Explanation
This ordinance will authorize the City Attorney to settle a claim on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire. On December 26, 2004 a Division of Fire, Fire Prevention Inspector, was operating a city-owned vehicle at the intersection of South High Street and Mound Street in the City of Columbus and collided with a vehicle operated by on-duty Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Harold F. Ramey. Deputy Ramey was injured in the accident. This settlement is being offered to reimburse the Deputy for his medical expenses, pain and suffering.
Fiscal Impact - There is sufficient appropriation within the Fire Division's 2005 General Fund Operating Budget to accomodate the expenditure.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to settle a claim against the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, to authorize the expenditure of Thirty Nine Thousand Dollars ($39,000.00), and to declare an emergency. ($39,000.00)
Body
Whereas, following investigation and an evaluation of the claim, the parties have reached an agreement to settle this matter for the total amount of Thirty Nine Thousand Dollars ($39,000.00) in exchange for a release of the City and its employees from any further liabililty, and
Whereas, settlement of this matter was deemed to be acceptable by the Division of Fire, and to be in the best interest of the City and,
Whereas, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire in that it is immedicately necessary to appropriate and expend funds to pay this settlement so the Division can meet its obligation to the injured party; now. therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. That the City Attorney be and hereby is authorized and directed to settle all claims against the City of Columbus, its officers, agents and employees brought against it as a result of an accident involving our employee, John Throckmorton, on December 26, 2004, by payment of Thirty Nine Thousand Dollars ($39,000.00) as a reasonable and fair amount and in the best interest of the City of Columbus.
Section 2. That for the purpose of paying this settlement, there be and hereby is authorized to be expended by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, from Dept./Div 30-04, General Fund 010; Object Level 3 - 5000, OCA 301465, the sum of Thirty Nine Thousand Dollars ($39,000.00).
Section 3. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to draw a warrant upon the City Treasurer upon receipt of a voucher and release approved by the City Attorney in the total amount of $39,000.00, payable to Harold F. Ramey and his attorney, Charles Curley.
Section 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.