Government Oversight/Audit and Appointments Committee Meeting - March 22, 2023
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Government Oversight/Audit and Appointments Committee Meeting - March 22, 2023
The Government Oversight/Audit and Appointments Committee convened at 4:02 PM on March 22, 2023, in a hybrid format. Chair Cindi Fowler presided with 11 committee members present. The meeting featured a special discussion on the final report update regarding the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections investigation, followed by the consideration of three appointments and two ordinances.
Consent Calendar
- AP032223PJ – Appointment of Paul Johnson to the Criminal Justice Commission (term ends December 31, 2024): Althea Jackson (Mayor’s Office) presented Johnson’s qualifications as a 60-year-plus resident of District 16 with experience in the U.S. Secret Service and as Chief of Global Security at Papa John’s. The motion by Committee Member Seum, Jr. and seconded by Committee Member Purvis passed by voice vote. The appointment was sent to the Consent Calendar.
- AP032223DB – Appointment of Dayn’l Beeler to the Commission for Persons with Disabilities (term ends December 12, 2023): Beeler, a social worker program coordinator at the University of Louisville Trager Institute, fills a prescribed seat for a regional college or university representative. The motion by Seum, Jr. and seconded by Purvis passed by voice vote. Sent to Consent Calendar.
- RP032223KJ – Reappointment of Kelli Jones to the Downtown Development Overlay District (term ends January 31, 2026): Jones, filling a landscape architect prescribed seat, was praised as a great board member. Motion by Purvis and seconded by Chappell passed by voice vote. Sent to Consent Calendar.
Discussion Items
- ID 23-0372 – Corrections Investigation Final Written Report Update (presented by David Beyer, independent investigator hired by Metro Council): Beyer reported on a 300-page investigation initiated after multiple inmate deaths. He highlighted: prior leadership shortcomings exacerbated by COVID and civil unrest; inadequate staffing; failure to adhere to basic security protocols; and a need for a new direct-supervision facility. Key data included: 75 members still receiving benefits from the closed Policemen’s Retirement Fund (69 Narcan uses since April 2023; 13 inmate deaths; 12 suicides in 15 years with a recent spike). Beyer noted that neighboring jails (Oldham County, Lexington, Washoe County) had far fewer deaths or overdoses, attributing success to modern facilities. He also criticized sexual harassment culture—30-minute training with no role-playing, and a lack of accountability evidenced by a spreadsheet showing repeated disciplinary actions for individuals. Committee members Councilman Piagentini, Councilwoman Purvis, Councilman Seum, Jr., and Councilwoman Chappell commented, praising Director Collins’ leadership but agreeing on the need for a new facility and cultural change. Councilman Piagentini emphasized the need for improved supervision training and facility investment. Councilwoman Purvis stated the culture was troubling before Collins. Councilman Seum asked about jail population (~1,400) and overcrowding. Councilwoman Chappell noted the lack of basic human dignity during a jail tour.
- O-042-23 – Ordinance Amending LMCO Section 32.130 re: Policemen’s Retirement Fund Administration: Bob Schwoeppe (Fund Administrator) explained the amendment broadens eligibility for board service to include descendants or power-of-attorneys of aging members (average age 85, president age 97). Fund has 75 beneficiaries, $5.5 million balance, 19 retired officers still receiving benefits, most recent retiree 5-6 years ago. Council Member Mulvihill supported the change to maintain quorum. After questions from Vice Chair Kramer, the ordinance passed by roll call vote: 10 yes (Shanklin, Rashad, Purvis, Kramer, Blackwell, Seum Jr., Fowler, Chappell, Reed, Benson) and 1 present (Reno-Weber). Sent to Old Business.
- O-371-22 – Ordinance Amending LMCO Sections 36.82 and 36.83 re: Office of Inspector General: This item remained held in committee, with no further discussion.
Key Outcomes
- Three appointments (Johnson, Beeler, Jones) were recommended for approval and sent to the Consent Calendar for full council consideration on April 13, 2023.
- Ordinance O-042-23 regarding the Policemen’s Retirement Fund was recommended for approval and sent to Old Business for the April 13 council meeting.
- Ordinance O-371-22 (Inspector General) was held in committee without action.
- David Beyer’s final written corrections report is expected within the next week. No vote was taken; the presentation was informational.
Meeting Transcript
Metro TV will start in one minute. Good afternoon. This is the regularly scheduled meeting of the government oversight audit and appointments committee. I'm Councilwoman Cindy Fowler, and I'm joined by my Vice Chair Kevin Cramer. We are also joined virtually by Councilman Benson Stewart. I'm Stewart Benson. Did I miss anybody? And Councilman Rick Blackwell, Dr. Rick Blackwell. And in chambers, we're joined by Ben We Reno Weber and Councilman Dan Sim. And I think that's it. Looks like we got a full house. Okay, so um, we've got I think three appointments, and then um a discussion at the end with an overview of the retirement fund uh in between. So the first item um would you read the this meeting is being held for Santa Cara six one point eight two six in Council Rule five A, read in full. Thank you, Miss Bennett. Okay, and so um the first item uh it we're gonna hold off until the end. Okay, so um we've got I think three appointments and then um a discussion at the end with an overview of the retirement fund uh in between so the first item um would you read the this meeting is being held presented to care as 61.826 in council rule 5a read in full thank you miss bennett okay and so um the first item uh it we're gonna hold off until the end item number two is a p03223 pj appointment of Paul Johnson to the criminal justice commission term expires December 31st 2024 do I hear a motion motion sign service thank you property move uh before us uh count I'm sorry Althea Jackson please hi Althea Jackson Mayor Greenberg's office we are asking for the appointment of Paul Johnson uh Mr. Johnson will be filling a seat due to a vacancy mr johnson is a 60-year plus um resident of Louisville Jefferson County out of district 16 has a wealth of um experience uh from the United States Secret Service um to Papa John's uh Chief of Global Security to his own consultant company so we are asking for him to be appointed uh to fill this vacancy on the criminal justice commission thank you miss jackson are there any questions from the committee I see none uh this um can be a voice vote all those in favor say aye aye aye and no's by like sign uh we're also joined by councilman Pat Malvahill and Councilwoman uh Jennifer Chapel um so this will go to the consent calendar um item number three is a p03223 DB appointment of Daniel Bieler to the um commission for persons with disability term expires December 12 2023 do I hear a motion motion sign motion read second service properly moved and seconded at Ms. Jackson this uh appointment is for the commission for persons with disabilities and it had to be filled with the representative from a regional college or university and so miss beeler fills this um requirement she is employed by the University of Louisville Traeger Institute she is a social worker program coordinator she is at a district 10 she is um very excited um to be considered for this uh this position and so we are asking for her appointment to fill this prescribed seat um on the commission for persons with disabilities thank you miss jackson um are there any questions from the committee i seeing none uh this is an appointment um that can be voted on with a voice vote all those in favor say aye aye aye uh nose by like sign okay so that also passes and we'll go to the consent calendar the next item is rp03223 kj reappointment of kelly jones to the downtown development overlay district term expires january 31st 2026 do I hear a motion please motion purpose second chapel properly moved and seconded miss jackson so this is for reappointment to the downtown development review overlay board this is for a prescribed seat uh miss jones is filling the prescribed seat of a landscape architect so we are asking for she's been a great board member and so we are asking for her reappointment to this board thank you miss jackson um are there any questions from the committee seeing none this uh item can be a voice vote all those in favor say aye aye aye no's by like sign uh this will pass and go to the consent calendar um let's see the next item is zero dash I'm sorry o four two dash two three an ordinance amending the metro Louisville Metro code of ordinances section uh section thirty two point one three oh regarding the administration of the policeman's retirement fund do I hear a motion motion sign anyone can I get thank you properly moved and seconded is before us I believe that there is someone here to speak to this um Bob Schwope yeah uh I'm Bob Schwab you have the train on this sorry I butchered your name okay thank you I'm Bob Schwebi I'm the administrator for the uh local police retirement fund it is a uh as you all probably know a terminal fund since uh the uh police officers today and and since 1985 all are have become members of the state system Sorry, I butchered your name. Okay, thank you. I'm Bob Schweppy. I'm the administrator for the Louva Police Retirement Fund. It is a uh, as you all probably know, a terminal fund since uh the uh police officers today and and since 1985 all are have become members of the state system. The um ordinance amendment that we have is to try to uh broaden the uh field of people who can serve on the board. Uh the aging population of the board, uh our president is now 97. The average age is 85 of the members. Many of them are not in a position to serve, and this ordinance would allow us to appoint or for a vacant position and then later be elected, it would allow the election of a descendant of a member or their power of attorney or someone who is in a capacity to serve and uh has a vested interest in making sure that people still receive their benefits. Um Councilman Melville Hill, did you uh have uh would like to speak to this? Um certainly uh as a member of this board by being by being on this Metro Council, we have an appointee and I have served, I think uh for most of the time that I've been here. I you know it it's important as we all know to have quorums, and I think uh with an aging population that have a lot of different um uh needs and sometimes troubles to to meet that quorum need, that this is the reason for it uh as described by Bob. Uh it's an aging population, and so this would alleviate uh maybe maybe the difficulty of of meeting quorum. They do meet monthly. I think it's the third Monday at um Bob correct me. I go to most of those meetings, I believe it's at 11 a.m. And so uh this is just a measure so that they can continue to do business, and I support it. Thank you. And thank you for that explanation. Uh Councilman Kramer. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I'm just curious. So, how many folks are still impacted by this? And this is a fund that you are administering. How how much revenue is left in the fund? There's uh well, first of all, there's 75 members that are still benefiting uh at some point in in the from the benefits. There is approximately uh I'm gonna say about five and a half million in the fund balances. How recently has the most how recently is the how recent is the most recent of those 75? And that when did that most recent person pass away? No, start. So is the are the benefits largely going to widows?
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