Local First Responders Honored for Lifesaving Work

Bayfront Recognizes Gulfport, South Pasadena Fire & Police

By Monroe Roark

Bayfront Health officials traveled to Gulfport March 31 to see local emergency personnel recognized for their role in delivering a man from the brink of death.

They presented the Phoenix Award to three members of Gulfport Fire and Rescue, one Gulfport Police Department officer, two members of the South Pasadena Fire Department, and two crew members from Sunstar. It is the first time Bayfront has given out the award.

The impromptu morning ceremony outside the fire station in Gulfport was inspired by a Jan. 21 emergency in which the first responders’ quick response prevented a tragic ending. Bayfront patient care administrator Elizabeth Lavelle recounted the story of the incident:

Martin Fischer, who lives in Gulfport six months of the year, awoke around midnight with chest pains. He took some aspirin and went back to bed, only to awake the next morning with more pain. He collapsed in front of his wife, who began CPR and called 911.

Detective Christopher Priest of the Gulfport Police Department arrived first on the scene. He maintained CPR until the others arrived – Lt. Erick Fuchs and firefighter-paramedics Michael Barber and Sean Oldenburg from Gulfport; firefighter-paramedics Nick Moerch and Matt

Wilson from South Pasadena; and Sunstar paramedic Brad Rednour and EMT Cassandra Augustin.

This team achieved ROSC, which Lavelle identified as “return to spontaneous circulation.” They transported him to Bayfront in record time and took him directly to the cardiac cath lab for treatment. First responders on the scene recognized that Fischer had suffered a massive heart attack and notified the hospital prior to his arrival, Lavelle said.

Doctors gave Fischer a three-vessel stent. Lavelle said he did very well and was discharged six days later. He sent a letter with a card to Bayfront’s chief nursing officer in late March. It contained a photograph taken out his back window showing a group of deer in his backyard.

“This is how grateful I am,” he wrote. “It is a sight that I never thought I’d see again, and now I still get to wake up to it every single morning.”

Fischer missed the award presentation because he is back in Tennessee, where he lives six months out of the year.

“I’m sure, upon his return this coming snowbird season, he will be stopping by to see everyone,” said Lavelle.

Charter Amendment Confusion Mad Beach Attorney Wrote Ballot Language He May Not Have Understood

By Lisa Leveroni

How many of us have stood in the voting booth checking our notes to remember how we planned to vote on a ballot question or proposed amendment? Many of us switched to a mail-in ballot to make certain of our voting choices in the comfort of our own living rooms.

Some Floridians may remember ballot language that asked if we were in favor of taller buildings or bullet trains, only to discover after that vote, another would follow to allow for budget changes or inaccurate language. On the second time around, voters had to vote “no” in favor of something and “yes” against it. Confused?

Madeira Beach voters faced these same kinds of questions at the March 14 elections. Of the two ballot questions, the second raised some controversy. Charter Amendment Two asked: “This charter amendment would amend Section 5.5 of the charter to provide the Board of Commissioners with the option to delegate to a contractor or firm to perform the services of the Director of Finance and City Treasurer. Should the charter be amended?”

Voters told the Board of Commissioners no, 537-427.

That vote means the City of Madeira Beach should not change its practices as stated in the charter. However, the City of Madeira Beach already employs an outside firm to handle the finance duties. The BOC asked interim city attorney Trask what it should do, and Trask replied, “nothing.”

In a workshop meeting of the BOC on March 22, resident Bill Howell challenged this.

“What do you think the people just voted for? We don’t want a contractor in that job,” Howell said. The new mayor tried to clarify with his board of commissioners what they thought the amendment vote actually meant. He then asked Trask for guidance.

“The voters voted this amendment down. Does this mean they want a full-time employee in this position?” Rostek asked Trask, who did not answer. City Manager Robin Gomez did answer, though, say- ing, “Yes, that can be inferred.” Staff estimates the City will pay between $125,000 and $160,000 for a staff finance director, as opposed to the $90,000 it currently pays a contractor.

According to the Madeira Beach City Clerk, Trask wrote the ballot language for Charter Amendment Two.

The Gabber Newspaper spoke to Rostek. He reiterated that he thought the voting results represented the will of the people and that if voters wanted a full-time employee as finance director, the BOC should comply.

“It may cost more money,” Rostek said, “but the voters should get what they want.”