that their base rate is the same as last year's, but they have in fact reduced their fee for any building over 10,000 square feet which accounts for about 20% of their work for the city. It was noted that there have been some complaints regarding the length of time that reviews have taken. Assistant Building Commissioner Rymarczyk stated that by law reviews have to be completed within 30 days. The plans have to be turned around within that time, and some of that delay might be within the department as opposed to with the Grusenmeyer firm. It was also noted that we had a person on staff, Paul Deichmann, who was able to do this work which saved the city $30,000 to $40,000 a year, and it was regrettable that this arrangement no longer exists. Finally, it was determined, however, by the Law Director that this type of renewal contract is definitely a candidate for renewal without using the RFP process. It's an exception to that ordinance. Although Council was willing to renew for this year, the committee requested that the contract not be automatically renewed next year without a new bidding proposal process. A memo will be sent to the administration confirming that decision so that they may calendar the need to go through the RFP process at this time next year in order to hire a plans examiner should that still be necessary. Ordinance 2004-82 was met with unanimous recommendation by the committee. As requested of her as Finance Committee chairperson, she has sent a memo to the Mayor and to the Service Director reflecting the committee's requiremern that next year, if the service is needed, the RFP process be followed. Councilman Miller, chairperson of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee: 1) On May 11, the Safety Committee met to discuss Ordinance 2004-86, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with SBC for the purchase, installation and maintenance of updated 911 positron telephone system for the North Olmsted Police and Fire Departments and declaring an emergency. The committee discussed the 911 system, and were advised by Capt. Wozniak that the current system has been out of production for seven years and is lacking in its ability to accept cellular 911 calls. Compounded with that, is a significant amount of paperwork on all calls coming in. The new positron technology allows the system to have a considerable internal memory. It also allows us to have, if ±he city should at some time choose, a third positron display- that is, the informational display for 911 calls coming in. The cost is $48,554, with a fve-year service agreement of $2?,352,80. It is noted that this was funded initially in our annual funding process, and the city will realize some savings on the maintenance fee in the long ran. The committee recommended approval and also to add the emergency clause and to place this under suspension of the rule this evening in that it has been funded and the technology needed to receive 911 calls is very important to the health and safety of our residents. _,