The Garland City Council held a special meeting Monday, March 30 to receive updates on the success of new procedures adopted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed some new policies.
Managing director of Customer Services, Kevin Slay, briefed the mayor and council on how the city is working with customers, residential and commercial, who need help with their utility bills. He reported that disconnects for non-payment have been suspended through April 30. Additionally, no customers are being reported to third party collection agencies or credit reporting agencies.
Customers will benefit from the council’s decision to stop all late fees through April 30. Council also voted to refund upon request deposits being held in some customers’ accounts as credit toward their bills.
Also, up to two months of utility bill payments can be deferred and customers will have six months to pay off their account balance. Council Member David Gibbons was concerned that two months might not be long enough. The council could extend the number of months in the future. Gibbons said that he wants to be as empathetic as possible in helping residents.
The city has arrangements with the Salvation Army and Friendship House in which $220,000 is made available for these nonprofits to help folks in need. Friendship House is not currently open, but the Salvation Army used 60% of that allotment from October to mid-March. The city is going to provide another $100,000 to make it possible for the Salvation Army to help more people.
“We have a large number of working families in this city,” Gibbons said.
He added that the city must go the extra mile to help.
Assistant City Manager Mitch Bates discussed the safety precautions currently being taken by city employees. Some facilities are closed; most lobbies at city facilities are closed; employees who are able to work from home are doing so; shift scheduling is minimizing the number of employees in offices at one time; and most meetings are virtual. He also said that gloves and hand sanitizer are provided to employees and that the first responders have and are using, personal protective equipment.
Citizens can take advantage of wi-fi available at almost all city facilities by parking outside the building. There is also access to the Nicholson Memorial Library System’s online services and the library is hosting storytimes for kids on Facebook as well as yoga for everyone. The Parks and Recreation Department is delivering meals to seniors, providing activities online and providing science projects to be done at home.
The details of the program for paying employees while they are off work because of the pandemic was also discussed. How to compensate those essential employees, such as first responders and electric department employees who cannot take this time off will be discussed at the April 6 meeting.