Social Services and Public Safety Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services and Public Safety Committee convened on May 14, 2024, at 1:00 PM with J. Reynolds presiding. The committee addressed three agenda items focused on public safety and social services initiatives, including substance abuse intervention, crime victim support, and mental health court expansion. During the session, the committee took three votes and received two informational presentations, while no public comments were heard. The committee approved one policy item - the Crime Victim Paid Leave Policy - while receiving updates on the Substance Abuse Intervention Program and the proposed expansion of the Mental Health Court with an Aftercare Program.

Attendance

All members were present for the meeting held on May 14, 2024.

Present: • J. Reynolds • W. Baxter • J. Brown • C. Ellinger • T. Fogle • B. Monarrez • D. Gray • F. Brown • D. Sevigny • K. Plomin

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all ten members participating.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took action on three items during the May 14, 2024 meeting.

Approval of April 9, 2024 Committee Summary 0:30 The committee approved the summary from their April 9, 2024 meeting by voice vote with no opposition.

Ordinance Prohibiting Sale of Dogs and Cats by Retail Pet Stores 1:45 Monarrez motioned to approve an ordinance that would prohibit retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats, with Baxter providing the second. The measure passed on a roll call vote of 9-1.

Voting in favor: • J. Brown • Ellinger • Fogle • Monarrez • F. Brown • Baxter • Sevigny • Reynolds • Plomin

Voting against: • Gray

Crime Victim Paid Leave Policy 2:30 Plomin motioned to approve a Crime Victim Paid Leave Policy. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

All three items that came before the committee for a vote were approved, with only the pet store ordinance receiving any dissenting votes.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed one significant financial matter involving grant funding for substance abuse programs.

Grant Funding • The board discussed Opioid Abatement Funds totaling $5,973,151.13. This substantial grant allocation represents funding designated for addressing the ongoing opioid crisis through various abatement programs and initiatives.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, vendor information, and resolution numbers were not available in the provided meeting materials for this financial item.*

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

Ordinance Prohibiting Sale of Dogs and Cats by Retail Pet Stores

The council considered an ordinance that would prohibit retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats within the jurisdiction. This measure generated disagreement among council members, ultimately resulting in a 9-1 vote in favor of the ordinance.

Council member Gray cast the sole dissenting vote against the prohibition, while nine other council members supported the measure. The ordinance successfully passed despite Gray's opposition.

The nature of the specific disagreements or arguments presented by Gray or other council members regarding this pet store ordinance was not detailed in the available meeting materials. However, the lopsided vote indicates that Gray's concerns were not shared by the majority of the council.

With the passage of this ordinance, retail pet stores in the area will no longer be permitted to sell dogs and cats, though the effective date and specific implementation details were not specified in the available information.

Substance Abuse Intervention Program

0:45

Carmen Combs Marks presented an update on the Substance Abuse Intervention Program during this informational agenda item. The presentation focused on recent developments and ongoing initiatives within the program.

Key highlights of the presentation included:

• SAMHSA Grant: Marks discussed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant that supports the program's operations and expansion efforts.

• Naloxone Distribution Initiative: The program has expanded its outreach efforts to distribute naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) in non-traditional locations, extending beyond typical healthcare and emergency service settings to reach more community members.

• Community Outreach: The presentation emphasized the program's strategy to make life-saving resources more accessible by placing them in locations where people might not typically expect to find them.

The agenda item was structured as an informational presentation, with Marks providing updates on program activities and progress. No formal action was required or taken during this portion of the meeting.

This update appears to be part of ongoing efforts to address substance abuse issues in the community through both prevention and harm reduction strategies, with particular emphasis on making overdose reversal medications more widely available to the public.

Crime Victim Paid Leave Policy

2:00 Stephanie Theakston presented a proposed ordinance establishing a Crime Victim Paid Leave Policy for the city. The policy would provide classified civil service employees with up to 56 hours of paid leave if they become victims of domestic violence or crime.

Under the proposed ordinance, eligible employees would be able to use this specialized leave time to address various needs related to their victimization, such as attending court proceedings, seeking medical treatment, obtaining counseling services, or handling other necessary matters arising from the criminal incident.

The policy represents an expansion of employee benefits designed to support workers who find themselves victims of criminal acts. By providing paid time off specifically for crime-related circumstances, the ordinance acknowledges that employees may need time away from work to deal with the aftermath of criminal victimization without facing financial hardship.

The 56-hour allocation provides employees with approximately seven full work days of paid leave, giving them flexibility to address immediate needs while maintaining their income during a potentially difficult period.

The agenda item was presented as an ordinance requiring council consideration and approval. Following Theakston's presentation of the policy details and provisions, the item was approved by the council, moving the Crime Victim Paid Leave Policy forward in the legislative process.

This policy addition demonstrates the city's commitment to supporting employees who experience criminal victimization, recognizing that such incidents can require significant time and attention to address properly while maintaining employment stability.

Expanding the Mental Health Court with an Aftercare Program

3:00

Bill Buckman presented information about expanding the Fayette Mental Health Court to include an aftercare program. The presentation focused on the need for continued support services for participants who have successfully completed the mental health court program.

Buckman emphasized that while the current mental health court program has been effective in addressing immediate needs of participants during their time in the program, there is a critical gap in support services once individuals graduate from the court. The proposed aftercare program would provide ongoing assistance to help ensure long-term success and reduce recidivism rates among former participants.

The expansion would create a structured support system for mental health court graduates, offering continued access to resources and services that participants relied on during their time in the program. This continuity of care is designed to help individuals maintain stability and prevent them from re-entering the criminal justice system.

The presentation was informational in nature, with Buckman outlining the rationale for the aftercare program and its potential benefits for both participants and the broader community. The discussion highlighted the importance of sustained mental health support beyond the formal court program period.

No specific funding details, implementation timeline, or formal action items were mentioned during this agenda item. The presentation served to inform attendees about the proposed expansion and the identified need for post-graduation support services within the mental health court system.