Apr 15, 2002 By Patty Shultz 3 min read

n Shared Ride Program – A curb-to-curb transportation service that can be accessed for medical educational, shopping, work, church and visiting purposes. Trips are coordinated with two or more additional passengers with varying fares. – Medical Assistance Transportation Program – A free curb-to-curb transportation service for residences with a current and valid access card. The non-emergency program is for physician, dentists, pharmacies, drug and alcohol clinic, mental health, and dialysis clinics, optometrist and hospital visits.

– Welfare to Work – The program gives county assistance office referred employees transportation to and from work.

“We do have options,” said Malago.

Turning to other matters, council hired Michelle Langdon as a building monitor for the police station.

Mayor Judy Reed, who oversees the department, said the past usage of “dispatcher,” concerning those manning telephones at the station was misleading, as those who are providing the service are not relaying emergency calls but rather routing non-emergency calls to officers or answering questions posed by the general public.

“No dispatching (of emergency calls) is done at the police station,” said Reed.

The hiring of Langdon, meanwhile, will not alleviate the manpower shortfall for answering telephone calls at the station.

Although police officers have been manning the front desk due to the lack of monitoring personnel, Reed indicated that they would no longer be carrying out the duty.

“There is no time when officers should be paid to sit and answer the telephone,” she said.

To allow for continual patrolling, Reed said she anticipates shuttering the station during certain hours.

According to police Chief Steph-en Cooper, security measures are being taken, including the addition of surveillance cameras, locks, lighting and doors, should Reed direct the station to be closed.

Reed, meanwhile, said the station foyer would remain accessible and contain a telephone connected to the 911 center for emergency telephone calls.

If needed, said Cooper, the city police auxiliary have indicated that members would provide assistance if a prisoner was housed at the station during the night time hours.

Neither council, nor Reed indicated when the closure would go into effect.

In other matters, council also conducted the following business:

– Agreed to close certain streets for the 20th Annual John Woodruff Run Walk on July 10.

– Proclaimed May as Buddy Poppy Month.

– Accepted the resignation of Brian Suter from the position of general seasonal employee of the recreation department and hired Richard Tamblyn as his replacement.

– Directed the city clerk to advertise to hire seasonal summer employees for the summer playground program.

– Recognized National Occupational Therapy Month and the professionals in the field.

– Agreed to close several streets for the Conn Area Catholic School for its annual children’s marathon.

– Approved the submission of an application for funding for the renovation of Mountz Creek and Woodruff park ballfields through the Grace B. Turner fund.

– Tabled taking action on the city fire department contract.

– Alerted residents that the city refuse hauler, CBF, would be collecting small household goods and other items during the city’s annual spring cleanup.

Residents in the 6th Ward will have their items collected May 6; homeowners in Wards 2 and 4 on May 7; Wards 1 and 5 on May 8 and Ward 3 on May 9.