SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on April 24, 2007, at 6:03 p.m. with Chairman Hogan presiding. Members present were Mr. Carey and Mr. McGiffin. Mr. Link and Mr. Lakeman were absent.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Hogan requested that Item #3, Discussion - Ambulance Service Report, be added to the agenda.
Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda, as amended, seconded by Mr. McGiffin and unanimously carried.
Presentation by Darrel Cole
Mr. Darrel Cole, Delaware Department of Transportation Director of Public Relations, gave a PowerPoint Presentation on DelDOT”s Transportation Fund, which is separate from the General State Fund (Attachment #1). Mr. Cole stated that Governor Minner recommended several revenue enhancements, which he is advocating support for, to bring more funding to the transportation system.
Responding to Mr. DePrima, Mr. Cole stated that he will provide a status report on the Wyoming Mill project.
Briefing on MPO Projects
Ms. Juanita Wieczoreck, Director of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), provided members with the DelDOT Draft Capital Transportation Plan for Dover Area Projects for FY 2008-2013 (Attachment #2), DelDOT Capital Transportation Plan Proposed Expenditures for Kent County Projects FY 2008-2013 (Attachment #3), and Project Status Report for Dover/Kent County MPO Region (Attachment #4).
Ms. Wieczoreck stated that the Route 8 Project Consultant has begun an analysis on the impact of the different land uses along the roadway, including the possibility of building a high school on the Carey Farm property. She indicated that with each combination of improvement alternatives the intersection of Route 8 and Saulsbury Road consistently failed. Ms. Wieczoreck noted that the public comment received during the Public Workshop that was held on April 2, 2007 at the DelDOT Administrative Building was incorporated into the different alternatives.
Ms. Wieczoreck stated that Mr. Ralph Reeb, DelDOT Director of Planning, indicated that most of the projects listed in the City of Dover Transportation Project Prioritization List are in, or close to beginning, the planning stages.
Discussion - Ambulance Service Report
Lt. Paul Bernat gave an informational PowerPoint Presentation on the City of Dover Ambulance Service provided by PrimeCare Medical Transport (Attachment #5).
No further action was taken.
Discussion - Full-Time Emergency Management Coordinator
During the meeting of March 27, 2007, Lt. Bernat advised members that he serves the Dover Police Department as the Selective Enforcement Unit Commander, which oversees the motorcycle unit, community policing (including the quality of life unit), parking enforcement, animal control, and special events. These responsibilities are in addition to emergency management for the City of Dover. It was his opinion that the citizens of Dover have high expectations for emergency preparedness and that the citizens would be better served if there was a full-time position devoted to emergency preparedness. He felt that the position should be a civilian. Lt. Bernat stated that some of the other cities similar in size to Dover, such as Newark, have their emergency preparedness director under the Director of Building. He stated that Annapolis, Maryland, also a capital city with relatively the same population, has a retired Police Captain serving as their Homeland Security Director as a civilian; for the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, there is a civilian Emergency Management Director for Washington County, which includes an Emergency Planner who oversees nine (9) other cities. Mr. Carey made a motion to recommend acceptance of the concept for the City of Dover to have a full-time Homeland Security/Emergency Management employee and authorizing staff to provide a formal written proposal for the committee’s review, inclusive of details as discussed by members. Mr. McGiffin seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried.
Mr. Scott Koenig, Public Services Manager, reviewed the overview of the proposal for an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (Attachment #6). Responding to Mr. McGiffin, Mr. Koenig indicated that the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator is an added position with a primary function of implementation of the emergency plan, training Staff on the emergency plan, and to integrate with the private sector and any other government entities so that a comprehensive strategy is developed.
Mr. McGiffin stated that a skilled and professional person is needed for this position but questioned how the problem of already being recognized as having a top heavy, highly paid staff will be addressed. Mr. Koenig stated that just transferring the position to a general government position would free up law enforcement resources and indicated that the City, as well as the response area, is expanding so a portion of the growth, such as plan review fees, could be dedicated to emergency management. He noted that this position would also be responsible for obtaining grants, such as the Weapons of Mass Destruction grant, that is available for purchasing equipment and supplies. Mr. Koenig indicated that this position has not been included in the Draft FY2008 Budget for the Public Services Department, nor the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Mr. Carey indicated that he would like to see the ambulance service and Emergency Management Function within the same department.
Mr. McGiffin moved to recommend that the Emergency Management Function be transferred from the Police Department to the Public Services Department and further recommended that the cost for this position and associated Staff costs are added to the Draft FY2008 Budget. The motion was seconded by Mr. Carey and unanimously carried (Mr. Link and Mr. Lakeman absent).
Mr. Carey moved to recommend that the Ambulance Services Function be transferred to the Public Services Department and further recommended that the Ambulance Contract be reevaluated to expand the number of ambulance units on the road to two (2) twenty-four (24) hour units. The motion was seconded by Mr. McGiffin and unanimously carried (Mr. Link and Mr. Lakeman absent).
Mr. McGiffin moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Carey and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:36 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth L. Hogan
Chairman
KLH/jcr
S:ClerksOfficeAgendas&MinutesCommittee-Minutes20074-24-2007 SA&T.wpd
Attachment to Original Minutes and File Copy
Attachment #1 - DelDOT Transportation Fund Presentation
Attachment #2 - DelDOT Draft CTP for Dover Area Projects FY 2008-2013
Attachment #3 - DelDOT CTP Proposed Expenditures for Kent County Projects FY 2008-2013
Attachment #4 - Project Status Report - Dover/Kent County MPO Region
Attachment #5 - Ambulance Service Presentation
Attachment
Attachment #6 - Proposal for Emergency Preparedness Coordinator