ORDER-2018-147 : Appointment of Health Director Ruth Clay as Emergency Management Director, effective April 27, 2018

Transcript (~5 min @ 2:52)

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▶ 2:19 John N. Tramontozzi: public participation second seeing no members of the public wishing to come forward at this meeting there's a motion to close public participation by all them in Madero seconded by all them in Mortimer on the motion all in favor aye any opposed seeing none public participation is now closed the first The first order on this agenda is order 2018-147. It's the appointment of Health Director Ruth Clay as Emergency Management Director, effective April 27, 2018. Motion to recommend for passage, Madam Chair? Second. Mr. Chairman. We got a, before we take motions on this, we did get communication that Ms. Clay was unavailable this evening, and so was any other individual from the city to discuss this matter. So the proposal that I have would be that we hold it in committee. I'd entertain a motion for that, unless this committee decides otherwise, so that we can hear from the administration as to the need for this order. I'll withdraw my motion if the second will withdraw. Second withdraw? No. No, okay. So we have a motion that is a motion to- Recommend for passage is the motion I made, sir. We don't have any members of the public, members of the administration present to discuss this matter.

▶ 3:48 Speaker 1: Let's put, did you wanna say? Discussion.

▶ 3:51 Robert A. Boisselle: We all know Ms. Ruth Clay as Director of the Health Department. She's been involved in a lot of activities concerning health, and she's been involved with the past northeastern storm that we had quite a bit. And she's very well qualified for this position, and I will keep my motion to keep her there or appoint her as the emergency management director.

▶ 4:20 John N. Tramontozzi: Any other? Alderman Medeiros.

▶ 4:23 Monica C. Medeiros: Thank you. So on discussion, you know, I agree that Ms. Clay is, you know, we know her well and she's certainly very capable. I would, however, like to hear from her or some member of the administration a little bit more what they'd like to see happen with this, with the Emergency Management Department and direction. It's kind of been in flux over the last few years and I would personally like to hear a little bit more. So, at this time, I would prefer that we hold this in committee. So I guess if the motion is to send it forward, I'll oppose it today.

▶ 5:02 John N. Tramontozzi: Just as a point of order, the reason that this came forth to us is that the chief fire chief who is the current emergency management director is going to be retiring, but there's no present need for be done immediately but uh that was the uh the reason why this came to the forefront um

▶ 5:28 Peter D. Mortimer: on on uh further discussion mr chairman yes um in as much as alderman boisselle does not wish to withdraw a second which is his right and i understand his reasoning i agree with it we will have a chance at the full board to have a colloquy possibly with miss clay So at this point, we, because of parliamentary procedure, we can either vote to recommend this order for passage, or we can vote that it ought not to pass, or that the motion to recommend for passage will fail. I would say, based on what Alderman Boyce-Hells said, I think we can go ahead and then perhaps request that Ms. Clay or some member of the administration appear at the full board. I would not be inclined as much, I would like to see someone here as well, would not be inclined to vote against the motion to recommend her for this post for passage thank you any further discussion I think president's work

▶ 6:29 Michael P. Zwirko: comments Thank You mr. chairman I just wanted to say that I agree with Alderman Medeiros that at least in my tenure here I can't remember us moving forward on an appointment in committee without the individual being here and I do have some questions I would like to ask miss clay so while I might may ultimately support the recommendation i will not be doing so tonight so i'd like to retain this in committee and i will be uh voting against the motion to recommend so that's all i had thank you mr chairman okay any

▶ 6:55 John N. Tramontozzi: further discussion on it so we have a motion to um send to the full board with a motion to recommend it that's been made by alderman mortimer seconded by alderman Boisselle and again i will withdraw it if alderman Boisselle uh agrees to withdraw a second but apparently he will not so that's okay on that motion we'll take a vote all in favor aye raise your hands please two

▶ 7:21 John N. Tramontozzi: the motion fails you want a further motion motion to hold the order in committee second we have a

▶ 7:28 John N. Tramontozzi: second on that so we have a motion to hold the order in committee made by alderman mortimer seconded by alderman medeiros any further discussion seeing none on that motion all All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? One, that order motion passes. We will hold that in committee.