HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-2014-12-09CITY OF ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES
December 9, 2014
Present:
Chair Gilligan
Commissioners: Ellsworth, Sparks
Others Present:
Fire Chief – Parsons
Information Management Specialist – Myers
Excused:
Commissioner Hoard
Alderperson and Liaison to Board – Fleming
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 1600 hours.
Approval of Minutes:
Approval of the November 18, 2014 Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting Minutes
– Resolution
By Commissioner Ellsworth: Seconded by Commissioner Sparks
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the November 18, 2014 Board of Fire Commissioner
meeting be approved with noted corrections.
Carried Unanimously
Additions to or Deletions From the Agenda:
Chief Parsons requested a discussion regarding the department’s purchase of
equipment be added to the agenda.
No Board Member Objected
Persons Wishing to Speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners:
Mr. Lyman Baker addressed the Board on the following topics:
1. Legal Status of The Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Inc. Relief Fund?:
Dear Board,
At the November 18, 2014 regular meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners, the
Chairman stated that our Relief Fund might not be legal in the way it has been set up.
It was set up in 1919; what might be illegal about the way it was set up?
Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting Minutes December 9, 2014
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Thank You.
Robert Travis, The Veteran Volunteer Volunteer Firemen’s President and
Lyman E. Baker, The Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Treasurer
2. Annual Firemen’s Memorial Service – December 7, 2014, 8:00 a.m. at the City of
Ithaca Cemetery:
Dear Board,
The weather was in the mid twenties, the sun shining on the hilltops, along the shore of
Cayuga Lake and just peeking on top of the Memorial stone, where the annual service
was held.
We remembered all the Firefighters that were killed and especially, Alfred Slater
Robinson, Company Three, John Cooper Rumsey, just 23 years of age, of Company 5
and Esty J. Landon of Company 4. All were killed at the tragic fire when a wall collapsed
on them on December 7, 1906, at the Chi Psi fraternity, Cornell University, 108 years
ago.
Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, William Gilligan, Raymond B. Wheaton,
Ryan Wheaton, a volunteer firemen from Candor, NY, Lyman E. Baker and a walker in
the cemetery who is part of the “Friends of the Ithaca City Cemetery” took part.
Submitted by,
Lyman E. Baker, IFD Badge #3258
December 7, 2014
3. Work hours for Lyman Baker and Raymond Wheaton at the City of Ithaca Cemetery
– Firemen’s Section:
Dear Board,
Raymond B. Wheaton and Lyman E. Baker have worked a total of three hours each,
raking leaves and preparing the area for the winter season. Both of us will patrol the
cemetery through out the winter months.
Submitted by,
Lyman E. Baker,
IFD Badge #3258
Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting Minutes December 9, 2014
3
David Cornelius addressed the Board to report that there were no call outs for the
fire/police unit’s assistance in the past month; he thought that there were at least two
incidents where they probably could have been utilized. He expressed concern about
IFD shifts not calling for assistance from the fire/police unit at scenes.
Correspondence:
1. Chair Gilligan reported that there were no bank statements from Tompkins Trust
Company available for the board meeting today.
Applications for Membership & Volunteer Status Change Request:
Chair Gilligan reported that there is a person who is interested in volunteering; they
submitted an application, and he will set up meeting of the review committee in the next
couple of weeks to review the application and set up an interview. He hopes the review
and approval process can proceed smoothly and quickly so the applicant can be
recruited and attend training in the Spring.
Miscellaneous Reports:
A. Town of Ithaca: No report
B. City of Ithaca: No report
C. Audit: The audit was reviewed and approved by Commissioner Ellsworth
Department Reports:
Chief Parsons highlighted the following items from his monthly report, which will be
attached to the minutes, for the Board:
- Staffing: No changes since last month; he expects to appoint a fire lieutenant
on January 1, 2015 to replace Lt. Trask who is retiring; that will create a fire fighter
vacancy and currently there is another fire fighter vacancy. He hopes to appoint two fire
fighters to fill those vacancies early next year. Lieutenant Trask is retiring on December
17, 2014. Assistant Chief LaBuff has announced his plans to retire during February
2015; he has over 40 years with the fire department, and his retirement will be a big loss
for the department, and he will be greatly missed.
- Budget: the Chief’s monthly budget summary was not available at the time of
the meeting, and will be distributed after the meeting under separate cover as well as
attached to the minutes. Common Council adopted the 2015 budget and 2015 capital
project budget.
- Communications: Tompkins County 9-1-1 Center has been working to address
concerns regarding the department’s response plans, and is now able to implement his
suggested changes at the dispatch center. This will allow IFD to adjust their response
to calls that they don't need to respond to.
Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting Minutes December 9, 2014
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- Grants/donations: The 2014 assistance to fire fighters grant application was
submitted by the deadline of December 5, 2014. The grant application is for the
replacement all of the fire department’s self-contained breathing apparatus (65 units) for
a total cost of $467,000; the city of Ithaca is obligated to cover 10% of the cost. He is
very hopeful that the application will be successful. The department is also working with
the city of Cortland to submit, as part of a regional grant, an application to replace the
breathing apparatus for each of their hazard materials teams. The total cost for the
equipment is $70,000, and the city of Ithaca would be responsible for 10%. He is also
very hopeful that this application will be successful, and the city should hear back in the
Spring as to whether it was awarded the grant or not.
- Department Responses to Incidents: Overall, this year the department is
running well ahead of the number of calls in 2013 The department responded to 421
calls for the month of November, roughly about 10% less than in October, but still
running to close to 5,200 total for the year; the department averages about 14-15 calls
per day.
Chief Parsons responded to Mr. Cornelius’ concern regarding the lack of call out by the
fire department for the fire/police unit for two recent incidents. He stated that he was
not aware of one of them, and that at the second incident law enforcement had scene
control, and took care of the detour. The fire department’s role in that incident was with
patient care not control of the scene. He further stated that he will make sure that shifts
call for the fire/police unit when needed; he is not aware of any effort to avoid calling the
fire/police unit for assistance, when needed.
Fire/Police Report:
Mr. David Cornelius provided the following monthly report for the Board:
Fire Police training was held on November 18, 2014. The topic was Cold Weather
Preparedness.
The Fire Police Unit has not been activated since the November meeting.
Members of Company #9 held a road side clean-up of Route 89 on Saturday,
December 6, from the Hanger Theatre to the Glenwood Pines Tavern.
The next training is scheduled for Tuesday December 16, 2014. The topic is scheduled
to be Equipment and Gear Inspection.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave Cornelius
Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting Minutes December 9, 2014
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Commissioner Sparks questioned whether the fire/police unit’s request for upgrades in
lighting for scenes was resolved (the request concerned back lighting of fire/police
personnel at night). Mr. Cornelius responded that the fire/police unit went through
training at the fire department’s training center for that, and determined that fire/police
personnel need to park their vehicles away from behind the scene/accident and turn
their vehicles in such as way as to illuminate them to oncoming traffic. Commissioner
Sparks wanted to ensure that the revised protocol addressed the concern, and Mr.
Cornelius confirmed that it did.
Old Business:
Volunteer Recruitment Items/Issues:
Chair Gilligan responded to Mr. Baker and Mr. Travis’ letter, on behalf of the Veteran
Volunteer Firemen’s Association, regarding the use of funds from their relief fund. He
explained that when he said it might not be legal in the way that the fund is setup, it was
related to whether the Board of Fire Commissioners is able to transfer, in bulk, the
balance in the fund to the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association. He stated that
based upon the city of Ithaca Charter, he does not think the Board can do any more
than review requests; and disburse the amount indicated by the City Charter – which is
currently $200.00 per individual. He noted that if the Board were to propose a change
in the City Charter to address this concern, it might mean that the whole section in the
City Charter on this topic would need to be changed as well. He stated that the Board
of Fire Commissioners cannot approve a resolution that requires all the funds in the
relief account be transferred to the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association; that was
the legality he was referring to. He stated that the Board could talk with the City Attorney
about the request; how, as the City Charter is written right now it pre-empts the Board
from turning over all the funds to Veteran’s. He will work to arrange a meeting with the
City Attorney to discuss the request. Chair Gilligan stated that New York State
requirements on this topic are specified as well in the City Charter.
Mr. Baker responded that he would be willing to wait for additional information that may
come as a result of the meeting with the City Attorney before deciding what the Veteran
Volunteer Firemen’s Association wants to do.
Fire Department Equipment Request:
Chief Parsons reported that the department recently purchased two different types of
penetrating nozzles; each one has a different use. The total cost for them is
approximately $1,500. He does not recall what the Board's last action was regarding the
request for the equipment. The nozzles were purchased out of the fire department’s
budget and the Board will need to authorize the release of money from the donation
fund to reimburse that account. Chair Gilligan responded that the Board approved a
resolution at their October meeting in response to this request so nothing further needs
to be done.
Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting Minutes December 9, 2014
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Adjournment:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1627 hours.
______________________________ _______________________________
Sarah L. Myers William Gilligan
Information Management Specialist Chair