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EAST LIVERPOOL -- City council Tuesday approved funds for a generator in response to recent power outage that led to carbon monoxide poisoning of city employees.
Council unanimously approved an amendment to appropriations increasing funds for capital improvements from $8,822.82 to $55,822.82 to allow the funding to be available for the purchase of a generator for the police department.
The generator was deemed a priority by the Safety/Rules Committee during its previous meeting due to the generator failing to operate during a recent power outage that resulted in the police dispatch being moved to the fire department, which had an operating generator but resulted in an incident leaving four firefighters, two dispatchers and a child being treated at the hospital for carbon monoxide exposure.
Safety Service Director Bill Jones told the council members that the price of the generator has increased since they looked at the purchase of one a year ago and will probably continue to increase. Jones will have to talk to Chief John Lane to see if the service agreement currently in place with the company the generator will be purchased from will transfer over to the new generator.
Council also approved an amendment to the appropriations to remove purchase of equipment from Borders for chairs, etcetera, which was removed from capital improvements due to council members having concerns over what the etcetera covered and not listing specifics. The amendment also moves the payment for Valley Office Supplies for the purchase of computers for the police department from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Law Enforcement Fund.
Also at the meeting, council authorized the auditor to pay certain vendors who supplied goods or services to the city without the issuance or authorization of a purchase order. Council amended the legislation before the vote to remove the authorization for purchase orders payable to Borden Office Supplies.
All legislation voted on, with rules suspended and passed by emergency measure on first reading, had been discussed and approved to send before council in a finance committee meeting held before the special council meeting. The pieces of legislation pertaining to budget adjustments were amended during the council meeting prior to the vote being taken on them.
The East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 5.