APRIL 28, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Rev. Jeanette Olmstead-Sawyer, Chair; Doug Sutton; Peter Wien; Bill Krummel.

STAFF: Tim Callahan, Director of Health; Linda Wilock, Director of Youth Services.

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by the Chair.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MARCH 24, 2005 MEETING

** MR. WIEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS DISTRIBUTED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (OLMSTEAD-SAWYER).

HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT

Mr. Callahan reviewed the status of the Aids program. They are dealing with the Ryan White Title I program. These Federal dollars are administered by a Planning Council in New Haven. This is unusual. There are planning councils around the state. These funds come to Connecticut and the Planning Council determines who needs what. Norwalk has two agencies receiving funds – the Mid Fairfield Aids Project, Macedonia Church and Connecticut Counseling. The Norwalk Community Health Center and Family & Children’s Agency received funds but they will no longer do so. The funds for the Community Health Center will no longer be received because the grant was poorly written and those for the Family & Children’s Agency will not be received because the grants person retired and no one submitted the application. The amount of money for the region stayed the same but was redistributed.

Mr. Wien expressed concern that the people who receive their treatment through these two dropped agencies would not be served, but Mr. Callahan said that the organizations coordinate services. The consortium knows where the people are.

Mr. Callahan said that Norwalk and Stamford now have to merge their planning groups. There has to be an agreement that the dollars don’t have to be shaved in any way. The merger process has just begun. He will keep this Committee advised.

Mr. Krummel asked Mr. Callahan about his involvement. Mr. Callahan said that primary care is provided mostly by the Norwalk Community Health Center. Many of the patients go to the Community Health Center and Macedonia pays for their care. The doctors at the Community Health Center are in a residency program with two supervisors (Board-certified physicians). Every effort was made to insure that people in the two programs that were dropped have been taken care of and were not lost.

The Chair inquired about the number of cases. Mr. Callahan said he would provide a three year comparison at the next meeting as well as the number of people being provided services by these organizations. He said that the number of cases seem to be stable.

Mr. Callahan made a presentation on the health districts. Discussion took place on the impacts of moving from City employees to Health District employees. The City employees would not be members of the same unions they belonged to but they can decide whether to be unionized or not. However, employees would remain in the City’s pension plan. Districts receive $1.66 per capita, a net effect of an additional $84,000 per year to Norwalk. This is done as an incentive for joining the health district.

Mr. Wien said he had trouble with this concept because it is run by a Board of Directors who appoint their own members, as opposed to having elected officials. There is no elected body watching what is going on. Mr. Callahan said there is a Board of Health now that sets policy for the Health Department and acts in the best interests of the citizens of Norwalk. In the 30 years they have been in existence, health districts have worked.

Mr. Callahan said it is estimated that each town would enjoy a savings of 9% by joining together.

Mr. Krummel asked the function of the Health & Welfare Committee. Mr. Callahan said they would act as a conduit for getting information back to the Council. Contracts and grants would be the responsibility of the Health District, not this committee. Mr. Callahan would continue to bring reports to this committee.

Mr. Wien said he always thought that health districts were made up of small towns to pool their resources. He is bothered by the state promotion of a health district overseen by a board of directors. This eliminates elected officials from public oversight. Mr. Callahan said that the Board of Health really cares about Norwalk. Mr. Wien said that the Board of Health does a good job, and part of the reason is that they are under a public umbrella. Mr. Callahan said that would not change; Mr. Wien disagreed.

Mr. Krummel asked why other cities did not take advantage of this, even with the financial incentive. Mr. Callahan said it is because the towns don’t want to take on the problems of major cities, such as Bridgeport, but Norwalk is much more attractive.

Mr. Callahan asked what further information this committee wants.

Mr. Krummel brought up the letter sent by “Friends of City Employees”. Mr. Callahan said they hope to hold a public hearing very soon so that this can come before the Council in May. He said that the point of joining the district is more about benefit enhancement than about cutting costs. It is not in anyone’s interests to cause problems with employees. They have been advised by counsel that they cannot guarantee transfer of current benefits. However, he was pretty confident that would be the case. This decision will be made by the Board of Directors.

Mr. Wien said he agreed with Mr. Krummel that workers deserved to have guarantees. Mr. Krummel said that some of type of guarantee would be made. This will be an issue of contention in the Council. Mr. Callahan will provide everyone with a copy of SB978.

In response to a question from Mr. Sutton, Mr. Callahan said he thought they would end up with two bargaining units. The employees have to vote to unionize. If they choose to do so, the district and the union negotiate a contract.

Mr. Callahan reviewed the letter sentence by sentence, and discussion took place. He noted that all benefits will be comparable. He said that would make the Health Department stronger and better. They will save $170,000 by forming the district. Mr. Wien requested a balance sheet showing what they would gain and what they would lose (such as in terms of grants). The Chair suggested that Mr. Callahan show the benefits of joining the two districts in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of each district.

There will be a public hearing on either May 12th or May 17th.

Mr. Krummel congratulated Mr. Callahan on a very good report.

YOUTH SERVICES BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION UPDATE

The Chair said she was disappointed in that she and Mr. Kennedy were supposed to be co-chairs, but when she met with him before the meeting, he had already printed out material for the meeting. She told him she found that very disturbing. He did not want her or Ms. Wilock to have much input. The Chair said they were back to square one. When Mayor Knopp arrived at this meeting, he talked to Mr. Kennedy rather than to her. She asked the committee members if they felt it was worthwhile to go forward. It seems to be orchestrated and she is only there so that this committee is represented.

Mr. Wien said it has been a year since the Blue Ribbon Commission was formed. He said that this committee should go forward with the Youth Services issue. They should take this back. They have the capability to handle it and go forward.

Mr. Sutton said that the Mayor should consider this as part of the youth violence issue.

Mr. Krummel said they want to serve youth. The leadership has to be reminded of what it means to run the Commission in a democracy. This is a very important matter. They have to tell the Commission that it cannot operate in secrecy. They need to put into writing what they want this commission to do and if they don’t do it within a month, they need to take it over.

Mr. Wien said that the Commission should do its job and they should do their job as well. He noted that there is great talent on the Blue Ribbon Commission but this committee should be handling this issue. The findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission should be considered to possibly be tainted because of back room meetings. Mayor Knopp is trying to dismantle a valuable youth at risk program.

The Chair said she did not trust this group and did not have good feelings about working with them. It is prefabricated.

Mr. Callahan suggested giving it one meeting. Mr. Krummel said some of the members have had no contact from or with the Blue Ribbon Commission, noting that two members only learning of their appointment through the newspaper.

The Chair suggested they let the Blue Ribbon Commission go forward with Mr. Kennedy chairing. Mr. Sutton said if the Chair is going to function as Co-Chair of the Blue Ribbon Commission, she has to put her ideas on the playing field. Mr. Wien said it is not a level playing field.

Discussion took place on where the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission would go. Mr. Wien said that Mayor Knopp has manipulated this entire process.

The Chair said she would see if Mayor Knopp sends her the same information he sends to Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Krummel said this committee should support the Chair. They should see what happens at the first meeting, but they should tell everyone what they think is wrong before that first meeting. They should state that the membership should be fully informed of everything going on, and there should be a schedule set of the next six meetings.

Mr. Callahan said at the Blue Ribbon Commission’s first meeting, they will pick days and times of future meetings. He suggested that there be six meetings so that people will feel there is a time limit. Mr. Wien said this commission should report to this committee.

Extensive discussion took place. Mr. Sutton suggested that the commission might consider putting out a commission report and a minority report as well.

** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO PUT IN WRITING WHO THIS COMMITTEE THINKS THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD REPORT TO, WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION TO COMMISSION MEMBERS. THE PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE COMMITTEE SHOULD MONITOR THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION CLOSELY, AND IF NECESSARY, THEY SHOULD GO OFF ON THEIR OWN.

Mr. Krummel said that the commission should have moved forward a year ago. The Commission has been disrespectful of its co-chair and its membership.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services

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