Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to modify an existing not-for-profit contract with Mental Health America of Ohio, Inc. (MHA) by extending the contract period by one-year, for a new contract period of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The underlying contract was authorized by Ordinance No. 0509-2004 with an original contract term from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025.
Extension of the contract period is needed to ensure that the remaining balance of the current contract is utilized to fund existing intervention activities being facilitated by MHA and carried out by the One Block at a Time program (OBAT).
OBAT is a micro community intervention aimed at increasing the health and wellness of one block in the Linden area. OBAT requires a fiscal agent for this program due to the nature of the interventions, including meeting emergent needs for residents, purchasing and providing items and food for block events, supporting home repairs and physical improvements, gift cards, and other program incidentals.
Mental Health America of Ohio, Inc. is a nonprofit entity and is exempt from contract compliance certification.
Emergency action is being requested in order to avoid a gap in this critical service and to meet the ongoing demands of the intervention activities provided by the Columbus Public Health One Block at a Time program within the Linden community.
FISCAL IMPACT: No new expenditures are being obligated by this ordinance. ($0.00)
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to modify an existing not-for-profit contract with Mental Health America of Ohio to provide fiscal agent services to Columbus Public Health’s One Block at a Time (OBAT) program by extending the contract period by one-year, for a new contract end date of March 31, 2026; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00).
Body
WHEREAS, The Board of Health has a need to modify an existing not-for-profit contract with Mental Health of America to provide fiscal agent services to Columbus Public Health’s One Block at a Time program; and
WHEREAS, The new contract period will be extended by one-year, for a new contract period of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to enter into a not-for-profit contract with Mental Health America of Ohio to provide fiscal agent services to Columbus Public Health’s One Block at a Time program, in order to avoid a gap in this critical service and to meet the ongoing demands of the intervention activities provided to the Linden community, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to modify an existing not-for-profit contract with Mental Health America of Ohio, Inc., that provides fiscal agent services to Columbus Public Health’s One Block at a Time program by extending the contract period by one-year, for a new contract period of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That this not-for-profit contract is in compliance with Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all not-for-profit contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance and to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that this not-for-profit contract is properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the City's financial records.
SECTION 5. 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.