Special Board of Aldermen 12-21-2020 Page 35
So you can see that we still are at a critical period. We do and have heard from our hospitals over the past
at least 3 weeks that the number of cases is starting to impact their ability to provide the services. The
thing about the hospitals is that if elective surgeries or people can’t get in for other things, that creates a
bigger problem in our community with individuals. If the emergency rooms are full of individuals going there
for COVID, if a person has a heart attack or there’s some other accidents, we are compromising our ability
to be able to provide those services when we are not doing what we can do to prevent COVID in the way
and the measures that we have outlined previously.
So with the idea of cutting back on those activities that allow for the masks to be removed, which we know
do prevent the spread of infection, that’s what we are focused on; activities where people gather together,
even in small groups are considered now high risk activities. And so that’s what we are focused on; how do
we make sure that people can have a future for their families and | Know we are talking about the economic
impact of this. If we were to do a cost benefit analysis on the cost of the hospital stay, the ICU stays, the
Emergency Room visits, and the long number of days that people stay in the hospitals, that’s going to
impact economic situations for individuals and their families as well. This is not an easy decision or
conversation to be had, but it is something that’s important and we need to think about the safety and the
wellbeing of our members in our community. Thank you President.
President Wilshire
Thank you Bobbie and thanks for the presentation, very much appreciate it. OK. So! am going to ask the
Attorney, Attorney Clarke, if we want to pass this we need to suspend the rules for a second reading, is that
correct?
Attorney Clarke
Yes | think that would be your normal procedure. And | apologize for before, | think there was just some
general confusion if this was meant to be sort of a Committee Meeting that was going to send a
recommendation to the Full Board tomorrow or if this was meant to be the actual substantive meeting and
vote on the Legislation. | think | just didn’t understand originally what the intent was.
President Wilshire
OK Alderman Clemons?
Alderman Clemons
Thank you, | move to —| am changing my motion to move to suspend the rules to allow for a second
reading.
MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR A SECOND
READING BY ROLL CALL
ON THE QUESTION
President Wilshire
Alderman Klee?
Alderman Klee
Thank you Madam President. | just want to make sure (audio cuts out) and that would mean that we would
vote on it this evening, is that correct if we do a second reading tonight? OK thank you.
