COUNCIL COMMITTEES

The Council Committees Meeting was held on June 26, 2000, at 6:30 p.m., with Council President Christiansen presiding. Members of Council present were Mr. McGlumphy, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gorman, Mr. Truitt, Mr. Carey, Mr. Salters, Mr. Weller, and Mayor Hutchison. Mrs. Malone was absent.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS

Mr. Salters requested that item #2, Cities Promoting Racial Justice - A Cycle of Renewal and Growth be moved to item #1 on the agenda. Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda as amended, seconded by Mr. Gorman and unanimously carried.

LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Legislative and Finance Committee met with Chairman Salters presiding. Members present were Councilmen Carey and Gorman, and Mr. Merritt. Mr. Truitt was deputized to serve as a member.

Proposed Resolution - Cities Promoting Racial Justice - A Cycle of Renewal and Growth

At the request of Councilman Salters, information was distributed to members regarding the National League of Cities’ Campaign to reduce racism and promote racial justice for their review and consideration.

Ms. Ellen Wasfi, President of the National League of Women Voters, addressed committee members regarding “Community-Wide Study Circle Programs”. She presented a brief video explaining study circles as they relate to the NLC’s Campaign, Cities Promoting Racial Justice - A Cycle of Renewal and Growth. Ms. Wasfi informed members that in Delaware, these groups were first started in New Castle County by the YWCA. In Dover, organizations such as Kent General Hospital, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical and Community College, and the YMCA have donated their facilities for meeting places.

Responding to Mr. McGlumphy, Ms. Wasfi stated that, at this time, there would be no costs involved since there are grant monies available to conduct the study circles. She advised members that at the completion of each study circle session, participants are requested to complete an evaluation. Based on these evaluations, she stated that the study circles seem to be effective and offered to provide copies of these evaluations to Council for their review.

Council President Christiansen suggested that the City of Dover endorse the study circle concept and provide in-kind services by offering the Parks and Recreation Building to be used periodically as a meeting location for the study circles. He felt that by the City endorsing the concept and offering facilities, perhaps other entities would also participate in this partnership and offer in-kind services for this program.

Mr. Truitt moved to recommend that a Resolution be adopted endorsing the National League of Cities’ Campaign Cities Promoting Racial Justice - A Cycle of Renewal and Growth and the study circle concept, and offer the use of City facilities to be used as meeting locations for the study circles (Attachment #1). The motion was seconded by Mr. Gorman and unanimously carried.

Discussion - All-America City

At the request of Mr. Salters, information regarding the All-America City Award and its requirements was distributed to members. Mr. Salters indicated that this year’s application deadline has passed; however, it was his feeling that the City of Dover should begin working on an application to be submitted in 2001.

Several members felt that the application process in itself would be a good way to self-evaluate the City of Dover as an All-America City. Mr. O’Connor advised members that the paperwork involved with applying for the All-America City Award is quite extensive.

Mr. Gorman indicated that, although he was not aware of it at the time, he grew up in a city that was awarded the All-America City title. He relayed concerns with exhausting numerous man hours on a project that may not have any meaning to the residents or prove to be beneficial to the City of Dover.

After much discussion, Council President Christiansen suggested that a sub-committee be organized to review the extent of the application for a report back to the Legislative and Finance Committee.

Basic Life Support Service Contract

The City has contracted with a private ambulance company to provide basic life support service in the Robbins Hose Fire District since August 31, 1991. Ambulance Service, Inc. (ASI) has been providing basic life support services for the City since March 4, 1996.

The performance and service provided by ASI has been outstanding. Its ambulance fleet is modern and well maintained, and the ambulance personnel are all trained to the Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-B level. ASI has been a leader in placing Automatic External Defibrillators on its units and training all personnel in their proper use. Complaints concerning service or billing have been nearly non-existent.

Mr. O’Connor explained that although no City funds are being expended for this service, the City does control the rate structure for emergency calls. In accordance with the current contract, ASI guarantees one (1) ambulance; however, additional ambulances have always been available when necessary. From 1997 through 1999 ASI responded to 10,546 emergency calls, of which 773 were handled by a second or third ASI unit, which is not a requirement of the contract. He explained that for a fee, ASI could provide a higher level of service that would guarantee availability of a second ambulance. Due to ASI’s outstanding performance record, commitment to customer service, local ownership, services offered beyond the scope of the contract, and positive working relationship with the City, staff recommended renewal of the Basic Life Support Contract for the Robbins Hose Fire District with ASI for the period of September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2003.

Mr. Gorman moved to recommend approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Mr. Truitt and unanimously carried.

Purchase of Dump Trucks and Related Equipment

In January 2000, a review of the City’s existing 1979 dump trucks concluded the need for three (3) new dump trucks for safety purposes. In addition to being declared unsafe to operate, maintaining the trucks would be uneconomical due to high mileage, maintenance costs, and excessive down time. Since the dump trucks were declared unsafe to operate, the City Manager authorized the purchase of three (3) dump trucks under the State contract for emergency purposes. It was noted that the dump trucks are used by the Street Department for street services including snow removal and that these items were included in the budget revisions and approved by Council.

Staff recommended ratification and approval of the purchase orders that were issued for the three (3) dump trucks and related equipment through the State of Delaware’s contract (per the City’s purchasing policy) as follows:

                          Vendor                                        Item                                             Total 

     1)    Barr International, Salisbury, MD                  Low Profile Dump Truck                $116,477

     2)    Meadows Hydraulics, Fruitland, MD             Hydraulic System, Snow                     47,039

Plow, and Push Frame

     3)    Meadows Hydraulics                                      Snow Plow                                            9,729

     4)    Meadows Hydraulics                                      Stainless Steel Sander                         9,513

             Total Amount                                                                                                          $182,758

Mr. Truitt moved to recommended approval of staff’s recommendation, seconded by Mr. Carey and unanimously carried.

Mr. Gorman moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Carey and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:28 P.M.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

Robin R. Christiansen

Council President

RRC/lcg

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