Finance Committee - 07/01/2020 Page 16
Alderwoman Lu
Well OK.
Mayor Donchess
Because | agree with you, that they should be. Public Health Employees should be also included along with
our other First Responders who are receiving that stipend.
Alderwoman Lu
| think that’s shameful, but thank you.
Mayor Donchess
They should be included no question about it. Now why they are not, | haven’t gotten a clear explanation.
Alderwoman Lu
Well if in your line of duty, you are required to be in close proximity to the public | don’t understand how that
could be rebutted. But thank you very much for that explanation, I’m sorry to hear that.
Mayor Donchess
| don’t either. Now in addition to the immunizations which you have just been asking about, Public Health does
periodic clinics, where they are testing people directly. And now we are doing one a week but when the tests
weren't as widely available among the medical providers, Public Health was doing more than a week, one
clinic a week, two or three clinics and, of course, has been having contact with people from the public
regarding the testing for COVID-19 for at least a couple of months. So again, | am just reiterating, | mean |
agree with you, that they should be getting the stipend. Alderwoman Klee?
Alderman Klee
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. | want to echo Alderwoman Lu’s concerns and thank you very much for all the work
you’ve been doing Mr. Mayor speaking with the Governor. And | can tell you that myself and my fellow State
Reps are also up in arms about this. We have been talking to it and | know that our Public Health people have
been doing the clinics as you mentioned; but we’ve also done mobile clinics where we are actually going out
into the community. And | know they are taking precaution possible, but Director Bagley and her staff have
just been outstanding, as have so many of our other staff throughout the City and | do think it’s a shame that
he has just cherry picked a certain group of people when there are so many more that should be added. And |
thank Alderwoman Lu for bringing this subject up. Thank you.
Mayor Donchess
Now we are trying to pursue another avenue which is we have been seeking through Emergency Management
and | believe Ms. Kleiner has been involved as well in inquiring whether the GOFFER funds that will come to
the City could be used to provide the stipend to Public Health Employees. | don’t think we’ve gotten a clear
answer on that yet have we?
Director Kleiner
No, Mr. Mayor, we have not received a concise answer to the best ability we know of now, the City could
certainly decide to do so, but it may or may not be covered and that would have to be a decision that we would
make and see when we do submit to the GOFFER whether it is actually accepted.
