Council briefing meeting
November 15th, 2007 by 
Alica
Tonight, the City Council will hold its regular briefing meeting in the council chambers at 5:30 p.m. One of the evening’s topics will be what to do about ambulance quality assurance. There are varying opinions about whether the city’s ordinance requires quality assurance to be in place on the day MED-Star’s license goes into effect.
That was supposed to happen today, but most likely it won’t. Metro Communications isn’t ready to dispatch 911 calls to MED-Star, and it’s not known when they will be.
Ambulance quality assurance also is on the agenda for the council’s next regular meeting, which will be Nov. 19.
How do you think the city should proceed with quality assurance? Below are some of the options that have been brought up so far. Which of them look to you like the best choice? Why? The worst choice? Why? Do you have any options not listed below that you would like the council to consider?
Can you contain your posts to discussion of the options and their benefits or drawbacks? I hope so.
Possible options (in no particular order):
1. Recruit one or more medical professionals who are Brandon residents.
2. Recruit one or more medical professionals without regard to where they live.
3. Rely on MED-Star’s medical director.
4. Contract with REMSA.
5. Contract with an out-of-state professional agency.
6. Rely on the City Council for review.
7. Go without review.
Posted in Uncategorized, Ambulance | 
November 15th, 2007 at 6:22 am
1. Mr. Masur put a stop to this one happening with his slam in the Argus. Nov 9th “But the city’s going to have to work very hard to get an expert crew of qualified medical professionals familiar with ambulance work out of the people of Brandon.” He must not know our communities residents very well. There’s a lot of medical clout that live here. There’s a very good reason they won’t take the job. And the city council just doesn’t understand why?
2. One isn’t enough, with REMSA we had 11, and it was free. So if we can find a panel of 11 for free (to qualify for equal service to what we had) then terrific.
3. Nope, not independant enough. And obviously he turned them down because that was the first call council was going to make and they didn’t bring him up at the last meeting.
4. That’s what we HAD, so if they’ll do it for free, that’s the best choice.
5. Many thousands of dollars, nope. Unless Masur is footing the bill. And he signs a contract with the city saying so.
6. That’s a joke, right Alica?
7. Another funny. I’m moving.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:36 am
This says it all on the keloland.com website quoted by Jay “I dare you to find somebody else in the country who has had to jump as many hoops as we’ve had to jump to become a provider to the city.”
If you have to jump through that many loops YOU SUCK JAY!!!
November 15th, 2007 at 10:58 am
What is a briefing meeting? Does the council make decisions at this meeting?
I bet they form their positions to present at the regularly scheduled meeting. Which in fact is making a decision.
I do not understand. Can someone explain the process to me?
November 15th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Happy to answer your question Todd. When I was first elected to the Brandon City Council in 2000, I was extremely concerned that we only met twice a month and were dealing with issues that sorely needed research and additional study before decisions could be made. I suggested to Mayor Schultz that we consider having a “briefing meeting” on the Thursday prior to each Monday meeting. By this time of each week, the upcoming agenda would likely be finished and the council could get a preview of what they would be discussing and request any anticipated input/research from City staff members etc. Mayor Schultz agreed and established it as policy and the council has been meeting in briefing ever since. However, it was NEVER intended to be longer than 1/2 hour and was not to be used to discuss issues and form an opinion. I can’t speak to the intent and usage of the current Mayor and council. I do know that Mayor Schultz would not have allowed that, and neither would I as a Councilman or Mayor.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Well, Heath, you’re not the mayor or councilman, so it does not really matter what you think in regards to how the briefing meetings are run.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Huh?-Good point!!! but thanks for the clarification on Todd’s question Heath,You don’t need to be a member of the GOB”s because you pat yourself on the back just fine.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Well T-O-P-P-L-E making friends again, nice work heath!
November 15th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
My understanding is, as Heath said, that the briefing meetings are designed to give City Council members a leg up on the issues they would be discussing and possibly voting on at the following Monday meeting.
The council would likely not discuss or vote on any issues at a briefing meeting, although I can’t say it would never happen. If a quorum is present, it might happen. But that is not the intent of the briefing, as I understand it.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
What is the problem with you people? #5, #6, & #7, a question was asked and someone who knew the answer, answered it. I’ve read this blog for awhile now, and I don’t get why everything has to be a negative attack. I voted for Mr. Tople everytime he ran for Council and for Mayor, and if he runs again I will likely vote for him again. I don’t necessarilary consider myself a “friend” of his, but I know of him and have always thought he would represent me and my family fairly and uphold our best interests. I have seen him in action at Council meetings, working for the School, for the Church, for the Chamber, and a number of other community activites for many different organizations. #5, you should live by the saying a Walt Disney movie taught us all along time ago, “….if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all….” #6, pat himself on the back? Again, sounds like he’s just answering the question with true facts. #7, from what I’ve read from you in the past it seems like your only objective in life is to poke at Tople…I refer you to the advice given #5, otherwise let me be more blunt…if you have nothing constructive to say, Shut UP! Thanks Alica for setting things straight before yet ANOTHER one of these topics turns into a slam-fest!
November 15th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Sean,
I would like to make a comment on your defense of Heath. Your quote:
“if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all…”
Heath has made some comments on this blog that do not fit your virtue.
Would you like me to pull up his comments? They are in the blog archive. I would be happy to re-quote them for you.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:48 am
Grow up!!! He was being attacked in other blogs and defended himself. A question was asked and he answered…thats it. Quit attacking. We are all sick of it!!
November 16th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I agree, #5,6,7, I see you have an axe to grind with Heath, but get off it. He answered a question.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I was surprised to learn that at monday nights special meeting called specifically for the purpose of electing a council person, time was spent discussing the ambulance issue. If the mayor wasn’t aware that it’s illegal to discuss a topic other than what the meeting was called for,the city attorney surely would have intervened???
November 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Alica,
How does one get briefed w/out asking clarifying questions?
If there are questions asked does that then constitute a discussion?
If a discussion occurs then they must be very careful to
abide to the open meeting laws.
This is one of the very reasons the council must assure the taxpayers that they are not making decisions when the public is not involved.
Chinese proverb:(just kidding)
If the fish looks bad and smells bad it is most likely going to taste bad.
Always rely on the smell test and/or don’t put yourself in that position.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
If they meet and there is a quorum present, they’re allowed by law to discuss and vote on things. To my understanding, though, that is not the purpose of the briefing meetings.
It doesn’t seem to me that asking clarifying questions constitutes a discussion, but I acknowledge that different people may have different opinions on what does.
Let’s look at a couple examples.
Example #1:
Admin: “This next item is a request for a permit to fly balloons on Sunday.”
Alderman A: At any time of day?
Admin: No, only between 2 and 4 p.m. and only west of Main Street. So you’ll be voting on that on Monday.”
Alderman B: Oh, ok. I work late that day and may be 15 minutes late for the meeting.”
Admin: “That should not affect this. It’s a ways down on the agenda.”
Example #2:
Admin: “This next item is a request for a permit to fly balloons on Sunday.”
Alderman A: At any time of day?
Admin: No, only between 2 and 4 p.m. and only west of Main Street. So you’ll be voting on that on Monday.”
Alderman B: “Well, if they’re going to fly balloons on the west side, they ought to be able to fly them anywhere in town.”
Alderman A: “I disagree. There are too many obstacles on the east side, and the city could be covered quickly with busted balloon latex.”
Alderman B: “Well, how about those mylar balloons? Would you object to them?”
Alderman B: “Well, depends on how many we’re talking about.”
Alderman C: “Listen, I used to live in a town where balloon flying was rampant, and it started with one little request.”
“Alderman A: “We’ve set precedent on other issues. Why should this one be different?”
(And etc. for the next 15-20 minutes.)
November 16th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
To #13 concerned: The council followed the law to add the topic, though, if I understand the law correctly. On each agenda there is an item called “Any other business that may come before the Council.”
Also, the councilors vote to approve the agenda before they start talking about the items. So before they hold that vote, they can modify the agenda to change the order of the items or add or subtract one. But they have to approve it before they actually start working on it.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
The briefing meetings are open to the public, minutes are taken.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I guess the lesson to be learned is you have to go to all the meetings to know what is actually going to be discussed. That implies people interested in a single issue must attend every meeting until their issue is resolved. It’s a good thing they have a larger meeting room.
I am happier these things are at least being discussed in a public meeting rather than over dinner somewhere. It would be better if they were listed on the published agenda.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Alicia, I think if a special meeting is called for a specific topic, only that topic can be discussed. I don’t think they can add “any other business that comes before the council”.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:29 am
RULE #32: At special meetings of the City Council, no business shall be
transacted except that for which the meeting shall have been called,
unless by unanimous consent.
RULE #35: Any or all of these rules may be temporarily suspended by a two-thirds
vote of all the Aldermen elected.
1-3-10 BUSINESS AT SPECIAL MEETINGS
No business shall be transacted at any special meeting except that which was mentioned
in said notice thereof; but when the Mayor and all of the Aldermen are present at a
special meeting, and all of the Aldermen concur in the vote, then the business transacted
shall be valid, even though the meeting was not called as herein provided and the
business transacted was different than that for which the meeting was called.
So…rules are rules…but if 2/3 thirds agree…they can change the rules?
November 21st, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Wow…this is just crazy! When I moved to Brandon just over a year ago I couldn’t stop saying good things about this wondeful town, now I don’t know what to think. I was at that council meeting Monday night and I thought it was great. I have small children, I’ve seen what impact not having our own ambulance has done to this town just in the past two weeks. Helpless children that needed a paramedic immediately. Why doesn’t everyone just give Jay a chance?? Its not Jay that will be responding to you, your parent, child or friend if an emergency would arise, it would be his staff. They all have 4-12 years experience in the medical field. It was your duty as a Brandon citizen to vote on the ambulance issue and if you’re not 1 of the 800 that voted, why are you complaining??
November 25th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I love the drama. I hope Brandon never gets an ambulance service because this is way too entertaining. The same people saying the same thing — the people who support Med-Star, or at least want an improvement. The naysayers who hate Jay and Med Star and really have their own axe to grind.
The conspiracy garbage about the council being in cahoots with Amway, the Teamsters, and Jay to milk the town of billions a year.
The supposed backroom deals of rolly poli old men sitting in smoke filled rooms pulling the strings.
It’s rich. Meanwhile, the average person suffers for the vast army of incompetents in Brandon who can’t seem to do anything more than half assed.
That ought to be the new name for Brandon — “Almost”. That about sums up this whole issue no matter whose side you’re on.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Amen to that #22, you hit the nail on the head. Suppose now that the school bond has passed we can all count on paying the highest taxes in the State of South Dakota for the rest of our lives. With what Med-Star is gonna milk us for and the school district, we should all be broke in no time at all. Seems to me we just built a new elementary school not that long ago, MAYBE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT BIGGER. I have lived in this town for 30 years and watched all the growth, and it is pretty true what #22 said. A lot of things in this town get done “half-assed”. It is too bad that we have the leadership in this town, all around poor. Too bad Gulson isn’t around to lead the school into this mess they just put the taxpayers into. 1900 people showed up to vote, I was one of the NO votes. It is very sad to see such a poor turnout. That is exactly what happened with the city council and the ambulance issue. Wake up people, or the leaders in this town are going to run us into the ground….even further