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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-2002-03OFFICE OF BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS CITY OF ITHACA 310 WEST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14650 NOTICE TEL (607) 272 -1234 FAX (607) 272 -2793 THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 12 2002 AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE ITHACA CENTRAL FIRE STATION - 310 W. GREEN ST., ITHACA, NY 14850. "An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" `/i Recycled Paper ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Robert Romanowski, Paul Alexander and Greg Kirkpatrick, one vacancy; EXCUSED: Commissioner Jana Taylor I. Chair Romanowski called the meeting to order at 1800 hrs. He reported that Mayor Cohen has appointed Jana Taylor to the Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners as a City of Ithaca Representative; however due to a previous commitment she will not be able to join us at the regular meeting for about 2 months. He welcomed her aboard and indicated she will be receiving information and will be available by phone if we need her. Common Council liaison Paulette Manos will also not be joining us tonight due to a prior commitment. II. Chair Romanowski made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2002 meeting as written. Seconded by Comm. Kirkpatrick. Carried unanimously. (There was no meeting in February) III. Additions /Deletions to the Agenda: None IV. Persons wishing to speak to Board of Fire Commissioners - None V. Correspondence: - 2001 2% reports received from Companies #1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 & 7; - City monies reports received from Companies #1 and 9; - $177.13 received from Rotary Club to reimburse for purchase of plaques for Medal Day Ceremonies (2000 & 2001) - deposited to Donation Account; - $45.00 paid to Specialty Trophies for Medal Day Plaque 2001 (2000 plaque already paid for); - A WELCOME CEREMONY FOR NEW FIRE FIGHTERS WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 5TH AT 2 PM AT THE TRAINING CENTER - ALL ARE WELCOME. ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 - MINUTES PAGE 2 VI. Membership Changes: (see Volunteer Services section of Chief's Report) VII. Miscellaneous Reports: A. Chair Romanowski provided his written report to the Town of Ithaca (see report in Minute Book) B. Chair Romanowski and Comm. Kirkpatrock reviewed the audit. C. Tompkins County Fire Advisory Board - minutes of the January meeting were available. VIII. Department Reports: A. Chief's Report (see complete report in the Minute Book) - highlights, questions, etc. were as follows: - The Town of Ithaca ratified the Fire Protection Contract - a "signing" ceremony with the media will be planned. - Contract negotiations between the City and the Ithaca Paid Fire Fighter's Association are slated to start this Spring. - Robert Doner & Scott Eaton were hired to fill vacancies created by the retirements of John "JJ" VanGorder and Charles Mosher respectively. - Organizational meetings and other activities related to recruitment efforts for the next Civil Service exam are underway. - The Wellness /Fitness evaluation sessions begin this week and educational sessions are continuing. - Safety Committee Report - March 4, 2002 minutes attached. - Work continues on County and City Emergency Management plans. - County Haz Mat Team - 4 IFD members attended a special WMD training program at the US Dept. of Energy's Nevada Test Site this ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 - MINUTES PAGE 3 past week - excellent training - see USA Today article regarding the training attached to Chief's report. - Plain St. bridge construction - DPW Supt. Bill Gray has assured will be done according to generally accepted engineering principles with full weight carrying capacities. - AC Schnurle has provided a report on Multi- Agency & Inter - Agency Planning activities. Chief Wilbur noted that IFD is very busy in these types of activities and generally takes a lead in most areas of planning, training, etc. Currently we are coordinating response and interaction with 12 agencies - we have the most to gain. - Steamer Project - new doors have been installed in the enclosure at the Vets' building. The Steamer, along with engine 909, will be participating in the Syracuse St. Patrick's Day parade this Saturday. They (Syracuse) are very excited about IFD's participation. AC LaBuff has worked hard arranging this event - has inspired lots of enthusiasm and lots of benefit for all - kick off fund raising project. The Steamer project has promoted good relations between separate groups that have come together - financially and refurbishment efforts - IPFFA, Vets and volunteers all working together. - Chair Romanowski acknowledged that career and volunteers are enjoying better relations. Also, the long battle regarding a static display has been settled - good for public relations - Steamer needs to be in the public eye and media should be notified. - Chief Wilbur indicated that he, Marcia Lynch and Ray Wheaton have met several times regarding funding ideas - all working in good faith - all for mutual benefit. In answer to a question, yes, the Vets will also be involved in fund raising efforts. - Chair Romanowski said the Vets have a lot of artifacts - Chief indicated that historic preservation has been identified as a long term goal - particularly as it relates to space needs problems of IFD as a whole. - The actual Steamer Agreement has not been finalized - just needs ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 - MINUTES PAGE 4 to be signed - Chief Wilbur, AC Wheaton and Lyle Neigh have come to an agreement - just need to get it signed. - Training Center usage report attached - investment in this project is paying off. - Space needs are severe! No updates on City facilities study - very difficult to plan - lots of obstacles. - Marcia Lynch and Tom Parsons are continuing their work on behalf of a marine facility. - Chief Wilbur provided a revised flow chart for volunteer /bunker recruitment activities. - solely an IFD administrative effort - volunteers and bunkers have been taken out of the process due to inactivity. - Volunteer company rosters - still having difficulty getting reports. The Board should be addressing this issue in the context of company viability. Chair Romanowski said he spoke to a Co. 5 representative who indicated he was having trouble getting someone to do the update - he asked for more time. - Chair Romanowski asked, that in light of 9/11/01 and the recent Manlius firefighter deaths, does the County Comcap and 911 committee have any further sense of urgency? Chief Wilbur responded that probably not as they are no further ahead today than 5 years ago. IFD has held off replacing equipment thinking the County would do infrastructure and mobiles for trucks. Many are happy to let the project continue its slow course - listening mostly to the nay- sayers on towers, trucks, monies for public safety in general. Unfortunately it will take a tragedy before anything is done. - Chair Romanowski asked about the role of the Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners - should they send a message to the County Board that safety is being jeopardized due to political decisions? Board ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 - MINUTES PAGE 5 members decided to formulate of a strongly worded resolution that would be presented to Nancy Schuler, Chair of the County Public Safety Committee. Chair Romanowski will draft a resolution and get approval from the Board. - In response to a question about the status of fitness testing at IC, Deputy Chief Tom Dorman reported that testing has begun and everything is thorough, professional and very well done. Results of the testing will enable them to put together a personal fitness program for each participant. B. Deputy Chief's Report (see complete written report in Minute Book) - highlights, questions, etc. are as follows: - DC Dorman reports staffing levels remain the same with 2 new recruits hired to replace two career fire fighters who retired. - Lt. Deis may be back on duty in April (has been on Military Service Leave for the last 6 months). - Lt. Sharp is at the First Line Supervisor's School in NYC (for one month) - this training is an unfunded, State mandate. - A regional Haz Mat Team has been meeting - reps. from Ithaca, Cortland, Auburn and Geneva meet regularly to look for shared equipment, joint training, mutual aid components - all of which are more readily available to this type of group than to a local -only team. C. Director of Development (see complete written report in the Minute Book). Highlights, questions, etc. are as follows: - DD Marcia Lynch thanked Comm. Alexander for his efforts on behalf of getting Ithaca City School District approval for the Risk Watch program. - Shawn Waters from SEMO is particularly impressed with Ithaca's ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 - MINUTES PAGE 6 efforts and will assist in gaining approval of our Fire Act 2002 (FEMA) application. IX. Old Business - None X New Business - As a formality, Chair Romanowski made a motion to authorize use of the Steamer, 964 and 909 and be allowed to travel to Syracuse this coming weekend to participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Seconded by Comm. Kirkpatrick. Carried unanimously. In light of the recent fire fighter deaths in Manlius, on behalf of the Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners, Comm. Alexander said a collective "thank you" to all in the fire service who sacrifice themselves to help others. Chair Romanowski indicated the Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners (at the April meeting) will formulate a proclamation in honor of Jack Miller's retirement. XI. Executive Session - not needed X The meeting adjourned at 1900 hrs. Respectfully submitted, l_. ff ,/ Christine M. Wilbur, Clerk Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners (Minutes will be reviewed for approval at the April 9, 2002 meeting) ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2002 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER - welcome Jana Taylor II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 8, 2002 (no meeting in February 2002) III. ADDITIONS /DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA IV. PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK TO BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS V. CORRESPONDENCE - 2% Report for 2001 received from Co. 3 on 01/15/02 - 2% Report and City monies reports for 2001 received from Co. 1 on 01/29/02 - 2% Report for 2001 received from Co. 4 on 01/31/02 - 2% Report for 2001 received from Co. 6 on 02/06/02 - 2% Report and City monies reports for 2001 received from Co. 9 on 02/20/02 - 2% Report for 2001 received from Co. 2 on 02/25/02 - 2% Report for 2001 received from Co. 7 on 03/04/02 - $177.13 received from Rotary Club to reimburse for purchase of plaques for Medal Day Ceremonies (2000 & 2001) - deposited to Donation Account - $ 45.00 paid to Specialty Trophies for Medal Day Plaque (previous plaque already paid for) - Welcome ceremony for new firefighters will be held on April 5th at 2 PM at the Training Center VI. MEMBERSHIP CHANGES VII. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS: A. TOWN OF ITHACA B. AUDIT C. TOMPKINS COUNTY FIRE ADVISORY BOARD VIII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS: A. CHIEF 1. Financial Reports 2. Fire Prevention Bureau 3. Monthly Inspection Report B. DEPUTY CHIEF /TRAINING C. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT IX. OLD BUSINESS X. NEW BUSINESS XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION XII. ADJOURN CITY OF ITHACA 310 West Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 -5497 OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF Telephone: 607/272 -1234 Fax: 607/272 -2793 Monthly Report of the Fire Chief to the Board of Fire Commissioners, for the month of March 2002. LIFE SAFETY DIVISION Administration 1) Career Personnel Report See attached report from Deputy Chief Dorman. 2) Operating Budget Account Status 2001 EOY reports will not be received from the Controller's Office until this Spring. No other reports have been provided this month. 3) Development Report See attached report from Director Lynch. 4) Contract negotiations. City -Town contract negotiations are still in process. The Town ratified the contract with conditions at the regular Town Board meeting on 11 MAR 02. The City ratified the agreement at the 06 MAR 02 meeting of Common Council. Preparations of signature copies and activities to meet conditions imposed are underway now. Negotiations between the City and the Ithaca Paid Fire Fighter's Association are slated to start this Spring. 5) County Communications and 911 Program Although there is no new news since last report, work on all phases of this project continues. 6) Career Retirements and Hiring Robert Doner and Scott Eaton were hired to fill the vacancies created by the retirements of John "JJ" VanGorder and Charles Mosher, respectively. Their first day on the job was 04 MAR 02. Both have already completed the New York State 229 -hour basic fire fighting school. A swearing in ceremony for new career fire fighters will be held at the Training Center at 1400 hours on 05 APR 02. 7) Recruitment Activities Organizational meetings and other activities related to recruiting for the next Civil Service exam are underway. A targeted minority recruitment campaign will be conducted, which will include individual events and area promotions. In addition, an examination preparation program will be provided. Fire Prevention Bureau 1) Monthly Reports for Fire Investigation Unit, Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Unit (JFSIU), and Public Education Program: See attached charts from Assistant Chief Wheaton. 2) Fire Limits Study "An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification." W Fire Chief's Report for March, 2002 Nothing new to report this month. 3) Parking Tickets No change from last month. Safety 1) Safety Section Wellness and Fitness Program. 11 MAR 02 Page 2 Educational sessions are continuing. Starting 11 March 2002, fitness evaluations started at Ithaca College. These will be conducted according to their scheduling availability until all are complete. 1) Safety Committee The Safety Committee continues to work on air quality testing for the fire stations and other projects. Minutes of the 04 MAR 02 meeting are attached. OPERATIONS DIVISION Response 1) Monthly Call Report Final reports for 2001 are in process. Year -to -date (YTD) reports for 2002 are included here. 2) City Disaster Management Plan Work continues on the County plan, and ICS — 100, Incident Command Training for City personnel is being organized now. After September 11, 2001, Assistant Chief Schnurle organized a terrorism task force, which has since evolved into a multi- agency task force. Comprised of representatives of area law enforcement and fire services, this group meets monthly to work on coordination and training issues that are common to public safety agencies. Work is underway on the emergency management exercise for 2002. Funded in part by a FEMA CHERCAP grant (brochure attached), this will test plans and procedures relating to a large -scale mass casualty event using a tabletop exercise format. This likely will occur in late Spring. In the Fall, another drill is contemplated which will be a field activity. 2) County Hazardous Materials Team Continuous effort is being invested in development of our hazardous materials program, both for local (in county) and regional response. Four members of the Ithaca Fire Department attended a special WMD training program at the U.S. Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site this past week. A copy of a USA Today article about this training is attached. 3) Traffic Calming Initiatives Superintendent Gray assured me recently that the proposed Plain Street bridge will be done according to generally accepted engineering principles with full weight carrying capacities. Fire Chief's Report for March, 2002 11 MAR 02 Page 3 4) Mutual Aid Coordination See attached report from Assistant Chief Michael Schurnle. Support 1) See attached report from Deputy Chief Dorman. 2) Steamer Project The new doors have been installed in the enclosure at the Ithaca Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association building. The Steamer is currently at Central Fire Station where it is being prepared to travel to Syracuse for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. The purpose for this is to kick off a fund raising campaign for the next phase of the Steamer project and to help develop espirit d'corps. In addition, this continues a long- standing tradition with the Ithaca Fire Department. With that in mind, I have tentatively authorized Engine 909 to accompany the Steamer to Syracuse for this parade. I am requesting the Board to endorse this authorization as well. 3) Training Center Usage and Activity Report for the month of February 2002 IFD 21 Hours Tompkins County Departments: 16 Hours Private Organizations: 12 Hours Total Hours Used: 59 Hours Minimal Maintenance Needed. No Major Changes. 4) Space Needs We are waiting for help from the DPW to construct a new handicapped entry on Green Street. We are also waiting for the status of the citywide facilities study before additional planning can be done on work for Central Fire Station. In addition, I must note again that space shortages are seriously impacting our ability to get things done. 5) Marine Facility Work continues by Lt. Parsons on the marine facility. A personal services agreement is being contemplated to retain a planner to perform the SEQR work and other work that must be done. A capital project will be developed to be use to expend the funds from to support the various design - development works that must be done. Training 1) See monthly training report from Deputy Chief Dorman. Fire Chief's Report for March, 2002 11 MAR 02 Page 4 VOLUNTEER SERVICES DIVISION Membership Unit 1) Volunteer Recruitment Committee The Membership Review Committee (MRC) met and screened five applicants for volunteer or bunker membership. One was approved to enter the bunker program, and two others were approved to enter the volunteer program. There are currently two additional bunker applicants to be interviewed after Spring break. As a result of the recent membership process efforts, DC Dorman, AFC LaBuff, AS Wilbur, and I met to discuss the process. Unfortunately, the Volunteer Recruitment Unit (VRU) has been unable to participate in the recruitment program in the manner previously anticipated. With the exception of the bunker recruitment program, the vast majority of volunteer recruitment effort is being provided by administration. The chart attached shows the changes we are making in the process as a result of this situation. Service/Duty Unit 1) Monthly Service Hours Report: Kourkortis 48 Doner 6 * * Strizack 61 Keller 90 Jessel 140.5 Doebler 50.5 Stangle 34 Jupiter 5 ** Cantone 12 Gould 12 * Maas 84.5 Gilligan 6 ** Total Monthly Hours 549.5 * Class 2 FF ** Class 1 not meeting minimum monthly standard. 2) Company Rosters and Reports Company 5 submitted roster information in the form of meeting attendance lists last month. We still have not received the corrections we have been requesting since last June. The lack of responsiveness of volunteer companies to requests for information or other needs is a continuing problem. The Board should be addressing this in the context of whether or not companies are viable and whether or not continued recognition is appropriate. R tfully su itted, r H. Wil Fire Chief ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REPORT March 2002 PERSONNEL STAFFING LEVELS 1 Chief 1 Deputy Chief 5 Assistant Chiefs 8 Lieutenants 47 Fire Fighters 62 On duty personnel 1 Fire Alarm Superintendent 1 Director of Development 1 Administrative Secretary 1 Administrative Assistant - Financial 1 Account Clerk Typist 1 Recruit Fire Fighter 1 Lieutenant on Military Service Leave Total employees as of 03/01/02 — 69 Note — Two recruit Fire Fighters were hired 3/4/02. MUTUAL AID CALLS — From: To: Trumansburg (2), Danby SELECTED CALLS — No Report SUPPORT 17 Vehicle work orders were written and 7 closed. TRAINING — See Attached report. IFD will be hosting a NYS Hazardous Materials Technician course, March 11 -14, 2002. Submitted by: J. Thomas Dorman, Deputy Chief Date Printed: 3/4/02 Page 1 Q o �. Z 0 H w U ZO O I- Z Ir w > = Z O O 1- Z:) ¢ w ¢ C7 D U z Z Q = _ } Q w W N Q � }Q} w w Z = > +01 Z LL Z I- H d a w (A ¢ D W � Z O O W W } > Z U ¢ ~ ~ OU O w LL LL z ZO ¢ Y O o t- Z z o 0 W U) > o O Y >¢ c=n > co Z o g Q W o a v IL o W Z) ° Q o Cc m�� Zo ZZ m g >> g o Q °z Z ¢ g U M LL ¢ m w w �- w = m O O U) = Z 0 -1 w = w F cn w °C M X tr w O O w O O w w ¢ O Lr w m ¢ Lr LL E w M i- U = w > cn U LL ¢ E = z w LL cc L O N O M O 'q m (O I- m m O ,M O O O O O O O O N N N 0 v M -o m c� CL (1) 'Il U 0 LO = N 00 (D 0) N Cl) N N ap LO r O N T pp N r M r+ O H O � O v o d d O 0 Z 0 O � v a o O °' cn o J J � Q _ O c L O O N = N O ` � � 7 O C O ;n .0 J > O 3 E O o U Q O L Q O }= N r N a O ■— U _ c N .� r .0 N (n 4) Cl) O (6 M U. N Lq r M N LO LO N CY) p (D M '_' Cl) LO ON N m LO V O OT M � O Z w > U LU z W ¢ Q = Q o �. Z 0 H w U ZO O I- Z Ir w > = Z O O 1- Z:) ¢ w ¢ C7 D U z Z Q = _ } Q w W N Q � }Q} w w Z = > +01 Z LL Z I- H d a w (A ¢ D W � Z O O W W } > Z U ¢ ~ ~ OU O w LL LL z ZO ¢ Y O o t- Z z o 0 W U) > o O Y >¢ c=n > co Z o g Q W o a v IL o W Z) ° Q o Cc m�� Zo ZZ m g >> g o Q °z Z ¢ g U M LL ¢ m w w �- w = m O O U) = Z 0 -1 w = w F cn w °C M X tr w O O w O O w w ¢ O Lr w m ¢ Lr LL E w M i- U = w > cn U LL ¢ E = z w LL cc L O N O M O 'q m (O I- m m O ,M O O O O O O O O N N N 0 v M -o m c� CL (1) 'Il N Lq L N 7 O LO = LO M Ln N r M LO 06 I-� N Lo t0 O Q H Ir IL z v O O Z v O V M N m a� o Ir Q � D 3 C N .o U) � Ca L . 3 � o O 0 cL r oN *� Q = N U !C L � ` LL C O LO LO LO Cn O f� t() LO Lq N 00 � 0 U) Z W Q Ir IL z IL O U Q 06 W LLI U) W U U) Z z CL O O W O U Z U U Z LL > U f= CA Z OZ Z_ C) Q Q W o °C Q g U p � W _ d U U LL IW- C) F- U Q O z N N N N N LO N N N N d a1 O O a R 0 W 0 0 0 n 0 O LO LO (n N M C) (0 t c O A .fl N O O H N O It i N Q N ,7 Development Update March 2002 Here is a somewhat abbreviated report to inform you of major developments since last month's report: Filed: City Community Development Block Grant program We have submitted a request for $10,470 to fund an intensive family -based educational program in the Northside neighborhood. This is a modified version of last year's request (without the trailer). Funding would support NFPA educational materials, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for giveaway and personnel time to deliver the program. AC Wheaton and I also addressed the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency public hearing on Feb. 28, advocating this project. I also presented this project to a meeting of the Northside Planning Initiative Steering Committee on Feb. 26. While those attending reacted positively to the proposal, it was not included among the committee's top five priorities, submitted to the IURA. Carbon monoxide detectors were added to the program in response to a suggestion that came from that meeting. United Way Youth and Philanthropy Program As of 2/28/02, we submitted a request to this program for $3,440 to support a community -based educational program on the dangers and danger signs of carbon monoxide program. Most of this grant would fund a supply of 100 CO detectors to give away to needy households. Educational program would be delivered through neighborhood associations and other community agencies. (This program gave us $1,200 last year for a senior fire safety program using a similar approach.) Ithaca Rotary Club Small Grants Program We have asked for $650 to fund the lending library of materials for the Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Program — modified version of request filed with the Community Foundation last fall and initially one element of proposal filed with FEMA two years ago. (Filed 2/15/02) Community Foundation As of 3/8/02 we have filed a modified version of the JFS request to the Community Foundation, seeking $1,200 for the lending library and a supply of smoke detectors and batteries for JFS clients and other families who need them. Since we have reduced our request by a third since our original proposal and have included some additional detail that stresses the human impact of the JFS program, I hope our application fares better in the review than it did six months ago. Received: No awards received since last month's report. NFPA "Risk Watch" Mentorship Program We still have not received written notification from NFPA regarding approval of the program, though we have received several electronic communications regarding arrangements for the May mentorship training conference in Minneapolis. In Progress: FIRE Act 2002 Albeit reluctantly, we have changed direction concerning this year's FIRE Act application, since material contained in the "Program Guidance" produced by USFA and the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register indicates that hazardous materials support will not fare well competitively. Once again, proposals that fulfill what reviewers see as "basic needs" will be the most likely to be funded over projects in which departments are going into "new mission areas ". At the Chiefs Meeting on Feb. 28, we agreed to apply under the broad program category of "Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety" to fund firefighting equipment and supplies for fires in high -rise and mid -rise buildings. Elements will include communications (portable radios and repeater); PPE (personal escape ropes and SCBA fit tester); thermal imaging cameras; mass casualty equipment and oxygen delivery equipment (assuming we can justify it under this category). A.C.s Van Benschoten and Schnurle and I have begun working on this and have completed all of the on -line application that we can prior to having detailed information from other officers with responsibility in these various areas. Our timetable requires that this information be submitted to us by Monday, March 11. We are meeting at least weekly and want to be able to submit the complete application no later than March 26, to avoid possible internet problems that we fear may occur from overload of the USFA site close to the April 1 deadline. At the request of Dan Lamb from Congressman Hinchey's office, we agreed to host an information session for Tompkins and Tioga County fire departments on this year's FIRE Act program, which was held at the Training Center on Tuesday, March 5, where FEMA director Mike Beeman (from Region 2) gave a detailed presentation concerning the program. (This was the same presentation given by Chief Dickinson several weeks ago. We now have a copy of the Power Point presentation — see Chief Wilbur if you're interested in seeing it.) Among facts that we learned is that we will be able to designate our service population as <50,000 (census figure which does not include students). This means that we would be required only to provide a 10 percent match, instead of 30 percent. (Too bad we did not learn about this before filing the 2001 application.) 501(c)(3) status LT Parsons and I discussed this with attorney Ralph Jones on Feb. 27. (Ralph is involved in the marine project and experienced in this area.) He has developed some proposed language and given us advice on procedures needed. Among the tasks that are needed are establishing officers of the organization and bylaws. We expect to come to the board and staff soon with additional detail on this. - Submitted by Marcia Lynch, Director of Development — 3/8/02 2 FIRE COMMISSIONERS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2002 FROM THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT CHIEF WHEATON CONTENTS 1- FIRE INVESTIGATION UNIT YEAR TO DATE REPORT 2- JUVENILLE FIRE SETTERS YEAR TO DATE REPORT 3- MONTHLY REPORT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION 4 PUBLIC EDUCATION YEAR TO DATE REPORT J C &O MONTHLY REPORT CAUSE & ORIGIN INVESTIGATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2002 HOURS 119102-751 DRYDEN RD APT 2541 FIRE /APARTMENT 6 1/ 13102- 215 N. CAYUGA ST./ FIRE /OUTSIDE 5 1120102- 1440 MECKLENBURG RD./ FIRE /BARN 6 1125102- 139 CHESTNUT ST./ FIRE /DUMPSTER 3 i29in2- 527 w_ CLINTON ST. /FIRE /HOUSE 5 ?/5/02- 202 COLLEGE AV. /FIRE /HOUSE E ?/14/02- 140 THURSTON AV. /FIRE /HOUSE E ?/15/02 -226 CNETRAL AV. /FIRE /AUTO'S 1 C TOTALS FOR FEBRUARY ARE ALL BOLD 24 TOTALS FOR THE YEAR OF 2002 49 Page 1 r CL CL z w 0 O � N K LLW J _J Z W J N O 2 N w w w J � Z d > z D N N d ' N J N O H n O �y^7( � H v O V O © 0 Q1 O Z OD 00 V ^ n O z 0 Q fl H c0 In 'n N a N r- SHnOH D Q M � M Z N C � a O 07 cD O SHnOH f C Q S a E W LL N Z a M M 'n O N O 2 N w w w J � Z d > z D N N d Z O D O 2 W Q U d ' N N O �y^7( � Z v O O O © Q1 W OD 00 Z ^ n O z 0 Q fl H c0 In 'n N N N r- SHnOH D Q M � M Q N C � N O 07 cD O SHnOH Z O D O 2 W Q U d Z O N W to U U Z O Z w M Z O i N W V) Q U 3 W Z d N N O QI 00 n H 0 v M e:S N Li M uI N N M O M N r O S3SV3 d N D N O O O n = z O N M N in M 19 N to — vi O S3SV'J M3N N O M O O M N O c0 In at M N r- SHnOH Z O N W to U U Z O Z w M Z O i N W V) Q U 3 W Z d N N O QI 00 n H 0 v M e:S N Li M uI N N M O M N r O S3SV3 d N D N O O O n = z O N M N in M 19 N to — vi O S3SV'J M3N L a6ed ),]HINOW-LOOZ- NOuv3n(i3 Diiand ,llH1NOW- L OOZ-NOI1VOf1O3 Oii8nd 9£Z £L SIV101 SZ l ZO /ZZ /Z IIRIO 3211.3 IION)1 3H1 S l L S L l ZO /ZZ /Z O3 and IOOHOS We OZ L ZO /OZ /Z O3 end 'IS VAVN39 'S b L L Ob Z ZO /E L/Z O3 end 3snOH VHVIIV L9 E ZO /E L/Z O3 8nd nN VW91S 9E E 20/0L /Z O3 and IHd V113O SZ L ZO /Z /Z (13 and 3snOH 11INn V t L ZO/ L/Z 03 and NOISN31X3 3AilH3dO0:) SNOS83d 30 # 3WI1 J OVINOO 31VO 3dAl kiUUiOV ,llH1NOW- L OOZ-NOI1VOf1O3 Oii8nd YEARLY REPORT 2001 MONTH CONTACT TIME # OF PERSONS JANURARY 5.5 95 FEBURARY 13 236 MARCH 0 0 APRIL 0 0 MAY 0 0 JUNE 0 0 JULY 0 0 AUGUST 0 0 SEPTEMBER 0 0 OCTOBER 0 0 NOVEMBER 0 0 DECEMBER 0 0 TOTAL 18.5 331 PUBLIC EDUCATION- 2001 -MARCH Page 1 Statistical Summary March 2002 Board Report There are 8,330 records in the Incidents Table. Between Tuesday, January 1, 2002 and Tuesday, ",arch 12, 2002 there were 652 incidents. Currently there are an average of 9.18 incidents per day. Average response time for the department is 4.15 minutes. The average duration of an incident is 18.94 minutes. 40 30 20 10 0 100 80 60 40 20 0 Incidents by Hour of the Day ,a1;u FOR PENN iv Ionic 1 1 O N c7 t LO O r- M W O r N M 'q 0 O r- M O O r N M O O O O O O O O O O r — r r — — — — r r N N N N 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 Incidents by Day of the Week �113 E i r¢s IN ON SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Dollar Loss by Hour of the Day O O O O O O O O O - N 't - O N N O O — — — — NN Im Statistical Summary March 2002 Board Report There are 8,330 records in the Incidents Table. Between Tuesday, January 1, 2002 and Tuesday, .larch 12, 2002 there were 652 incidents. Currently there are an average of 9.18 incidents per day. Average response time for the department is 4.15 minutes. The average duration of an incident is 18.94 minutes. 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 Dollar Loss by Day of the Week SUN MON TUE W® THU FRI SAT Incidents by First Responding Unit 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Average Response Time by Unit r: 901 909 905 906 933 963 964 902 944 imi� Ithaca Fire Department Volunteer Membership Process 06 MAR 02 Application Sent (AS) Application Received (AS) Criminal Background Check (CBC) Prepared (AS) CBC letters Sent (AS) CBC's Returned (AS) Application Review ( DFC) Web Site ualified? No Perform Reference Checks (AFC /LT) Notify AS to Schedule Interview MRC Interview Accept? Yes i Orientation and Shift Assignment (MRC) i Schedule PPA; send welcome & Med Exam Itr (AS) AS - Admin Secretary AFC - Ass't Fire Chief DFC - Deputy Fire Chief LT - Lieutenant MRC - Membership Review Committee NMT - New Member Training Walk -In Phone Inquiry Contact Made to IFD -Yes File Review and Jacket Prep (DFC) Disqualified? End Process Yes Applicant Notified (AFC) 0 No ecruitmen Activities VMU Activities Admin Activities Add to New Pass? Member Notify MTO Training Queue for Yes next Fall NMT Notify Fire Chief; Appointment made Confirmation Ltr to Company Applicant Affiliation (AS) Declared Board Confirms Notify Company IFD Health & Safety Committee Meeting 03/04/2002 Members in attendance are Chris O'Connor (chair), Glenn Wanck, Tom Raponi, Tom Basher, Lee Labuff, Steve Wehrspann, Andy Olmetti (1315), Al Foote (1320), Dan Tier (1430), John Powers(1438) Meeting was called to order at 1305 by Chair O'Connor. Steve Wehrspann commented on air quality testing that is going on currently. He clarified that he and Dustin O'Hara are doing this on a free, consultative basis. The testing have occurred in the front bunk room, "females" bunk room, and the Officers bunk room, and now currently in the Chief s office. Information from the testing has not been downloaded yet, but info should be available by the next H &S meeting. Swab testing of ductwork is planned, as is particulate testing of the upholstered furniture in the ready room. At the conclusion of this testing, Steve and Dustin will prepared a written synopsis of the results of the testing. Steve added that 5's, 9's & 6's would get tested next, but Cornell may need the testing equipment at any time, and that could interrupt our testing. Al Foote suggested that the ready room at 6's be tested with the kitchen exhaust fan running, and then with the fan off. Contractually, the Labor /Management (along with the City) committee is responsible to administer the spending of money for air quality testing, with this committee's recommendation. Duct cleaning was discussed. Glenn Wanck spoke about the two companies that have looked at our duct work, and noted that they both would approach the job the same way. The written estimate from Ithaca Air Duct Cleaners was circulated and discussed. Additional bids will be procured. Steve Wehrspann noted that a camera is available to view the interior of the ductwork. Chris O'Connor asked that this unit be available prior to testing and after testing, to confirm the work. Chris noted that he is going to confirm that the 2001 contract funding ($5,000.) has been rolled over, as opposed to being lost. The committee was in concurrence that air duct cleaning was something that still needed to be pursued. It is still a priority. Lee Labuff asked where the city's responsibility lies with the air quality issues? Andy Olmetti will try to answer this question. General discussion regarding what other city buildings do for air duct cleaning, air quality testing, air handling equipment maintenance, etc. The committee agreed that it was in concurrence with spending $120. for the testing that Steve was conducting. Lee Labuff suggested that, in addition to all stations, we should test the air quality at the Training Center as well. Chris discussed possible ways to improve air quality ourselves. He read some ideas suggested at the last meeting. Tom Raponi spoke about cleaning tops of sprinkler pipes, etc. to remove heavy dust contamination. It was debated whether we should be responsible for this work, or should a custodian be employed? The concept of a custodian was discussed in length. Andy Olmetti spoke about the city -wide H &S committee. The committee hasn't met yet, but the committee will be meeting 3/7/02. They intend to meet twice a month, until their agenda and progress is established. Chris O'Connor is the IFD representative on this committee, however he needs to find an alternate from the IFD H &S committee. Al Foote spoke about concerns operating hand lines with foam eductors at 250 PSI. It is possible that we will be running a hand line with one firefighter "on the line ", and that such a scenario is potentially unsafe. Chris suggested that this will be a topic at the next staff meeting, and that he would write a note to the Chief about this. Andy Olmetti asked if we are planning to review accidents and injuries quarterly. Chris O'Connor stated that he is planning to speak to the Administrative Secretary regarding getting data on these incidents. Dan Tier spoke about facepiece testing, and stated that he is discussing this with vendors of such services. Dan spoke about the complications and logistics of such testing. Andy Olmetti stated that 30 -40 other city employees need to be tested. Dan Tier and Lee Labuff noted that the numbers indicate that we should be able to justify the acquisition of equipment to do this testing. Lee Labuff mentioned that the "cages" were installed in 963, and that there are cages for two other vehicles. They were donated by another county. The next meeting of the committee will occur in about 3 weeks. Meeting adjourned at 1451. CITY OF ITHACA 310 WEST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 OFFICE OF BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS TEL (607) 272 -1234 FAX (607) 272 -2793 TO: Tompkins County Board of Representatives March 19,2002 The horrific events of the past 6 months have dramatically illustrated the importance of emergency service providers and the dangers they face in fulfilling their duties.On a smaller scale ,these dangers are faced locally and all too frequently, death and /or serious injury, occurs.For those facing this reality every day,the provision of modern, up-to-date training and equipment will go a long way in minimizing these inherent risks. Having the best of personal protection equipment is only part of the solution. Without the ability to communicate with superiors,with colleagues,and with other emergency agencies,the ability to provide lifesaving action can be critically compromised.Tompkins County is now facing this situation.The system now in use is increasingly unreliable, large voids in area coverage exist,equipment is long past its useful life with repair parts no longer available and frequencies being lost to Federal Government decisions. These facts are well known to members of the Tompkins County Board.You have Representatives who have dedicated an extraordinary amount of time and energy to solve these problems,have met countless times with all affected agencies soliciting information and concerns and yet are seemingly stymied by the personal agendas of localities and special interest groups.Equally difficult for Board Members is confronting the associated costs with a project as far reaching as this,especially when budget pressures are ever increasing.What is the alternative though ?What kind of risks are you willing to allow to exist -loss of property, increased personal suffering and injury,maybe deaths because medical,fire or police agencies cannot respond or coordinate their actions? We,the members of the Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners representing both the City and the Town of Ithaca,hearby urge the Members of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives to act with all deliberate haste in implementing a far - reaching modern communication system where ALL emergency Agencies will be served and not only have the ability to communicate with each other but with the other Agencies as well. Having a system serving only the requirements of individual Departments and Agencies seems to be counter productive We, in addition, urge the local communities to come together and recognize that the well being of people should be the overriding principal in decision making and that yielding to parochial interests is not in the public interest. Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioner `s' - - - ,Chair -WioeChr. n- ! - - - -- - -- ,member- - ----- -"- - -- =�- -- ;member A "An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" tlr Recycled Paper WIUS IS u,at me tan - meaningful in terms ys been magic, since it incantations and led our human past fine Pieces, will be Press/Scholastic. of harassment zillion lawsuit against it the singer did not tee. But the Jury said red Lisa A&14a In i the Vilest Coast Of- .9 'Agbalaya claimed d his advAnces. '' ' with new single ,ase its first new sin.. i. The Hindu Times is o album, due out in leis tar a world tout. T near YOU top into legal movie M§ home video divt- al releases available inemanowcom. The at Could Happen? — i as on pay - per -view task. The movies are nstant viewing via anywhere from one for up to 24 hours. vs. The Rock match, Hulk Hogan a headline bout at 48, has made a few i, The Rock, 29, is far Scorpion King is due and wire reports ith public rama led five new - ie box office. Hart's vas a lackluster sev- ward nominations ly A Beautiful Mind, the previous week- Arg. i' ^.i.WCeks er site clttz. Out $9,575 — 1 $7,149 — 1 $5,997 — 1 $4,510 -1% 2 0,405 -36% 2 14,530 50% 9 13,622 — 1 ;3,373 -9% 8 Phwn by non Rib. )r. This is a drill: First responders from state and local agencies dressed in haz- mat suits, left, approach the scene of an ex- plosion, below right, during a training exer- cise at the U.S. Department of Energy's Neva- da Test Site. Be- low left, the students pre- pare to trans- port a manne- quin "victim." Preparing for what. may come Disaster is everywhere during Nevada drills By Marco R. Bella Cava t)SA TODAY MERCURY, Nev. — Silhouetted against a rocky red idscape that brings to mind Mars, four men — istly figures in white, barking through sinister slack gas masks — prepare to open a rusty door. On the other side is a house of horrors, terrorist style. "Stand byl" orders police Cmdr. James Coker of Hoover, Ala. His shoulder hits metal; inside the cav- ernous room, the quartet fans out into a soup of dark- ness and smoke. For a moment, silence. Then a metallic buzzing sound: A radiation detector has picked up its prey. "It's Cover stoat hot!" says Coker, directinv his teammates away. Suddenly, he yells: "Vi '" Hanging from a steel ri,, .,hands and feet bound, is a bloody mannequin. . "Good job," says instructor Ron Montgomery, who stands nearby in civilian clothes with a radio in hand. "Now read the victim's status off the card near his head, and I'll call it in to the incident commander." And so goes another final exam here at the U.S. De- partment of Energy's Nevada Test Site, a secretive desert outpost the size of Rhode Island where, from 1951 to 1992, nearly 1,000 nuclear explosions lit up the sky and iditied the ground. In this staged scenario, terrorists have detonated a radiation -filled "dirty bomb," and responders have ' find a safe route through the hot zone to reach su. vors. The drill underscores the site's new role as a 'jup Gun -type school where police, fire and medical ex- perts'— dubbed "first responders" — train for biologi- cal, chemical and, yes, nuclear disasters that have gone from the unthinkable to the possible. Although students have trickled into the federally funded course for three years, since Sept. 11 demand Please see COVER STORY next page ► Emergency workers can't grn. back to pre-Sept, 11 `normal' Continued from 9B has mushroomed into a six -month waiting list. Today, Homeland Security Di- rector Tom Ridge and Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Allbaugh visit the site to watch instructors run through a scenario like the one experienced by Coker and his nearly three doz- en peers from around the nation. Ridge's office has sought to keep both civilians (via controversial se- curity alerts) and first responders tuned in to what it considers a per- sistent terrorist threat. More than five months after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, many Ameri- cans have managed to resume their pre -Sept. 11 lives. But the na- tion's emergency personnel cannot afford such a luxury. In fact, conversations with stu- dents here, many from small towns with modest budgets, re- veal that some feel overwhelmed, underequipped and just plain vul- nerable. "As the big cities build tip their levels of protection, that leaves the heartland of America as a target," says David Sloan, a captain with the Ashland, Ky., fire department. "It makes you mad. But then you just try and do what you can to protect your town." Which is why binding for the course should be tripled from its current $25 million ($10 million from the Department of Energy and the rest from the Department of Justice), says Sen. Harry Reid, D- Nev., who wants the test site to be home to what he would call the National Center for Anti Terrorist Training. People through this type of train- ing, and we should have done it yesterday," Reid says. At the current level of fundingg approximately 1,500 first resFond- ers can be trained annually, from a pool of 100,000 -plus professionals nationwide. "I have a friend who is a police officer in Ely, Nev," Reid says. "He says, 'Why bother alerting me when a chemical or radiological shipment is passing through? If anything happened, I wouldn't know how to handle it, anyway.' Well, that has to change." Weapons of mass destruction For each participant, the four - day seminar — technically known as the Weapons of Mass Destruc- tion Responder Operations course — begins with a drive north from the Las Vegas airport, 90 miles of rock, dirt and the occasional Josh- ua tree. Once past the military check- point in the dilapidated town of Mercury, the students find their bunks and meet each other. Firefighters from Kentucky. Emergency services staffers from Virginia. Police officers from De- troit. The cross - departmental mix is deliberate, another way to get folks thinking about how coopera- tion is key in a catastrophe. The responders, almost all of them men, share business cards and a much - needed outlet for newfound tension. "I've never been so busy in my life. Hospital staffers are now screaming for them and bio train- ing. Were just getting bombarded daily," says Melinda Duncan, who helps coordinate members of the Cover story_ "I couldn't take it mentally," she says. "But I'm ready now We need training so we don't get freaked out. Radiation is something that scares most people." And so begin three days of class- room work led by dozens of ex- perts working for DOE subcontrac- tor Bechtel Nevada. Seminars, including "Fundamental Principles of Radiation" ( "You can work with it more than you think; as long as you're informed and prepared," says former Green Beret Barry Smith), and a Chernobyl melt- down case study ( "The lesson there is that correct information was not spread fast enough, and people paid the price," says ex- Soviet army doctor Igor Shafhid). Shortly after dawn on Day 4, the students shuffle into class one last time to get their briefing for the Phoenix Culmination Exercise — the terrorism -based test to see who has learned what in this crash course on nuclear nightmares. Sipping Diet Cokes and fiddling with their Geiger counters, the trainees listen as instructor Mont- gomery belts out the situation. "When you get out to the scene, you need to know that SWAT has neutralized the terrorists, but not before they set off a dirty bomb. Find a route into that facility that can then be safely navigated by medical personnel. Any ques- tions?" Silence. "Let's go." Cool under pressure For three hours, eight teams of four first responders make their way painstakingly into an ominous their radiation detectors makes them freeze, then try a new route. Smoke causes some students to walk right past injured victims ( "You're going to have a lawsuit on your hands," Montgomery scolds) and breeze by "dangerous" pock- ets of radiation (paperweight -size chunks of cesium 137 that set off the counter but pose no health threat). Most, however, perform flawlessly. Back outside, under the merd- less Nevada sun, the responders strip off their white Tyvek suits and has masks, grab sandwiches and baw about their experience — and ow it might apply to what awaits them back home. "I feel better than I did four days ago, for the simple reason that while I don't think terrorists would strike us in the middle of Kansas, if they hit Kansas City, I'll have to know how to help out;" says Ray- mond Raney of Republic County Emergency Management Services in Belleville. "Come to think of it;' Ire adds quietly, "while it's rural where I am, there's a nuclear power plant a few hundred miles away." Sweat caking his hair to his scalp, Lincoln Miller offers that he doesn't have to look far to find a terrorist target — the Marathon Ashland oil refinery in Catlettsburg, Ky., where he is fire chief. "Out here, we've learned that to successfully deal with these situa- tions, you need extreme patience," he says, pointing to the seven other firefighters and paramedics from his Kentucky county. "So if my boss is hollering at me for infor- mation, I can reassure him that what's most important is doing things right, not fast." Site. He says Sept. 11 has made it easier for him to recruit people for additional training. "The message has been brought home," he says. Nearby, helping each other with their gear before piling into a van for the ride back to the airport, po- lice officer Coker and firefighter Tom Hayden shoot a final glance at their classroom, massive storage tanks that once cooled nuclear fuel that are all but swallowed up by the immense desert. "I tell you, a situation with radia- tion is not normally a fire or police issue," says Hayden, a battalion chief in Prince George's County, Md. 'Then again, we're always the first guys there." Coker nods, then runs a hand through his military haircut and whispers: "I just hope this sort of training is never needed." 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