By Mike Finney

DOVER — St. Francis Healthcare will continue to provide emergency medical services for the city for at least another year.

Members of Dover’s City Council voted 9-0 on Monday to extend the term by one year, until March 31, 2023, under the original agreement signed Jan. 22, 2019.

St. Francis will not raise its costs to the city over that one-year extension.

“They have done an outstanding job in the three years preceding this request for extension,” city manager Dave Hugg said. “They have saved us a considerable amount of money, and their response time has been outstanding, and I would strongly recommend that we extend the contract for an additional year.”

Councilman David Anderson agreed.

“St. Francis has done an improved service, improved the quality and lowered the costs to the city, and they’re holding their prices in spite of inflation,” he noted.

“I definitely say ‘thank you’ for everything they’ve done, including increasing availability to the western side of the city.”

Clarifications for city planner

The first reading of a proposed ordinance to transfer the city planner position to under the direction of the city manager took place at Monday’s meeting.

Additionally, the ordinance clarifies that the city planner would also be the director of planning, inspections and community development.

Currently, the planner position is appointed by and reports to City Council. However, other department heads, except for the controller/treasurer, plus the city clerk and the police chief, report to and are directed by the city manager.

“This is an ordinance that I requested council to consider at the last meeting,” Mr. Hugg said. “It would make the city planner an integral part of the management team.

“We’re great friends and work very closely together, and it would certainly eliminate the concern that sometimes the planning director felt that he or she was not part of the city team — and it would clarify that the planning director or city planner is the director to the office of planning and inspections and community development.”

Mr. Hugg said the proposed organizational structure is typical for other jurisdictions. Action by council on the ordinance will take place during its second reading May 9.

Dawn Melson-Williams is serving as the city’s interim planning director. Mr. Hugg said interviews for the role will hopefully begin within the next week.

Dover gets new HR director

Naomi Poole was introduced to City Council as Dover’s new human resource director Monday.

“She starts (next week), and hopefully, she won’t run away by Tuesday, and we’ll have her for some length of time,” Mr. Hugg said. “She comes to us with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in human resources management.

“I think she has 16 years of fairly significant HR experience and management-level activities, mostly in the medical field. We’re very pleased to have her join us.”

Ms. Poole received a welcoming round of applause.

“It’s just a pleasure to meet everybody. I know there’s so many new faces, and I look forward to working with everyone. I’m just really excited to get going.”