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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-03-15 Special Meeting 813 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 11, 1985 (CONTINUED) ADDITIONAL ITEMS - COUNTY MANAGER (CONTINUED) I AUTHORIZATION FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH CONTINENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY - FLEMINGTONLANDFILL - EPA LAWSUIT After discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to authorize the County Attorney to finalize the Flemington Landfill - EPA Lawsuit entering into agreement with Continental Insurance Company for defense of New Hanover County. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner to adjourn the UNANIMOUSLY. Retchin MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Dolan meeting. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED Chairman O'Neal adjourned the meeting at 12:20 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, ~V::~ Clerk I MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING WITH RESCUE SQUADS, MARCH 15, 1985 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in Special Session jointly with the New Hanover County Rescue Squads on Friday, March 15, 1985, at 8:00 o'clock A.M. in the Assembly Room, New Hanover County Administration Building, Wilmington, North Carolina. I Members present were: Commiss ioners John Dolan; Fred Retchin; Claud 0' Shields, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Jonathan Barfield; Chairman Nolan O'Neal; County Manager, G. Felix Cooper; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Chairman O'Neal called the meeting to order. PRESENTATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS DEFIBRILLATION PROGRAMS Mr. Richard F. Carter, President of the National Pacemaker Foundation, gave a presentation on the Emergency Medical Technicians Defibrillation Program emphasizing the loss of lives in New Hanover County due to not providing improved cardic care. Mr. Carter introduced the following members of the medical community who commented on the importance of upgrading the level of care: ..... 814 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 15, 1985 (CONTINUED) PRESENTATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS DEFIBRILLATION PROGRAM. (CONTINUED) Dr. Peter Meyer, Medical Director of New Hanover County Emergency Medical Services, commented on the present level of EMT care in the County stating how significantly it has improved in the last two years through the cooperation and assistance of the Volunteer Rescue Squads. He stressed the importance of developing a county-wide or centralized Emergency Medical Rescue System to provide an advanced level of care as proposed in the EMT-D program. He endorsed the proposal presented by Dan Summers, Emergency Services Coordinator, stating it provides for a paid full-time, professional EMT staff 24-hours a day and at the same time utili zes the many services provided by the volunteers. Dr. Kenneth Marburg, Board Certified Emergency Medical Service Specialist at New Hanover Memorial Hospital, commented on the EMT-D advanced program stressing the importance of establishing a centralized County Rescue System before implementing this type of program. Dr. Robert A. Parr, an Emergency Medical Specialist at New Hanover Memorial Hospital, commented on the present system and supported the idea of a cenrtalized County Rescue System before advancing to any higher level of EMT care. Dr. James Dineen commented on the importapce of a.sponsoring hospital emphasizing the importance of obtaining endorsement of the program by the hospital. Discussion was held on the fact that the N. C. Board of Medical Examiners does not permit emergency medical technicians to use difibrillators. Only paramedics can use them unless the Board of Medical Examiners approves a pilot program. Mr. Robert Bland commented on the number of hours required by the State of North Carolina for a paramedic to become state certified. He stated 418 hours of classroom study and approximately 100 hours of clinical time were the prerequisites. He commented on the fact that most systems are regulated by the doctors participating in the program with a variance in the number of hours required. A lengthy discussion was held on the State preventing the establishment of EMT-D programs and what channels should be followed to correct this problem. Chairman O'Neal, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to Dr. Robert Carter and members of the medical community for attending and sharing their comments on EMT-D programs being implemented throughout the country. BREAK Chairman O'Neal recessed the meeting for a break from 10:18 o'clock A.M. to 10:35 A.M. o'clock A.M. r COMMISSIONER BARFIELD EXCUSED FROM MEETING Commissioner Barfield was excused from the meeting at 10:18 o'clock A.M. due to a work related issue. DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATE PROPOSALS BY COUNTY VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUADS Mr. William J. Murray, Chairman of the Ogden Volunteer Rescue Squad Board of Directors and representing the New Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad, gave a presentation on a proposal that supported advanced care but did not require consolidation of the squads. He commented on the cost to the County if the current volunteer system was discontinued. . Mr. Allen Tiller, Chief of the Ogden Rescue Squad, commented on the County's proposal leaving the volunteers with very few i'-... I I I 9/5 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 15, 1985 (CONTINUED) DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATE PROPOSALS BY COUNTY VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUADS (CONTINUED) duties stressing the importance of Nolunteerspirit. He, also, expressed concern about the lack of cooperation between the E~ergency Services Coordinator and rescue squads stating very llttle contact had been made by Dan Summers to strive to solve the current problems. Commissioner 0' Shields expressed concern for the Volunteer Rescue Squads not being willing to contact the new Emergency Services Director stating he felt this was the responsibility of the squads. Commissioner Dolan gave background information on the various rescue systems throughout the State stressing the importance using the volunteer squads as full partners in the establishment of a county-wide system. He commented on Dan Summer's proposal for a centralized system expressing concern for the concept of volunteers as a third party not a general partner stating he felt this was unfair to the the members of the rescue squads. After a lengthy discussion of proposals and discussion between the Commissioners and members of the Volunteer Rescue Squads, County Manager Cooper stated he felt a proposal could be prepared that would satisfy all parties involved. Mr. Seth Hunt, Regional Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, commented on the State's concern for a higher level of emergency rescue care in the State stressing the importance of not rushing into a program without a great deal of planning. Mr. John Willis, a former member of the New Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad, commented on CPR training emphasizing the importance of training when implementing a defibrillator system. He stressed the importance of utilizing volunteers in any system established. After a lenghty discussion, Commissioner Retchin MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner O'Shields to form a Division of Emergency Medical Services under the Department of Emergency Services. Included in the MOTION was the request for the Emergency Services Director, County Manager or his designee, a member of each Volunteer Rescue Squad, a ~epresentative. of the / Wilmington Fire Department and representative of the hospital to study the two proposals presented by the Ogden Volunteer Rescue Squad and New Hanover Volunteer . Rescue Squad and the County's Proposal prepared by the Emergency Services Office preparing a proposal with recommendations for restructuring the operations of emergency services in New Hanover County to be presented to the Commissioners within 30 days. The MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: Voting Aye: Commissioner Retchin Commissioner O'Shields Chairman O'Neal Voting Noe: Commissioner Dolan Absent: Commissioner Barfield Commissioner Dolan expressed concern for action being taken prematurely in establishing such a division. After further discussion, Commissioner Retchin MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner O'Shields to enter int~ the record that the Commissioners support and endorse the establlshment of a EMT- D certification as recommended by the EMS Committee. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: 817 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 15, 1985 (CONTINUED) Voting Aye: Commissioner Dolan Commissioner O'Shields Commissioner Retchin Chairman O'Neal Absent: Commissioner Barfield I Commissioner O'Neal, on behalf of the Board, appreciation to all members present of the Rescue other organizations for giving of their time to share- helpful comments to all. expressed Squads and attend and ADJOURNMENT Commissioner O'Shields to ad journ the meeting. FOLLOWS: MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Dolan Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS Voting Aye: Commissioner Dolan Commissioner O'Shields Commissioner Retchin Chairman O'Neal Absent: Commissioner Barfield rIP~t?W~tted, ~~cie F. Harrell Clerk MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 18, 1985 I ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Monday, March 18, 1985, at 9:00 o'clock A.M. in the Assembly Room, New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: Commissioners Jonathan Barfield, Sr.; John Dolan; Claud O'Shields, Jr.; Chairman Nolan O'Neal; County Manager, G. Felix Cooper; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Members absent were: Commissioner Retchin Commissioner 0' Shields gave the invocation. called the meeting to order. Chairman O'Neal NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman O'Neal asked if anyone present wished to speak on an item not listed on the Regular Agenda or an item listed on the Consent Agenda. The following person commented: Mr. Pat McCoy, Chairman of the Cape Fear Area Directors of Volunteers In Agencies, gave background information on the 6th Annual New Hanover County Volunteer Recognition Reception, to be held on April 28, 1985, from 3:00-5:00 P.M., at Roland Grise Junior High School requesting funding in the amount of $1,000. I Commissioner O'Shields MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Barfield to approve funding for this year in the amount of $1,000 and that future requests be submitted as a budget item on an annual basis. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: Voting Aye: Commissioner Barfield Commissioner Dolan Commissioner O'Shields Chairman O'Neal Absent: Commissioner Retchin ...oIl