11/08/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 11/$/2006 Councilman Orlowski, chairperson of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee: 1) The committee met on October 24, 2006. In attendance were committee members Barker, Tallon and Orlowski; Council Members Jones, Miller and Kennedy; Fire Chief Klecan, Fire Lt. Henhen, Law Director Dubelko, Safety Director Terbrack and Finance Director Copfer. The committee discussed Resolution 2006-177, a resolution authorizing payment to be made to Medtronic Emergency Response Systems, and ratifying and affirming the purchase by the North Olmsted Fire Chief of a Life Pak 12 Unit from said company and the trade-in of an old Life Pak Unit to said company, and declaring an emergency. The Fire Chief and Lt. Henhen explained the age, use and current requirements regarding the Life Pak 12 Unit. The old monophasing Life Pak 12 Unit was approximately seven years old and outdated by today's standards. The new unit was purchased without a purchase order, proper procedures were not followed. This was not an emergency, and this is why Council has reviewed a purchase under $25,000. Information presented to the committee suggested that a fair price was secured on the purchase and trade-in of the used Life Pak 12 Unit. The Fire Dept. contracts with the Medtronic Emergency Response Systems for a maintenance contract for the other two Life Pak Units and has an extensive number of batteries only compatible with the Medtronic units. Different manufacturers require equipment specific batteries. Although proper procedures were not followed by the department for the purchase and disposition of city property, the Public Safety Committee has chosen to work with the administration on this situation. The committee believes the purchase was performed with the best interests of the residents and visitors to our city. Good safety forces require well trained personnel, adequate, current equipment and technology to ensure the safety all citizens. This is apost-action authorization of a purchase. The committee unanimously recommended passage of the legislation under suspension of the rule requiring three readings. Councilman Gareau asked to be recognized for personal privilege to speak about his trip to Europe where he participated in a program funded through the German Marshall Fund of the United States. This is a fellowship exchange program, and he was one of fifty Americans with varied backgrounds who traveled to Europe this year. The group included a trauma surgeon, several attorneys, elected officials, two state Medicaid directors and several entrepreneurs. The trip began in Brussels, where the group visited Ypres, a well known WWI battleground, where the images of war upon communities and individual soldiers were depicted. The trip continued to Copenhagen, Denmark, a socialist country which provides many services to its citizens from cradle to grave. The next stop was Turkey, a beautiful country which had been the center of the world for a thousand years. The culture and food were amazing. Walking among ruins that were 2,000 years old was amazing and beautiful. Next was the Czech Republic which is architecturally beautiful. The citizens of this former Communist country are now learning to be entrepreneurs. Berlin was the last stop. The area of the former Berlin Wall, including Checkpoint Charlie, was fascinating. The war's hardship on the people was well illustrated in the museum, and the damage to many of the buildings is still visible. The trip opened up his eyes to a world he did not fully appreciate, both the world he visited and the world in which he lives. He is thankful for the opportunity 6