Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Contracts And Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves home-modification and therapy contracts and raises volunteer driver meal reimbursement
Summary
The HHS committee approved two children’s long-term support contracts (a platform lift and therapeutic services) and increased out-of-county meal reimbursements for volunteer drivers to $5 breakfast/$7 lunch/$10 dinner.
The Richland County HHS & Veterans committee approved two contracts for children’s long-term support services and increased the meal reimbursement rates for volunteer drivers who travel out of county.
Contracts approved: the committee authorized (1) a home-modification agreement with All Star Elevator for a platform lift to assist a child who became wheelchair-dependent after an accident, and (2) a counseling/therapeutic-services contract with Paw Cat Therapy. Both agreements were placed in the county’s larger contract category to meet procurement and protection requirements; staff said the listed contract upper limits exceed anticipated expenditures.
Volunteer driver reimbursement: the committee approved increasing out-of-county meal reimbursements for volunteer drivers to $5 for breakfast (plus tax and tip), $7 for lunch (plus tax and tip) and no change to the $10 dinner reimbursement. Committee members said the last reimbursement-rate update dated to before 2006 and that higher rates help compensate volunteers who provide medical-appointment transportation. Staff said the increased rates were already included in current budgets.
Contract-monitoring context: HHS contract-monitoring staff reported roughly $7 million in authorized provider contracts across the department, with the committee focused on provider contracts exceeding $10,000; monitoring shows many large provider contracts bill unevenly across the year and that some large contract authorizations are precautionary (an $11,000 contract may be used only for a small portion of that amount if family choice requires fewer services).
Votes and motion: both the All Star Elevator/Paw Cat Therapy contracts and the driver meal-reimbursement increase were moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote during the meeting.
Why it matters: the contracts provide necessary equipment and therapeutic services for children with disabilities; the reimbursement change affects volunteers who assist residents, including veterans, with transportation to medical care.
Ending: staff will finalize contract paperwork and implement new meal-reimbursement rates; contract monitoring will continue to report utilization monthly.
