Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 12-13-1955 Regular — reading text

enlighten the Board on anything they wanted to know at the expense of the City. He said that he thought we have the personnel for a hospital b~ rd and the board has acted in accordance with the ordinance, thought they should submit a list but he of the equipment to the Titler said all provisions of the Council. Mr. ordinance have been met and the by- laws of the Board were adopted from the ordinance. Mr. Bass said the thought the provisions have been met also, but he did not see why Mr~ Titler vas allowed to hire two secreta- ries. Hr. Titler said he had only one secret.ary and a bookkeeper and that he was authorized to hire all personnel. Mr. Bass told Mr. Titler that he did not 11ave a budget and that he sh01Jld have had one before he hired those people. He told Mr. OTitler that he was working under the City Manager, that the Council had authorized the City Manager to hire a hospital consultant and that all city employees were directly respon- sible to the City Manager. He said he know the Hospital Board has done a lot of work but he thought the Board should get with the doctors and have the recommendations signed by the doctors. He said if the doctors eed ~ he equipment on the list, the the Council will get it. Mr. Stewart told the Council and Mr. Titler that the Council is the governing body of the City and that it was up to them to designate what will be spent, where, they may delegate to a gertain extent when and how; but until the entire budget set up and authorized, expenditures are is not authorized. He said the Council can delegate just so much authority and that is all. Mayor Brooks asked if the Hospital Board has to do with the operation of the Hospital while Mr. Roberts' committee has the authority of the Council to buy the equipment. Mr. Stewart said it was all subject to the approval of the Council because their authority could not be delegated. He told Mayor Brooks that they have a council commit- tee to deal with the hospital 'board which has to make their recoITmlenda- tion to the council. Mr. Stewart said he did not think that the Council could legally delegate their authority to buy the hospital equipment. Mr. Earl~ said the council instructed him to 'hire a hospital consultant to assist them in eqUipping the hospital and ~ hat no other action was taken. The minutes of the meetings wherein this action t~ok p~ ace were read by the Clerk. Mr. Bass said he was under the impression that the City had let a contract to build and furnish the hospital and then it would be turned over to the Hospital Board to operate. Mr~ fleet asked if the equipment list is up to the City with the recom- mendation of theOonsultant to purchase, or if the Council is depending on the Hospital Board to give permission to buy. He asked when the Board had to a ct, when they were appointed or when Hospital authority the hospital opens. } lIr. Stewart told Mr. Fleet they are working with Mr. Titler. He, as an expert, is to get with the group, the 2 council- men and the doctors, and make a recommendation to the council as to what will be necessary for the ho~ pital. Mr. Rodgers said the budget for the equipment for the hospital has been approved but the list has not been approved, that the list is to be presented to the Council.  S7 Mr. Stewart asked Mr. Earle,r if he a~ recd with the outline of the duties I of each group. Hospital Board Mr. had been replied that he did. . Mr. Fleet asked if the working Earler for nothing. , Mr. Bass aaid that when the Hospital Consultant was hired, the hospital board was not to be bothered while the hospital W? S being built, that it was up to the city to build the hospital and turn it over to the Hospital Board to operate. Mr. Stewart said the Council can turn it over to the Hospital Board to operate but the final approval has to be from the Council. Mr. Titler said the equipment is not construction. Group I equipment consists of equipment attached to the building but that at the request of the Council, Group I was to be bought with Group II and Group III, and that the money was allotted three years ago. Mr. Bass said the money was allotted when the contract was signed and that he <thought the board duly appointed should bring in the list of equipment for approval so action can be taken. Mr. Roberts said they ,,> ill have the list back to the council within a few days for approval or. disapproval. Mr. Bass said that under a financial statement recently prepared by the Auditors they had report a showing what has been spent for the purchase of land, etc.. He said there has been some question of the drainage on the land and asked the City Engineer, Mr. DuBois, if there had been any drainage involved in the hospital land. Mr. DuBois replied that the only drainage was the normal surface drainage and the streets were paved and will carry this drainage. Mr. Bass asked Mr. Rodgers if there was any surplus money, that is, if I after the taking original to be used to the amount buy equipment. paid for the land and the contract is signed from amount available for a hospital, there would be surplus money Mr. Rodgers replied that there would be. Mr. Bass said in hisopinion, that was the amount the committee and groups making the equipment list should be acquainted with in order to know what they had to work with and get as close to that figure as possible and then if they needed more to ask for the additional funds. Mr. Roberts said, to sum it up, the council agreed to build a hospital and the City Manager was instructed to hire a Cousultant to assist the Council in equipping the hospital. Mr. Bass said he was given the autho- rity Consultant; that the City Manager hires and fires. to hire the Mr. Roberts said the Consultant is to be the council' s conSllltant and is working for the Council. Mr. Stewart said the council then authorized the Hospital Board. He asked Mr. Fleet what kind of budget it would take to operate the hospital. Mr. Fleet replied that the budget has not been submitted but that one was ready to present and that it would cost between $ 120, 000 and $ 11+ 0, 000, but that it has not been trimmed. Mr. Bass asked if that was a loss or if any receipts were involved. Mr. Stewart asked what the total income would be. Titler replied that Mr. it was in the budget and that he would not care to quote the figures without a copy of the budget. He said the first month' s operation would take approximately $ 13, 000. He said it would take about $ 3, 000 to stoak the inventory and probably take $ lO, OOO per month to operate. Mr. Stewart Titler about the I told Mr. race- track money which they hope to get divided between the hospTIals and said the minimum amount available would be about 12, 000 per year. Mr. Titler replied that he had called Mr. Rodgers about 88 the race track money and HaS told that he shouldn It count on the funds this year in the budget. Jllr. Bell told the council that there had been several reports that after the meeting to be held Friday there night will be drives started for donations to sist a.:; in equipping the hospi- tal and that he did not believe they wOlJld have to worry about additional money. Mr. Bass said that he had served on other boards, for instance the Oka- 10esa County Gas District Board or Directors, and they hired a consultant to ooerate. He said they prepared a budget and oresented it to the board for approval. He said the general manager they hired recommended some ClJts and some increase and then the conslJlt9Ilts came in and made a com- plete project of the work being done. He said they put on an advertis- ing prof~ram at their expense. He said he was under the impression that Mr. Titler had the qualifications of a consultant, that they could ask questions and the consultant dould give answers. He said their consul- tants had presented a package deal '\> Iri th the expenses to be met and the approxi~~te funds coming in. He said this whol€ qqestion could be settled if the cOmmittee would bring in the list an: say this is what we need and let the Council approve the list. He said nothing had been approved by the Council other than the hiring of the Consultant. Mr. Roberts asked if 1rThat the committee was to bring in -was a list to be presented to the Council. Mr. Titler said he wondered if Mr. Bass was inferring' that he shovld hit the actual income and expense of tr e hospi- tal within $ 1. 00. He said he has no past experience and this pospital has not been in operation, and that there was nothing to go on in mak- ing th,e estimations. Hr. Roberts said the comrni ttee will present a Ii st to the council wi thin a few days and they " rill hmre the approval of, those appointed on the committee, the doctors and Mr. Stacy. He