Direction of Fire Department Placed On Hold Until New Chief is Hired – Work Session and City Council Meeting

February 12, 2019
Lee Fuller

Work Session

• Call to order
• Roll call – All present except for Mayor Smith
• Acceptance of minutes – Accepted
• Ordinance Declaring Property as Surplus and Approving the Leasing and/or Sale of Said Property – A filling company will be coming to pick up property, but it must be declared as surplus.  This is for a specific location only.  Pickup will begin in February and be completed in March.
• Farmers’ Market – There is not much changed other than the location.  The new location is being looked at the parking lot across across from the City Hall. The Farmers Market is requesting to renew its contractual agreement with the city.  One notation is that the new location requested may be getting paved and be unavailable one Saturday.
• Camden Partners Memorandum of Understanding – Mayor is concerned that there are about 420 days out there that we would be waiting for them to call and move forward.  Other concerns were electrical weren’t specific enough in language.  Additional information was requested on the timeline.  These designs are for loft apts or retail space in the Old Mill area.
• Fire Chief Job Description – Minor changes from the last discussion.  No discussion as to the changes.
• Equipment Operator I-A in the Street Department – There has been a discussion to move a current employee to a different position. A suggestion was made to postpone this discussion because the head of the department was sick and unable to present.
• Eastwood Property Tree Removal – This is an estimate for the job.  The job has not been bid out and there is no contract; however the concern is a tree that was struck by lightening that is currently a danger.  The question was posed to get a more complete estimate for many downed trees from the tornado.
• WWG&SB Job Descriptions – All job descriptions were reviewed at the Mayor’s request after the JSU study.  Two job descriptions that have changed the most were the meter reader and customer service worker. The job title is being recommended to be changed from customer service to Utility Office Field Representative. With the new title there would be a two-range job pay increase from seven to nine which is $11.81 to $12.53 an hour.  The meter reader is being asked to increase the range payment as well.  The job turnover is yearly and the last time there was an opening only 10 applications were received and only five showed up for the test.  To attract and retain quality employees this change is recommended.  This is changing the pay range from six to eight and that is $11.47 to $12.16 an hour.
• Fire College Training – Chief Kadel spoke about the costs being high.  The city spends about $30,500 to $32,700 to train a paramedic. So the city is looking at over $60,000 to cover hiring and training for two individuals. The city isn’t able to hire a trained paramedic because Jacksonville isn’t competitive enough with their pay-scale. This change, regarding paying for education, was decided 10-12 years ago because hiring wasn’t possible, but the costs is increasing quite a bit. The chief felt that a disadvantage is that we require a firefighter paramedic. The city would not have these issues hiring a firefighter or hiring a paramedic.  It is in hiring someone trained in both. A discussion was held in saving the fire college training money and putting that into a higher pay scale. Anyone undergoing the training is held to a two year contract. The Chief noted that two employees are coming up to the end of their two year contract.  Options were provided by Chief Kadel.    1. Continuing as stated and absorb the perpetual training cost. 2. Decreasing the vital life support levels.  This was not recommended due to not having a hospital so it is more important now. 3. Pay only the educational cost and no reimbursement. Employees would still get certification, but no off shift reimbursement for the time at school. This would save about  $7,500, but may reduce the number of applicants.  4. Increase salary to hire only firefighters with these requirements. The chief mentioned this has not worked in the past. 5. Increase the required numbers of service years on the employee agreements. This also could reduce the number of applicants.  A discussion was held on using the fire tax to cover these costs, but the chief cautioned using that now because over the next five years quite a bit will have to come out of that and if emptied too much we will not be able to continue.   A statement was made by Councilman Taylor that once a permanent Fire Chief was in place a discussion and decision needs to be made on our transport services to determine how we proceed.  Discussion was held on the purchases that were budgeted for an ambulance, fire truck…  These purchases have not been made as of yet.
• Any Other Business –
  • Councilmen Parrish stated that Stoneybrook is an R1 and they did a tree take down that looks worse then the tornado. The work was done by the developers
  • Councilmen Harrell mentioned that The National Park Service is accepting applications for $5 million in grants to support the preservation of historic buildings in rural communities across the country that are listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places through the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program (HRSP).  Applications for funding are now being accepted in Grants.gov through April 1, 2019 (11:59 p.m. EST). Applicants must define a sub-grant program that covers areas defined as rural by the U.S. Census (less than 50,000) and preserves multiple National Register listed or eligible properties in support of economic development.  Applicants must also demonstrate that they are capable of managing a federally funded sub-grant program.
  • The amendments were also discussed. Councilmen Harrell wanted to know why these were sent out so late and requested that Thursday is the cutoff for amendments to the council meeting.  The last changes were sent out 1:00 pm of the council meeting date. He felt this does not give time for adequate reflection upon the item.  Councilmen Taylor concurred unless in the case of emergencies.  He requested that these items be postponed until the next meeting.

 

City Council Meeting

• Call to order
• Invocation
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Roll call – All present except for Mayor Smith
• Adoption of minutes – 1/28/19 Work Session and Council Meeting – Unanimously Accepted
• Adoption of agenda – Unanimously Accepted as Amended
  • Consider action to suspend rules to regarding surplus property.  This is to allow property to immediately be designated surplus.
  • Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the non-field agreement with Knockemstiff INC.
  • Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the field agreement with Knockemstiff INC.
  • Delete from the main agenda the action to approve an additional Equipment Operator I-A, Range 7, in the Street Department.
• Special Presentation by Janis Burn with the Parks and Recreation Department. The Henry Farm Park Mountain Bike and Running Trails was awarded the Facility of the Year Award.  A special recognition to all the volunteers, but especially to Carmine Di Biase for his dedicated service and hard work.
• Councilwoman Sudduth also recognized that Janis Hunt was awarded The Professional of the Year for the state of Alabama Parks and Recreation.
• Proclamation
  • Arbor Day – February 21, 2019
  • Star Spangled Banner Day – March 3, 2019
• Public comments concerning agenda items – No comments
• Consider action to suspend rules to regarding surplus property.  This is to allow property to immediately be designated surplus. – Unanimously Accepted
• Consideration of Ordinance Declaring Property as Surplus and Approving the Leasing and/or Sale of Said Property. – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to accept the Bid Report for Bid No. 19-02, Vehicle Equipment for the Police Department and Approve a Resolution to Award Bid No. 19-02 to AllComm Wireless, Inc. at a total cost of $14,612.68 – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve JPWP#19-101, Cast Iron Gas Main Replacement in the Area East of Church Avenue between Vann Street and Mountain Street – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve JPWP#19-102, Sewer Repairs at 9th Street NE between 2nd and 3rd Avenue NE – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the 2019 Rules and Regulations for the Jacksonville Farmers Market – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with Marisa Preuninger as Market Manager for the 2019 Farmer’s Market Season – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the non-field agreement with Knockemstiff INC.- Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the field agreement with Knockemstiff INC. – Unanimously Accepted
• Consider action to approve the new job description for Fire Chief, Range 30 – Unanimously Accepted
• Purchases over $5,000.00 – Unanimously Accepted
  • Requests to Attend Conference/Training Session with Costs Exceeding $1,000.00
  • Disposition of Surplus Property
  • Other Personnel Issues
• Public comments for general items – No comments
• Council Member Remarks –
  • Councilwomen Sudduth mentioned how well the Black History Celebration went and mentioned that the turnout was larger then any previous year.
  • Council Harrell wanted to thank Dale Edwards for the service he has provided as a Jacksonville Police Officer.  He received a handwritten note thanking him for his service by a resident of Jacksonville.  This was seconded by Councilman Parrish.
• Mayor’s report – Not present, however it was sent in.
  • 879 riders have used the VeoRide bike share. Most people use the bikes for about two hours.  The bike trail is the main location being used.  533 users have downloaded the app.  These numbers are expected to increase as the weather improves.
  • Monday, February 18, 2019 is Presidents day and the City Offices will be closed.
  • Thursday, February 21, 2019 will be the Arbor Day Celebration a the International House.
  • Friday, February 22, 2019 will be the Tree Give Away on the square
  • Saturday, March 16, 2019 will be the Celebrating the One Year of Tornado Recovery at the Jacksonville Community Center.  This event is free and will include music, food, and fun.
• Any Other Business –
  • Councilman Harrell mentioned the parking off the square.  There has been an estimate that a possible 8-14 parking spots can be added in the nearby area.
• Adjournment – Unanimously Accepted