HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial City Council Minutes 05.31.1983at 4:34 p.m., on May
Committee.
Minutes of the City Council of Laurel
May 31, 1983
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana,
was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Albert Ehrlick
1983, for the purpose of meeting with the Ambulance
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
Lonnie Kellogg Susan Carter
Marvin Carter Bob Gauthier
Fred Feuerbacher, III
Duane Behm Bill Brennan
Rob Harris
Maurie Kaiser stated that after talking with the Mayor, he got the
impression that the reason the raises for the Director and Assistant Director
were denied was because a lot of ambulance calls were outside the City limits
non-city taxpayers. We.realize that the ambulance is losing money and always
has. I talked to the. Mayor about some type of surcharge to non-city taxpayers
when they ride the ambulance.
Maurie was informed that the new rate structure charges outside City calls
$100.00 base rate and inside City limits is $85.00.
Mr. Kaiser mentioned that there has been an on-going feud, and it's got
to the point where the ambulance peopie won't even talk to us in a civilized
manner. They are so upset with us on the fact of what the Council has done
in the past and what apparently they think we have done in the past. It has
got to the point where they have such a bad taste in their mouth for the City
of Laurel and for us sitting here that we can't deal with them.
I :am not ~' Saying it's our fault and I am not saying it is your fault,
but I don't think we're capable of dealing with them as a whole and we're cer-
tainly not capable of dealing with the person they had as the head of the
ambulance. I just don't see how things are going to get better until you
people can step in and do something to help us. We are going to wind up losing
all of the personnel on the ambulance and really we have a real good ambulance
crew now. I don't know if they are administrators, but as far as being ambu-
lance attendants they are super. I would hate to lose them. Without your help
someway, and I am not saying that money is the way, but there has get to be
some way where you can help us communicate With these people.
Maurie.also mentioned some hassle between the firemen and ambulance crew
regardihg parking at the complex.
They are continually upset with the firemen, dispatchers, the committee
and you people. I would hate to lose the ambulance crew because we have some
good people on there.
Sue Carter reported that she had an ambulance attendants meeting yesterday
afternoon and there could be a.slight conflict between a couple of them, but
nothing major. The biggest reason the Director and Assistant Director resigned
is that they didn't get the PaY they wanted, and the Council felt that they
couldn't give them that kind of a raise.
There are a few things that the attendants should be responsible for and
not t~e Director. One is ~ayroll: every other City employee fills out their
own time slips and is approved by the supervisor. This could also be done
with the ambulance attendants. Trip slips are filled out except for the bill-
ing portion and then the Director completes it. The attendant could do this
and alleviate some of the Director's work.
pa e 2 Minutes Of the City Council of Laurel
Sue reported that she has two applicants for the Director's position and
both have been attendants. One has been a Director, and they have been made
aware of the wages.
Discussion regarding budgeting, the appointment of attendants and Directors,
and By-laws.
It was suggested that in the future the Director attend staff meetings
and the Council meetings. This was also a request by the attendants that some-
one from the ambulance attend these meetings. More discussion regarding the
appointment of the ambulance Director.
Judy Kettenring mentioned that part of the problem is that their feeling
has been probiems from two, three~ four years ago that have carried over.
Discussion regarding maintenance of the ambulance.
Discussion regarding the responsibility of ambulance attendants vs firemen.
Discussion regard±ng the possibility of changing the attendants pay from
the current fixed amount per shift to a small amount per hour for standby time
and a larger hourly wage when on an actual run.
It was suggested that the committee take a look at this and bring it back
to the Council in the form of a resolution.
There was discussion regarding attendants with First Aid, Advanced First
Aid and EMT and each time a person would change to a different category there
could be an increase in the rate of pay. This would give them an incentive to
get their EMT rating.
Bob Gauthier suggested that a committee, represented by two members from
the Council, two members from the Ambulance Committee and two ambulance atten-
dants get together and form a policy and a guideline and then come back and
present it to the Council.
There also was discussion regarding the forming of a FAP Complex Committee
of policemen, firemen and ambulance attendants to iron out in-house problems.
This may help to alleviate the friction in this area.
Discussion regarding a problem the committee had of getting information
and data from the past Director.
Discussion of looking at a private ambulance service. This was done for
backup only, in case all of t~e attendants should quit.
The Mayor will direct the new Director or Assistant to attend the Council
meetings and staff meetings and too it was suggested that this be made part of
the by-laws.
Meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. ~ ~
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel~
Montana, this 7th day of June, 1983o