Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into a contract with the Central Ohio Poison Center (COPC) at Children's Hospital for services to Columbus residents in an amount not to exceed $125,000. For more than forty years this not-for-profit agency has been providing the citizens of Columbus with the highest quality poison treatment and prevention services and programs possible. Telephone calls are answered by a medical toxicology professional 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This type of service can provide lifesaving instructions to prevent death or severe injury, and many times their first aid recommendations are all that is needed, thereby eliminating a trip to a hospital's emergency room. Various programs at the Health Department utilize their services and value the support they receive from COPC. Those operations include the Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC), HAZMAT, the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), and the Health Department's Chemical and Physical Hazards Team.
Emergency action is requested in order to guarantee the continuation of these important and essential health care services to Columbus residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: Monies for this contract were budgeted in the Health Special Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2005.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to enter into a contract with the Central Ohio Poison Center at Children's Hospital for the provision of poison treatment and prevention services, to authorize the expenditure of $125,000 from the Health Special Revenue Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($125,000)
Body
WHEREAS, the Board of Health wishes to enter into a contract with the Central Ohio Poison Center at Children's Hospital beginning February 1, 2005, and ending January 31, 2006; and,
WHEREAS, this contract is necessary and urgent in order to ensure that Columbus residents continue to receive these essential poison treatment and prevention services that have been provided for more than forty years; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Columbus Health Department in that it is immediately necessary to contract with the Central Ohio Poison Center at Children's Hospital for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with the Central Ohio Poison Center at Children's Hospital for the period February 1, 2005 through January 31, 2006.
SECTION 2. That to pay the costs of said contract, the expenditure of $125,000 is hereby authorized from the Health Special Revenue Fund, Fund No. 250, Department of Health, Division No. 50-01 as follows:
OCA: 501239 Object Level 01: 03 Object Level 03: 3337 Amount: $125,000
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the provisions of the Columbus City Code, Section 329.15.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that this contract is properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the City's financial records.
SECTION 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.