Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee renews contract with Mertus Taylor for crisis and mental‑health support; members pressed officials on timing and staff impacts
Summary
The committee approved an amendment authorizing continued funding for Mertus Taylor Human Services Systems to provide community crisis-support and mental-health services in partnership with the city's social-support specialists. The original contract began in February 2023 and had a renewal option; staff said the annual amount is $230,303 and the
The Municipal Services and Properties Committee approved an amendment to contract CT0114PS2023-42 with Mertus Taylor Human Services Systems to continue social support and crisis-response services that supplement the city’s social-support specialists.
Mertus Taylor president and CEO Lavell Custer told the committee the organization draws on Medicaid, county and other funding streams to leverage its work; staff said the original contract started in February 2023 at $230,303 and the renewal amount requested for the amendment is the same figure. City staff and Mertus Taylor representatives said the program has delivered services to more than 2,000 residents under the contract and leveraged additional funds (staff estimated a roughly $1.7 million project when combined with leveraged funds).
Multiple council members pressed the administration on contract timing. Councilman Brian Casey and others noted the prior contract term ended Feb. 28 and raised concerns that some services and staff adjustments were made when formal renewal paperwork arrived late in February. Lavell Custer said certain direct staff funded by the contract were reassigned when the contract expired and that the organization continued to deploy leveraged resources. Sherry (city staff) told the committee this is the first amendment request for this ordinance and that the department exercised an earlier renewal option; staff said they will put the work out to RFP after the renewal period if continued services are needed beyond the two optional renewal years requested.
Committee members asked for deliverables, zip‑code breakdowns and counts of residents served; staff said a report with outcomes and zip‑code data was provided in committee materials and that hard copies could be supplied to members. The ordinance amendment was approved by the committee.
