HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-2010-08-10ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
AUGUST 10, 2010
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
III. ADDITIONS /DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
IV. PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK TO BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
V. CORRESPONDENCE
VI. MEMBERSHIP CHANGES
VII. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS:
A. TOWN OF ITHACA
B. CITY OF ITHACA
C. AUDIT
VIII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. CHIEF and DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTS
B. FIRE PREVENTION
- Codes Division
- Fire Investigation Unit
- Juvenile Firesetters Program
- Public Education
C. FIRE POLICE REPORT
IX. OLD BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
- Activity Reports
- City Charter ReviewChanges
XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION
XII. ADJOURN
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
JULY 13, 2010
MINUTES
Present: Commissioners Gilligan, Hoard, Kelly and Ellsworth
I. Chair Gilligan called the meeting to order at 1807 hrs.
IL Approval of Minutes:
Comm. Kelly made a motion to approve the Minutes from the June 8, 2010
meeting. Seconded by Comm. Hoard. Voted unanimously.
III. Additions /Deletions to the Agenda:
New Chair Election
Approval of 2% funds distribution
Follow up on traffic calming devices on Wood St.
IV. Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners:
None
V. Correspondence:
Notice of Central New York Firemen's Convention — 7/15 — 7/19/10
Statement from Tompkins Trust Rescue Squad account showed a balance of
$1,335.36. Statement from Tompkins Trust Donation Fund showed a balance
of $487.82.
VI. Membership Changes:
None
VII. Miscellaneous Reports:
Town — None
City — None
Audit — In progress. Will be completed by end of meeting.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
JULY 13, 2010
PAGE 2
VIII. Department Report:
A. Acting Chief /Deputy Chief Reports: (see complete written report in the
Minute Book) Acting Chief Dorman offered highlights of his report and
answered questions as follows:
Career Personnel:
2 Fire Fighters are in injury leave. Acting Chief Dorman said that he is
waiting to hear from their doctors about light duty. One Fire Fighters is
on Administrative Leave. The Department is keeping an eye on overtime.
Comm. Hoard asked if the fire fighters were injured in the line of duty and
Acting Chief Dorman responded yes.
Chief s Position:
The Civil Service Exam will be given in January 2011. It will be a
nationwide exam. The requirements will be 10 years of paid supervisory
level experience and 3 years at the Assistant Chief level or higher.
The Search Committee will interview and recommend 3 people to be
considered. The Search Committee consists of 3 Common Council
members, 3 Board of Fire Commissioners, HR Director and I expert in the
field. The newly appointed Chief will have to pass the Civil Service exam
prior to filling position.
Recruitment:
The Fire Fighter Civil Service Exams are back. In addition to the exams,
the candidates will have to pass a PPA (Physical Performance
Assessment) test. The purpose of this test is to show if a candidate is
capable of the physical demands of the job. However, IFD is considering
a change to the CPAT test. It is a similar test and is nationally recognized.
Civil Service will determine if it is permissible to purchase the $2,500
worth of equipment that will be needed if the CPAT test is implemented.
In addition, someone will need to be hired to administer the test.
Budget:
Everything appears to be on track.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
JULY 13, 2010
PAGE -3
Operating Budget Guidelines:
IFD has been asked to do a 0% and a 2% Budget. The budget has to be
submitted by August 1, 2011.
911 Communications:
City Committee met today.
Grants and Donations:
Assistance to Fire Fighters — No change
Training Center — No change
Mutual Aid - Sgt. Bryan Bangs' (Ithaca Police Department) home was
recently burned down as a result of arson. Sgt. Bangs' home is out of
IFD's district, but IFD offered two of our Fire Investigators for the
investigation. IFD employees (who are volunteering), will be assisting in
efforts to stabilize the residence so that the family can come back to go
through the house to look for belongings.
B. Fire Prevention Bureau: (see complete written report in Minute Book)
DC Parsons offered highlights and answered questions as follows:
Construction is slowing down. Next year will be even slower.
There were two fire investigations this month: One at 120 Alumni Circle
and the other at 1053 Danby Road (which may have been intentional).
Letters were sent to all clients on the Master Box System. The plan is to
take the boxes out of service on November 1, 2010. Once the boxes are
down, the system can be taken down by going pole to pole. There are a lot
of wires in the system and the copper will be scrapped. There is also a lot
of copper clad which is not as valuable.
The boxes are individually owned by the owners of each property. The
boxes on the poles are owned by our municipality.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
JULY 13, 2010
PAGE 4
C. Fire Police: Dave Cornelius offered highlights and answered questions as
follows:
Eight of the 9 fire police members attended training this month, which was
on Medical Evacuation/Helicopter Landing Zone Procedures. The next
training will be on July 21, 2010. The training will be on Weapons of
Mass Destruction. Fire police are also getting fitted for rain gear.
IX. Old Business
Traffic Calming
X. New Business:
2% Funds — State and Town funds have been received. Checks are available
to be picked up at Central in the Front Office.
Questions were raised by the Chamberlain in regard to Company 3. However,
they have since cashed their check.
Company 4 still needs to pick up last year's check.
At this point, all Companies are considered "active ".
Comm. Hoard made a motion to release the checks distribution. Comm. Kelly
seconded. Voted unanimously.
Election of Chair:
Comm. Hoard nominated Bill Gilligan. Comm. Kelly seconded. Voted
unanimously.
Election of Vice Chair:
Comm. Kelly nominated Tom Hoard. Comm. Ellsworth seconded. Voted
unanimously.
Commissioner badges were distributed.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
JULY 13, 2010
PAGE3 5
2011 Budget:
There will be a special meeting to discuss the 2011 Budget. The meeting will
be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at Central.
Hearing no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1855.
Respectfully submitted,
Ran L. Flynn
Board of Fire commissioners
(Minutes will be reviewed at the August 10, 2010 meeting)
Monthly Report of the Fire Chief to the Board of Fire Commissioners, for the August, 2010,
meeting. Combined Chief's and Deputy Chief Operations Report
LIFE SAFETY DIVISION
Administration
1) Career Personnel Report
PERSONNEL STAFFING LEVELS
1 Acting Chief
1 Deputy Chief
5 Assistant Chiefs
8 Lieutenants
52 Fire Fighters
67 On duty personnel
2 Fire Fighters on Injury Leave
1 Fire Fighter on Administrative Leave
1 Fire Alarm Superintendent
1 Office Manager
1 Administrative Assistant
05 Financial Clerk
Total employees as of 08/01/10 — 73.5
Open positions — Chief
b) Recruitment Committee
We are investigating changing our PPA to another test. The CPAT is the most
likely option (same report as last month).
2) Budget Status
a) Account balances for 2010 are included.
C) The 2011 Budget was submitted on time. The next step is the meeting with the
Mayor and Controller on 8/19/10 at 1430 hours. The Heavy Rescue Capital
Project is on the CP priority list.
Fire Chief s Report for August 2010 10 AUG 10
Page 2 of 3
3) County Communications and 911 Program
a) The City continues to meet regarding problems with the County Dispatch. I will
report on any actions.
4) Grants and Donations
a) Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG): All of the paperwork to receive this grant
for in- vehicle repeaters is filed. We are awaiting transfer of the money. We will
be preparing a specification for bid.. [same report as last month]
b) Training Center Project Funding: I have met with the City Attorney and the
Director of Planning. We continue to research this issue.. [same report as last
month]
5) Resource Recovery Legislation
I will be meeting with the new Assistant City Attorney soon to brief her on all IFD
matters that are pending.
6) City Charter Update
I have forwarded the Board's report on Charter Revisions to Alderman Dan Cogan, Chair
of the Charter Revision committee. [same report as last month]
7) Traffic Calming
No updates
Operations
1) Mutual Aid Calls: Quarterly Report
2) Selected Calls —
No Report
3) Support
a) Station 9 /CUPD project — I have contacted Cornell Police Chief Kathy
Zoner to see if she is still interested in pursuing this project.
Fire Chief's Report for August 2010
10 AUG 10
Page 3 of 3
Fire Prevention Bureau
1) Please see Deputy Fire Chief Parson's report of Fire Prevention Bureau activities
for the month of June.
Safety Section
OPERATIONS DIVISION
Response
1) Quarterly Call Report
2) Emergency Management
We continue research into the emergency response aspects associated with natural gas
well drilling. This work is for the entire County.
Support
1) Training Center
a) Quarterly Report
Training
1) Quarterly Report
Recruitment and Retention
1) See DC Parsons report
2) Summaries of Service Hours:
Quarterly Report
Respectfully submitted,
J. Thomas Dorman, Acting Fire Chief
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
August 9, 2010
Board of Fire Commissioners
Ithaca Fire Department
310 W Green St
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Board Members:
The following is the Fire Marshal's report for July 2010.
Code Enforcement Division:
The Codes Enforcement Division received 17 complaints in the month July. There were
12 complaints closed out, and 41 complaints remain open for July and previous months.
The Code Enforcement Division performed 83 Fire Safety and Property Maintenance
Inspections or Re- inspections. The Division also witnessed 5 Fire Alarm Tests, and 9
Hydrostatic Sprinkler System Tests. There were 189 violations cited.
The Code Enforcement Division issued: 9 operating permits for assembly occupancies; 7
certificates of compliance for fire and property maintenance inspections; I certificate of
compliance for fire sprinkler system compliance; and 2 certificates of compliance for fire
alarm systems.
Fire Investigation Unit:
There were two fire investigations performed in July. The first one was for a small fire
Titus Towers 1, 800 South Plain St, and the second was for a suspicious outside fire in
front of 718 Elm Street Extension in the Town of Ithaca. IFD also assisted the NYS
Office of Fire Prevention and Control with the investigation an arson fire at 60 Etna Road
in the Town of Dryden
Public Education:
There were 9 Child Safety Seat Inspections; and 2 Public Education Activities performed;
by the department in July.
Parking Violations
The FPB issued 2 parking violations in July. There was I ticket issued for handicap
parking violations, and 1 for a prohibited fire zone.
is
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification." 06
Fire Marshal's Report for July 2010— Page 2
Respectfully Submitted,
C Thomas Parsons
Deputy Fire Chief / Fire Marshal
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Boarrd of Fire Commissioners
Report to Ithaca Town Board
August 9, 2010
The following items were addressed by the Board of Fire Commissioners since the last report to
the Ithaca Town Board:
Election of Board Chair and Vice -Chair for July 2010 -June 2011: Bill Gilligan and Tom
Hoard were reelected Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
Fire Chief Hiring process - The test will be administered in January of 2011, after a
nationwide search. The minimum requirements are: 10 years of fire department experience,
with at least 3 years as an assistant chief or higher. The search committee is to recommend
eight candidates to Mayor who will make final selection, subject to final approval of the
Common Council.
• The search Committee will be composed of.
• Three Common Council members (JR Clairborne, Joel Zumoff, Svante Myrick);
• Three Board of Fire Commissioners members (Bill Gilligan, Tom Hoard, and Maureen
Kelly);
• Human Resources Director Schelley Michell -Nunn
• One outside expert to assist in the technical evaluation of the applicants.
Fire Fighter Hiring list - Our information is that 59 people scored between 95 -100 on the
exam. We don't have a break down on numbers in the diversity target range, although at our
June meeting it was reported that the likely hiring pool did not significantly (or at all)
increase the available women or minorities in the group of 59. The Board doesn't know why
this is the case, but hopes to work toward getting some feedback from the various groups in
the Community.
Department Call /Activity Report: The Department has prepared geographic breakdowns of
incidents and responses that the Board has been reviewing these are included with this report.
2% funds (Both town and City) were approved for distribution to the respective companies
and Vet Firemen's Association. The total distributed Foreign Fire Insurance Funds was
$86,192.67. Veterans received $42,919.28 and each of the eight volunteer companies
received $5,409.17.
Fire Police Activity: The Fire Police, consisting of six to nine active members, are utilized to
provide traffic control at various accidents, fire sites, or situations such as those involving
downed power lines. This leaves other staff free to respond directly to emergencies. Foul
weather /raingear is in the process of being acquired for the group. Monthly training sessions
have been scheduled, including hazardous materials handling, chemical suicides, CPR
training, and helicopter landing zone training for medical evacuations.
• Items in progress:
BFC Report to Town of Ithaca Board 9 August 2010
• Traffic calming device remediation. — The Board of Fire Commissioners intends to write a
letter to the Board of Public works regarding removing speed bumps and diverters on South
Street and Wood Street in the vicinity of Titus towers.
• Resource Recovery: A proposal waiting review by City Attorney's office - pending hiring of
additional staff (in the City Attorney's Office).
• Charter revision: Some minor aspects of the Board's responsibilities have been
recommended for revision. There is a larger question on the role of the Board that should
also be addressed in considering charter revisions to the City Charter.
• 2011 Fire Department Budget: The Board reviewed the City and Fire Department budget
procedures at its July 13th meeting and held a special meeting to review the proposed
departmental budget with Acting Chief Dorman and Deputy Chief Parsons prior to the
Department's budget submission to the Mayor. This included budget scenarios of 0%
increase in expenditures, 2% increase, and maintaining the current roster (which is the
funding required to maintain the current level of staff and resources for next year). None of
these scenarios included any increase for a new contract with the Fire Fighters and Officers
(Assistant Chiefs and Lieutenants). The Contract is currently under negotiation.
• A meeting with Mayor Perterson was held on April 28, 2010. In addition to Mayor Peterson,
the meeting was attended by Council member JR Clairborne, BFC Commissioners Hoard and
Gilligan. A summary of the items discussed is included with this report.
• The July Fire Chief's report is included with these minutes.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bill Gilligan
Chair, Board of Fire Commissioners
Page 2
Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners - 4 August 2010 Report to Common Council
The following items were addressed by the Board of Fire Commissioners in the period since the
last report to the Common Council:
• Election of Board Chair and Vice -Chair for July 2010 - June 2011: Bill Gilligan and Tom
Hoard were reelected Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
• Fire Chief Hiring process - The test will be administered in January of 2011, after a
nationwide search. The minimum requirements are: 10 years of fire department experience,
with at least 3 years as an assistant chief or higher. The search committee is to recommend
eight candidates to Mayor who will make final selection, subject to final approval of the
Common Council.
• The search Committee will be composed of:
• Three Common Council members (JR Clairborne, Dan Cogan, and Maria Coles);
• Three Board of Fire Commissioners members (Bill Gilligan, Tom Hoard, and Maureen
Kelly);
• Human Resources Director Schelley Michell -Nunn
• One outside expert to assist in the technical evaluation of the applicants.
• Fire Fighter Hiring list - Our information is that 59 people scored between 95 -100 on the
exam. We don't have a break down on numbers in the diversity target range, although at
our June meeting it was reported that the likely hiring pool did not significantly (or at all)
increase the available women or minorities in the group of 59. The Board doesn't know why
this is the case, but hopes to work toward getting some feedback from the various groups
in the Community.
• Department Call/Activity Report: The Department has prepared geographic breakdowns of
incidents and responses that the Board has been reviewing. If it is the pleasure of the
Council we can provide copies to the Council in advance of the monthly meeting.
• 2% funds (Both town and City) were approved for distribution to the respective companies
and Vet Firemen's Association. The total distributed Foreign Fire Insurance Funds was
586,192.67. Veterans received $42,919.28 and each of the eight volunteer companies
received $ 5,409.17.
• Fire Police Activity: The Fire Police, consisting of six to nine active members, are utilized to
provide traffic control at various accidents, fire sites, or situations such as those involving
downed power lines. This leaves other staff free to respond directly to emergencies. Foul
weather /raingear is in the process of being acquired for the group. Monthly training
sessions have been scheduled, including hazardous materials handling, chemical suicides,
CPR training, and helicopter landing zone training for medical evacuations.
• Items in progress: Traffic calming device remediation. - The Board of Fire Commissioners
intends to write a letter to the Board of Public works regarding removing speed bumps and
diverters on South Street and Wood Street in the vicinity of Titus towers.
• Resource Recovery: A proposal waiting review by City Attorney's office - pending hiring of
additional staff (in the City Attorney's Office).
• Charter revision: Some minor aspects of the Board's responsibilities have been
recommended for revision. There is a larger question on the role of the Board that should
also be addressed in considering charter revisions to the City Charter.
Page 1
Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners - 4 August 2010 Report to Common Council
2011 Fire Department Budget: The Board reviewed the City and Fire Department budget
procedures at its July 13th meeting and held a special meeting to review the proposed
departmental budget with Acting Chief Dorman and Deputy Chief Parsons prior to the
Department's budget submission to the Mayor. This included budget scenarios of 0%
increase in expenditures, 2% increase, and maintaining the current roster (which is the
funding required to maintain the current level of staff and resources for next year). None of
these scenarios included any increase for a new contract with the Fire Fighters and Officers
(Assistant Chiefs and Lieutenants). The Contract is currently under negotiation.
Res ectfully Submitted,
Thomas D. Hoard
Vice Chair, Board of Fire Commissioners
Page 2
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