Community & Human Services Cte Minutes 05-04-1988 . ;..
• MINUTES
Community and Human Services Committee
May 4, 1988
1:30 p.m.
Third Floor Council Chambers
The meeting was called to order by Janice Rettman, Chair, at 1:30 p.m.
The following were in attendance: Janice Rettman, Chair; Bob Long, Councilmember;
Bill Wilson, Councilmember; Roger Goswitz, Councilmember (late); Kiki Sonnen,
Councilmember (late); Phil B.�rne, City Attorney's Office; Joe Collins, Legislative
Assistant; Jim Murphy, Program Analyst; and Barbara Benson, Secretary.
Janice Rettman introduced the members present. She stated that anyone present
wishing to speak may do so.
The first item of business concerned three resolutions:
City Council Agenda 4/21/88, Item No. 8: Resolution establishing title and rate
of pay for Health and Education Assistant-Bilingual Cambodian./English in Grade 22,
Section I D 2 of the Technical Standard Ranges in the Salary Plan and Rates of
Compensation Resolution. (First Reading)
City Council Agenda 4/21/88, Item No. 9: Resolution establishing title and rate of
• pay for Health and Education Assistant-Bilingual Hmong/English in Grade 22, Section I D 2
of the Technical standard Ranges in the Salary Plan and Rates of Compensation
ReGolution. (First Reading)
City Council Agenda 4/21/88, Item No. 10: Resolution establishing title and rate
of pay for Health and Education Assistant-Bilingual Spanish/English in Grade 22,
Section I D 2 of the Technical Standard Ranges in the Salary Plan and Rates of
Compensation Resolution. (First Reading)
Judy Barr, Divi�ion of Public Health, explained that the Health Division had a
position which performed the duties of interpreting different languages. This
position was elimin.ated approximately three years ago, for it was a generic title.
These new positions serve two uses, language translations and medical services.
Currently, approximately 807 of the refugees who use medical services are Hmong,
5-107 are Cambodian, and 5-10� are Vietnamese. The second service provided by this
position is medical. The proposed titles are Health and Education Asistant.
Barr explained that the�e are simply titles which may be filled at some date. There
is a request in the 1989 budget for two interpreters; Health currently has one on
contract. Bob Long asked if the County has interpreters in their budget. Barr
answered that they are in the process of requesting interpreter positions in the
1989 budgPt process. Long questioned creating new positions before a possible
merger. Barr answered that the title does nothing more than give a job description; this
may or may not be fi.11ed, depending on available dollars. She added this would
have no significant effect or. the merger. Long made a motion to lay this matter
over; Bill Wilson disagreed, noting the need for this position, discussing the
• large numbers of refugees involved. Wilson made a motion to approve these three (3)
resolutions. 2-1 yes.
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Community and Human Services Committee •
May 4, 1988
Page Two
At this time, Rettman turned the discussion over to Phil Byrne, who introduced
himself as being with the City Attorney's office. He stated that the Administration
has now established several committees dealing with particular procedures and
problems, others dealing with non-policy iter.is. Roughly, there are three (3) areas:
1) establishing communication and discussion of procedures to be worked out;
2) guidelines which would be recommendations for the Council to consider and would
then be promulgated to the Administration; and 3) procedures for adverse action.
He discussed adverse action, noting he has about twenty (20) files in his posspssion
which suggest a possibility of adverse action. Anything indicating a possibility of
adverse action is forwarded to him from the licensing inspector. If Byrne feels
there is sufficient evidence to establish something, he will send out an initial
letter indicating such. If they don't dispute the allegations, they may let him
know and can appear before the Council. If they dispute the allegations, a helring
procedure will be set up. If they agree that information is as stated, he will
request they write him a letter so indicating. He will then prepare a resolution
stating the facts, noting a license suspension, etc. He noted he will be sending
copies of all correspondence to appropriate persons. Wilson asked Byrne what length
of time would ensue from the time action is taken until the matter is placed on the
Council agenda; Byrne answered about two or three weeks. Byrne noted that the
hearings, which will be before the Administrative Law Judge, will be, for all intents
a purposes, a trial, and will be open to the public. The Administrative Law Judge's •
role was discussed.
The discussion was interrupted to discuss City Council Agenda 4/14/88, Item No. 17:
Resolution approving the appointment by the Mayor of Robert L. Viering to serve as a
member of the Board of Appeals and Review for the Housing, Building and Fire
Prpvention Codes representing the Banking Profession, term to expire November 12,
1990. Ora Lee Patterson, Mayor's Administration, addressed this resolution. She
stated that Mr. Viering has been in Saint Paul for eight (8) months to one (1) year.
He is from Rockford, Illinois. He has been highly recommended to the Mayor by an
employee of P.E.D. He is currently an Assistant Vice President at Norwest Bank.
Long noted Viering's address is not in Saint Paul. Patterson answered this is not
a requirement, that it is hard to get someone who lives in the city. She added that
there were no other applicants for this position. Wilson made a motion that this
appointment be approved. 4-0 yes.
The next item concerned a request from the City Clerk to accommodate the request of
Marvin D. Wolf. Mr. Wolf introduced himself, stated he lives at 1907 Dorothea
Avenue, and introduced his dog, Blaze. He stated he appreciates that Saint Paul has
a leash law, but expressed an interest in letting his dog run without a leash in an
area such as Crosby Park. The dog ordinance was discussed, the leash law was
discussed, various dog breeds and personalities were discussed. Bernie Fritz,
Animal Control Supervisor at the Animal Control Office, cited problems his office
encountered until the ordinance was enforced. He stated the laws are designed for
the general population, not specifically one bre�d or size dog. Bill Gunther,
Division of Public Health, spoke to the issue of dangerous dog hearings, which he
conducts. He stated this would introduce numerous problems of attacks of dogs on •
dogs, dogs on people, etc. Susan Donahue, 1541 Fairmount Avenue, agreed with Wolf.
Barr stated that complaints continue to be related to not enforcing enough. It was
the consensus that Wolf's idea was good in many ways, but not practical for the
City of Saint Paul.
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MINUTES
Community and Human Services Committee
• May 4, 1988
Page Three
At this point, Byrne continued his discussion. Rettman stated that she is going
to specifically request that Jim Murphy meet with Byrne regarding adverse
action in terms of writing to the District Councils to inform them of the
procedures. Procedures were discussed, responsibilities of owners discussed,
and further discussion ensued regarding the Administative Law Judge.
Rettman brought up the issue of Civic Organizations Partnership Program (C.O.P.P.).
Noting that no one was still present from the Department of Community Services,
she indicated that this would be on the agenda of the next Community and Human
Services Committee Meeting (tlay 11, 1988) as per the request of other
Councilmembers. She added that Murphy will have input on this issue, also.
Long made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting adjourned at
3:50 p.m.
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