Permanent 9/11 Memorial Becoming a Reality at South Fire District

After many months of planning, a permanent memorial to those who perished in the September 11 attacks is finally becoming a reality at the South District Fire Department on Randolph Road in Middletown.

Click below to read the full article on the South Fire District web site...

http://southfiredistrict.com/news/130708.htm

Robert Ross To Be South Fire District Chief

The South Fire District will have a new Chief, effective Monday, June 24, 2013. The Chairman of the South Fire District Board of Commissioners, David P. Gallitto announced today that district resident Robert J. Ross, currently the State Fire Marshal, will be returning to the post he held for two years from 2005 to 2007. Ross will replace former Chief Edward Badamo who left the department more than a year ago after his contract was not renewed. Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Steven Krol has been filling in as Acting Chief since Badamo’s departure.

In making the announcement, Gallitto said “the five members of the Board of Fire Commissioners are extremely pleased to welcome ‘Rob’ Ross back to the role of Chief”. Ross was named to the Chief’s post by a unanimous vote at a Special Meeting of the Fire Commission earlier this week. According to Gallitto, Ross was the number one choice, by a wide margin, of the consultant and interview panel retained by the Commission to screen and interview applicants for the job. “In addition to his intimate knowledge of the South District Fire Department, Rob Ross brings to the Chief’s position a level of experience and leadership unmatched by any of the other applicants”, said Gallitto.

Ross will be sworn in during a ceremony on the morning of June 24th and will begin work immediately. Although Ross has been away from the Chief’s job for almost 6 years, Gallitto said the Commission expects him to “hit the deck running”. Immediately, Ross will join the Commission in contract negotiations with IAFF Local 3918, the union representing district firefighters.

Previously Ross was appointed Chief of the South District Fire Department in December 2005. He resigned in November 2007 after he was recruited by the State of CT to serve as Director of Fire, Emergency and Building Services of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety. That job later evolved into Executive Director of the Division of Fire Investigations and Statewide Emergency Telecommunications. Since November 2011Ross has held the title of State Fire Marshal, overseeing operation of the Office of State Fire Marshal. He holds numerous State and National fire service certifications including Fire Marshal/Fire Investigator, Arson Investigation, Certified Public Fire Educator and Fire Service Instructor.

Ross began his fire service career with the City's Fire Department where he served for just shy of 22 years. He rose through the ranks of Lieutenant and Deputy Chief, retiring in 2004 as Chief of the Department. Ross spent the year between his retirement from the City and his first appointment as Chief at South District, working for the University of Connecticut Homeland Security Education Center where he served as Connecticut State Coordinator for a full scale counter terrorism exercise involving local, state, federal and private sector agencies.

South Fire District is the largest in land area of our city's three fire districts, encompassing 21 square miles, or half of Middletown’s 42 square miles. The population of the district is just under 14,000 residents but the daytime population of the district is substantially higher due to the largest concentration of Medical Offices in Middlesex County being within the district along with Middlesex Community College and two of the city’s largest employers, Pratt and Whitney and Connecticut Valley Hospital.

Opinion: Consolidate Command Of Fire Districts

The Eye welcomes signed opinion pieces. The letter below was written by Dan Penney
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To the editor:
Recently, Mayor Drew and the Board of Education ( BOE) have developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which commits the city legal department to provide legal counsel for the BOE. Such a consolidation of duplicative city services represents significant cost savings that will not only assure that much needed funding can be best dedicated to our teachers and education but also helps taxpayers during these most difficult fiscal times. The Mayor and BOE continue to aggressively pursue other such opportunities. Such esprit de corps is unprecedented and certainly demonstrates what positive outcomes can be achieved when these relationships exist.

Along these lines,similar opportunities exist for the South Fire District (SFD) Board of Fire Commissioners who are presently discussing the vacant position of SFD Fire Chief.

A conservative estimate of annual taxpayer burden for this position is some $175,000 when one considers the annual salary, fringe benefits, dedicated vehicle, travel, private office space and other associated expenses being overseen by the SFD Board of Fire Commissioners to maintain this duplicative management position.

It's time for the SFD Board of Fire Commissioners to work with the city to develop a MOU that would have these services provided by city. Certainly both the city and SFD taxpayers could realize significant tax relief. Additionally, with such a unified command structure these critical emergency response services would be enhanced, in the best interest of public safety.

Dan Penney

South Fire District To Hold 9/11 Ceremony Tomorrow

From the South Fire District. Photo from Patch article last year.
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On September 11th at 10 am, the South Fire District will holding a 9/11 ceremony and groundbreaking. As you recall in honor of the 10th anniversary we unveiled the piece of WTC steel, this year we are sharing the final plans which include commemorative personalized bricks, reflection benches, and new landscaping. All of the work on the memorial is projected to be completed for a ribbon cutting on September 11, 2013.

Please join us in honoring those who lost their lives. The intent of this memorial is to ensure that we “never forget”.

With any questions, please call the station.

South Fire Stuff a Truck a Success!

SOUTH DISTRICT FIREFIGHTERS TO HOLD STUFF-A-TRUCK FOOD DRIVE FOR AMAZING GRACE FOOD PANTRY

On March 24, 2012, members of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 3918 (South District firefighters) will sponsor their bi-annual Stuff-a-Truck, for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry.

Firefighters from South District and their families will volunteer their time from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Stop & Shop on East Main Street in Middletown, soliciting donations from shoppers for Amazing Grace Food Pantry. The effort in November of 2011 garnered 3900 pounds of donations from shoppers and raised $600 in cash donations.

South District Firefighters hold the Stuff-a-Truck event twice a year, once in November, once in April. The firefighters thank all who donated last year and hope to make their springtime effort as successful, so if you are out and about stop by and say hello.

Reader Opinion: Alleged Misuse of State Funds

Below is a letter to the Eye from member of the public. All opinions expressed are that of the author and not necessarily that of the Eye, all responsibility of claims made rest soley on the author below. Eye is publishing this letter as a courtesy to our readers.

Dear Members of the Media-

I am writing to inform you of some improprieties and mismanagement of State Assets. The Connecticut Vally Hospital has made the decision to disband its Volunteer Fire Brigade and reallocate its career firefighters to perform Inspection duties only on the CVH Campus. This has put the burden of fire protection on the tax payers of South District (Middletown) whom receive zero dollars in PILOT (Payment in lieu of taxes) money to offset the costs. CVH is also in the process of renovating the Firehouse at on its Campus at cost of over $200,000. This with the purpose to house a Engine Company from South District at the direction of the South District Board of Fire Commissioners and the Connecticut Valley Hospital Administrators. The Engine company will only be staffed from the hours of 8AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday and furthermore, leaves the Campus with a delayed response for over 16 hours a day. This Engine Company however is not just dedicated to the CVH Campus, it must respond to calls in South District. This delays its response to its citizens as well as leaves the CVH campus without fire protection and emergency services when 911 emergencies exist in its district. We believe this is a gross misallocation of money and resources in a time of great fiscal constraint. The use of South Fire District firefighters whom have never been trained at this highly specialized facility not only put their own lives in jeopardy but those of the staff and patients that reside and work at CVH. The 3 full time firefighters still remain trained and able but are no longer being utilized for their much needed specialized skills required to perform safe and effective emergency operations at CVH. The Connecticut Police and Fire Union strongly encourages members of the media to investigate independently and expose these great wasted resources as well as the jeopardy to life safety that now exists at one Connecticut's last Mental Health Hospitals.

Respectfully,

Chris Brewer

Vice President

CT Police and Fire Union

IAFF Local S-15

50 Columbus Blvd

Hartford, CT 06106

860-953-2626 Office

860-205-9228 Cell

South Fire Holiday Giving Success

SOUTH DISTRICT FIREFIGHTERS AND MIDDLETOWN RESIDENTS MAKE STUFF-A-TRUCK A HUGE SUCCESS

On November 11, 2011, members of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 3918 (South District firefighters) sponsored their bi-annual Stuff-a-Truck, gathering more than 3900 pounds of food for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Firefighters from South District and their families volunteered their time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Stop & Shop on East Main Street in Middletown, soliciting donations from shoppers for Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Despite the cold wind, people gave cheerfully, stopping to chat with the firefighters. The effort also raised $600 in cash donations. South District Firefighters hold the Stuff-a-Truck event twice a year, once in November, once in April.

A check in the amount of $600 was presented to the food pantry on Monday, November 21, 2011.

South Fire Warns About Use Of Turkey Fryers

From the South Fire District.  Thanks to Vijay Pinch for the William Shatner video.

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With the upcoming holiday season, many people will be using Turkey Fryers.  While the turkey done in these fryers is delicious, the dangers can outweigh the benefits.

If you will be using a Turkey Fryer, please follow these simple rules...

South Fire Union Donates to Middlesex Cancer Center

Contact: James Mastroianni,
SOUTH FIRE DISTRICT IAFF LOCAL 3918 UNION TO PRESENT CHECK TO MIDDLESEX CANCER CENTER

On November 22, 2011, members of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 3918 (Middletown’s South District firefighters) will present a check to the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center in the amount of $600. The ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Atrium at the Cancer Center, located at 540 Saybrook Road in Middletown.

The money was raised at South District’s Open House, which was held in October and drew close to a thousand local residents. Union members and their families staffed the food booth, the proceeds of which went to the Cancer Center. The union would like to thank Jeff Harvey, who donated his time and equipment to make french fries; Meadow Meat, who donated the hot dogs; Friehoffer’s Bakery, which donated rolls; as well as Fire Marshall Steve Kroll and South District Commissioner Bill Gregorio for their contributions. Thanks also to the children, spouses and friends of South District’s firefighters, who volunteered at the event.

The open house gives residents and visitors the chance to see the firehouse, learn about fire prevention and safety and generally have fun.

Opinion: South Fire District

Commentary below is a letter of opinion authored by Middletown resident Daniel Penney. It is his opinion only, and does not represent the opinion of The Middletown Eye news blog, the poster of this letter, or any other contributors of the Middletown Eye blog.

9/22/2011

To the editor:

Vested taxpayers of the South Fire District of the City of Middletown remain very concerned with the surprising and most recent developments relative to CVH Fire Department services at the CVH campus . There has been discussion that the South Fire District (SFD) taxpayers will have to pay for overtime expenses associated with new backup coverage at the SFD headquarters. Also, it was recently confirmed that staff and fire apparatus resources funded by the SFD taxpayers have been stationed on the CVH campus.

Additionally there was mention of an 'agreement' involving CVH and the South Fire District. The first question is by whom and under what authority? If in error I stand corrected but I believe that the CT CGS/Fire Codes are very clear in that the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for fire safety compliance matters at CVH State of CT property and buildings would be the CT Office of State Fire Marshall (OSFM), and not the South Fire District.

At the September 12, 2011 monthly meeting of the South Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners (see web page with meeting notices and minutes, digital recordings of meetings are also available, as posted minutes are only summaries of meetings) it was presented that the district had reassigned a primary fire apparatus and significant staff to be located on the Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) campus on a 'trial basis'. Such a trial was further represented as more an evaluation of SFD response time throughout the district and less associated with the significant change in services being provided at CVH.

At this same meeting it was shared that a legal opinion of such actions was to be obtained via counsel retained by the SFD once a recently developed conflict of interest question could be resolved relative to said legal representation.

In recent conversation with the SFD Chief it was confirmed that a written agreement is nonexistent. It has also been confirmed that the SFD has requested upgrades of the fire headquarters building located on the CVH campus, using CVH funding. Such an accommodation would suggest a more permanent arrangement.

There have been questions raised by the public at the SFD monthly meetings, for some time, relative to PILOT funding administration. Other possible and related issues may also fall under purview of CT DOL (different union firefighter locals), TJC (Environment of Care accreditation patient safety /physical environment performance standards), CT DPH (Buildings and Fire Safety/mixed campus occupancies/licensure), as well as CT OPM and the CT State Auditors which it seems both would have an interest in allocations of public funds as well as compliance matters associated with of the original CGS based Charter for the SFD.

The SFD fixed budget is set via an annual budget process that identifies district expenses and is voted on via a referendum. Minimally, it seems that the opportunity for public hearings and mandated voting would have been provided for the some 7000 registered voters / residents of the south fire district, relative to such new and significant operational matters.

Most concerning is that new overtime cost and the expenses incurred relative to relocating a critical fire vehicle with SFD staffing to the CVH campus has been placed directly on the backs of the SFD taxpayers. One may also question how daily firefighter task at the SFD headquarters are being completed with staff being pulled. The SFD includes a significant population of seniors who live on fixed incomes as well as a good number of small business ventures.

Additionally, with the new practice of locating a SFD vehicle on the remote CVH campus, travel distance for this SFD vehicle responding from the CVH campus to a good number of SFD residential locations has more than doubled, presenting new fire safety/response time concerns as well as homeowner and insurance rate questions.

The challenge for the State of CT / DMHAS/ CVH Administration, is to work with the designated labor groups on the CVH campus and creatively utilize existing resources to provide the necessary services needed to assure that both staff and client safety in such a specialized behavioral health driven environment are best maintained, especially as such relates to TJC accreditation and CT DPH licensure. It seems that the SFD should only be involved on a cost effective strict MUTUAL AIDE basis, as is common practice throughout the State and with other fire services within Middletown as well as in nearby towns. The CVH also has the unique long established practice of having volunteer fire services integrated in its existing campus operations. From a cost effectiveness perspective, it is critical that CVH maintain such operational flexibility. CVH is equally well positioned to handle most of its own emergency calls, which are medical in nature, with the presence of highly skilled, behavioral health focused, medical and support staff on site.

There are a good number of retired and working professionals in our SFD community with extensive experience in such patient/staff fire safety, compliance, operational and public policy matters (hospitals facility/engineering professionals , TJC accreditation /DPH licensure compliance, retired SFD Fire Commissioners, retired State Firefighters etc.), driven by a focus to control taxes in our district, whom I'm sure would volunteer their time to bring forward creative ideas that would focus on enhanced and cost effective opportunities for improvement of CVH Fire Department Services.

A CVH organized review committee that also includes such technical content experts, from the public/community, would be a good starting point and certainly in the best interest of the South Fire District taxpayers.

Daniel J. Penney

Commentary above is a letter of opinion authored by Middletown resident Daniel Penney. It is his opinion only, and does not represent the opinion of The Middletown Eye news blog, the poster of this letter, or any other contributors of the Middletown Eye blog.

South Fire District Bylaw Review Committee

From David Gallitto, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, South Fire District
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The South Fire District of the City of Middletown is forming a Bylaw Review Committee. Residents of the South Fire District who desire to be considered to serve on the committee must submit a letter of interest, postmarked or delivered on or before 4:00 p.m. on June 3, 2011, and addressed to:

Chief Edward Badamo
South Fire District, City of Middletown
445 Randolph Road
Middletown, CT 06457

South Fire District Budget Vote Tomorrow

Voting will take place on Tuesday, April 26th, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Firehouse, 445 Randolph Road. Voters must show photo ID.

The proposed budget is available as a PDF.

South Fire District Voting For Commissioner Today

Commissioner candidates are Mary A. Bartolotta and Sandra Russo-Driska

Voting will take place on Monday February 7, 2011 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Firehouse, 445 Randolph Road. (Voters must show photo ID.)

Followed by...

Board of Fire Commissioners Annual Meeting – Election of Commissioner
February 7, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at the Firehouse

South Fire District Budget Vote on Tuesday

Residents of the South Fire District will vote Tuesday on a proposed $4.3M budget for the coming year. The budget is 12.1% higher than the current year, largely due to increases in salaries, insurance, and capital and non-recurring account expenses.

The proposed mill rate is 3.486, a 3% increase from last year's rate of 3.377.

Voting is Tuesday, April 27, from 6AM to 8PM, at the South Firehouse.

Stuff a Fire Truck

South District Fire Department and the South Fire District Firefighters Local 3918 team up to help feed the community.

Friday, November 6, and Saturday November 7, 2009, members of the South Fire District and the South Fire District Firefighters Local 3918 are hosting a “STUFF A FIRE TRUCK” food drive. The collection will take place at the Stop and Shop at 416 East Main Street. Firefighters will be collecting both perishable and non-perishable food items to benefit the Amazing Grace Food Pantry on Main St. Extension in the city of Middletown.

Collections can be made from 5-10 P.M. on Friday, 11/6/09 and from 8 A.M.-8 P.M. on Saturday, 11/7/09.

South Fire District Approves Budget

From Edward Creem:

Voters in Middletown's South Fire District have given overwhelming approval to the proposed 3.8 million dollar budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. In day long balloting today the budget was approved by a 3 to 1 margin, 801 Yes to 267 No. At a brief meeting following the vote, the Board of fire Commissioners formally adopted a mil rate of 3.377 for the coming fiscal year, a slight decrease from the current mil rate of 3.381.

The new budget will allow the South Fire District to increase staffing by 3 firefighters. The salaries and benefits for the three additional firefighters will be less than the cost of the overtime that would have been necessary to maintain minimum staffing of 5 firefighters and one Lieutenant on each Platoon.

South Fire District Votes On Budget April 28

From Edward Creem:

Voters in Middletown's South Fire District will go to the polls on Tuesday, April 28th to vote on a 3.86 million dollar budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. While spending is up slightly over the current budget, the mil rate for the coming fiscal year will actually go down from the current 3.381 to 3.377.

The only significant change in the budget is in the area of personnel. In an effort to address an on-going issue of overtime needed just to maintain minimum staffing, the Board of Fire Commissioners has proposed hiring three additional firefighters. This will result in an additional firefighter on each platoon, allowing for one firefighter per platoon to be off for training, illness, workers compensation or vacation without having to hire a firefighter on overtime to meet the minimum staffing requirement. For reasons of public and firefighter safety and to comply with the firefighters contract, South Fire District currently staffs each platoon with a minimum of 6 personnel.

The proposed reduction in overtime costs combined with a reorganization of the District Tax Office and a give-back from the firefighters union has resulted in a 3.81 percent decrease on the Salary line of the proposed budget when compared with the current budget. The firefighters, through their local of the International Association of Fire Fighters have agreed to give up their cost of living pay increases in the coming fiscal year and have agreed to attend certain additional training on their own time.

A summary of the proposed South Fire District Budget is available on the South Fire District web site at www.southfiredistrict.com. Voting on the budget will take place on Tuesday, April 28th from 6 am to 8 pm at the firehouse located at 445 Randolph Rd.

Fire protection in the City of Middletown is not part of the City's General Fund Budget. Therefore the City is served by three Fire Districts, Middletown, South District and Westfield with each district having its own separate budget and tax rate. South Fire District covers everything south of Route 17 Connector to the Durham and Haddam Town lines and from the east side of South Main Street to the Connecticut River.

Rell proposes cuts to Middletown bonds

The Hartford Courant reported in its Saturday edition that Governor Rell has proposed canceling state and local bonds to fund projects that have already been authorized. In Middletown, these proposed cuts include the following:

• Kidcity Children's Museum. $1,000,000 from the Commission on Culture and Tourism for construction of a new building.
  
• South Fire District. $475,000 from Public Safety for renovation of fire stations.
• Crystal Lake. $50,000 from the Department of Environmental Protection for watershed management.

The money for Kidcity is for an expansion to create more space for the very popular Middletown destination. The founder of Kidcity, Jen Alexander, told me, "Since the start of the economic downturn last fall, the number of visitors to Kidcity has gone up, and we are seeing more families travel here from outside of Middletown. We have never been as crowded as we were during the schools' February break this year."

Alexander is disappointed to lose the funding, she said in these economic conditions the state and federal governments should be investing in local projects that have long-term benefits, "This is the best time to be making investments like this, so cutting this is short-sighted." She said that if the cut in funding is approved, she will go back to the legislature to apply again for money to accommodate more visitors to the museum.

Kidcity brings in 100,000 visitors per year to downtown Middletown. The legislature will consider these cuts as well as all of Rell's budget proposals as they work on the state budget in the coming months.

Hot topics at the Common Council meeting

One would have guessed that the hot topics at tonight's Common Council meeting would be the disposition of Cucia Park and the proposed study of Middletown Fire Districts.

One might have been wrong. With the current financial turmoil as a backdrop, questions for directors ate up exactly three hours of the meeting. Middletown's IT director was grilled for an hour about proposed additions to staff which would have allowed the department to handle computer issues in town more readily. More than one Council member questioned these already-budgeted postions as to much to handle in difficult financial times. Another long debate ensued over a program to employ retired residents in minor city positions (e.g. hosting a vistor's information desk at City Hall), and providing these residents with a reduction in tax payments to the city. The debate hinged on whether these residents would be covered under Workers' Comp insurance. This resolution was referred to the finance committee for clarification.

During the earlier public session, Cucia Park, and the Fire District study were the topics of public commentary.

Arline Rich spoke against the Fire Distric study indicating that it was opening the door for a potential consolidation of Middletown's three fire districts. "The Westfield Fire District has the lowest tax rate in the city for fire services. A consolidation would raise our taxes and have a negative financial impact on residents and businesses." Stephen Devoto also of Westfield, praised the performance of the Fire District. Speaking in defense of the South Fire District, Sandra Russo-Driska, chair of the South Fire District also emphasized the lower tax rate in the South District, and the superior service residents receive.

On the topic of the placement of an Army Reserve Training Center in Cucia Park, Barrie Robbins-Pianka lamented the decision by the city to allow any center to be built in city limits, suggesting rather that a regional site search would have better served Middletown, the region and the army. She did ask for one amendment in the proposed Council resolution, and that was to remove the suggestion that a River Road site was a second choice for the Reserve's Center.

"It could not be more clear that the small park (Cucia) is the first choice," she said. "Remove the River Road language from the resolution."

Larry McHugh, president of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce stood before the Council and scolded anyone who opposed welcoming the Army to Middletown. He noted that the Army Reserve Training Center would help the brave men and women who serve our state and our country.

No one, in all the meetings on the topic, has ever expressed anything but support for those brave men and women.

In addition, McHugh, who claimed to be speaking for "thousands of Middletown residents, and members of the Chamber," said that these thousands of unnamed residents, who apparently had not had the time or inclination to attend any meetings, were in full support of the Center.

Debate and voting on the issues didn't begin until nearly 11 pm. The debate, discussion and vote on the resolution to study fire districts was postponed until a Council meeting on Jan. 5, 2009.

On the topic of Cucia Park, Councilor Tom Serra offered an amendment to the resolution, further shaped by Councilman Gerry Daley, which would require the city to purchase park land or open space equivalent to the acreage lost in the sale of Cucia Park, if the land is sold to the army.

The resolution to recommend Cucia Park passed 11-1.

Fire district cost study to be proposed

An ordinance to study the structure, costs and duties of all three fire districts which provide fire and emergency services in Middletown will be offered for debate and vote at the next meeting of Middletown's Common Council.

The ordinance, if passed, will generate a report, written by a Citywide Fire Services Cost Committee which will provide the Council:

... a comprehensive assessment of all costs now and projected over the next five (5) years related to providing for fire safety related services including but not limited to personnel, equipment, department maintenance, the cost per run, the cost of mutual and automatic aid and bonding indebtedness for the next five years; and any recommendations it may suggest regarding controlling such costs; and

At least one councilor, David Bauer, feels that if the Council adopts this ordinance that it will be overstepping its bounds.

According to an email sent to The Eye when asked for comment, Bauer wrote:

It would be great to know the information that the proposed resolution asks for, but neither the Common Council nor the Public Safety Committee can strong-arm our two independent Fire Districts in Middletown. The South Fire and Westfield Fire Districts get their mandate from State Statutes and the Common Council should respect their independence.

The financial challenges for any Fire Department are becoming increasingly difficult. The Fire Department is the First Responder for all 911 Medical calls in Middletown and these calls constitute about 2/3’s of Fire Service calls. With diesel fuel projected to cost $5, the cost of dispatching a 350-450 thousand dollar vehicle for a Medical call may become too expensive. We need to find a balance between answering a great number of EMS calls and having the manpower and equipment we need to fight a smaller number of fires and motor vehicle accidents.

I believe a better approach for the Common Council would be to lead by example and show that we are performing the type of financial cost study on the City functions that are completely under the purview of the Council. As a first step, I intend to introduce a resolution at the next Council meeting that charges the whole Common Council to review the makeup and scope of all Council Committees and Commissions to insure that they effectively carry out the Council’s duties mandated by City Charter. The organization of these Committees and Commissions has not changed for a generation while the technology and process of delivering City Services has changed dramatically in many instances.

The proposed ordinance is scheduled for discussion at the next Council meeting, Monday October 6.