HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-2015-05-12City of Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Present:
Chair Gilligan
Commissioners Ellsworth, Sparks, Hoard
Fire Chief Parsons
Information Management Specialist Myers
Excused:
CC Liaison/Alderperson Fleming
Call to Order:
Chair Gilligan called the meeting to order at 1605 hours.
Approval of Minutes:
Approval of the April 14, 2015 Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Resolution
By Commissioner Sparks: Seconded by Commissioner Ellsworth
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the April 14, 2015 Board of Fire Commissioner Meeting be
approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
Additions to or Deletions from the Agenda:
Chair Gilligan requested the addition, under New Business, of the following item:
“City of Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners – Commendation to Members of the City of Ithaca
Fire Department’s B Shift – Resolution”
No Board Member Objected
Persons Wishing to Speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners:
Mr. Lyman Baker read the following report to the Board regarding work in the City Cemetery
Firemen’s Section:
“Dear Board,
Raymond B. Wheaton and Lyman E. Baker have worked 7 hours each, raking, mowing, and
trimming the lawn at the Firemen’s section in the Ithaca City cemetery. The flowers are up and
are beautiful.
There is a cemetery headstone in the gully below the Firemen’s section. It would take someone
with rappelling experience to lower themself to the headstone, attach a heavy rope, come back
up the steep hill, and have many hands pull up the fallen headstone. Ray & I could place it on
the right spot. Whose name is on it?
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015
2
Respectfully submitted,
Lyman E. Baker-IFD Badge #3258”
Information Management Specialist will talk with City Forester, Jeanne Grace, about having her
crew pull the headstone up so it can be re-set where it belongs.
Correspondence:
A. Chair Gilligan reported that there is an opportunity to apply for a Volunteer Fire
Assistance Grant. He read information on the grant to the Board as follows:
“The Department receives annual federal funding for the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant
program. In 2015, the Department received a federal appropriation of more than
$400,000 for the purpose of soliciting and awarding competitive fire assistance grants. Fire
departments eligible to apply may receive grant funding up to $1,500 for the purchase of eligible
firefighting equipment. Fire departments are required to equally match (50/50) the amount of the
grant award. As an example, a fire department is required to spend up to
$3,000 on the purchase of approved firefighting equipment in order to be reimbursed an
equal grant amount up to $1,500.”
The deadline to submit an application is June 30, 2015.
Chair Gilligan stated that the Board would leave it up to the Fire Chief to determine whether or
not an application should be submitted for the grant.
2. Chair Gilligan reported that the bank statement from Tompkins Trust Company for the
donation fund dated April 30, 2015 had a beginning balance of $2,801.61 and an ending
balance of $2,801.61 reflecting no activity.
3. Chair Gilligan further reported that the bank statement from Tompkins Trust Company
for the Rescue Squad Donation fund dated April 30, 2015 had a beginning balance of
$1,845.02; and an ending balance of $1,845.14 reflecting .12 earned interest.
Membership Changes:
Chair Gilligan reported that a volunteer application has been received, and that he would be
working to schedule a meeting with the review committee. Therefore, there is no action for the
Board to take at this time.
Miscellaneous Reports:
A. Town of Ithaca: Chair Gilligan reported that he attended the May 11, 2015 Town of
Ithaca Board meeting to provide a quarterly report; which will be attached to the minutes. He
noted that the Town is interested in hearing more information regarding the proposal for the
possible sale and relocation of fire station #9 in Collegetown. In addition, they inquired as to the
status of the bid for a new fire engine for this year.
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015
3
Chief Parsons responded that a bid for a new fire engine will not go out until the new Fire
Services Contract between the Town of Ithaca and City has been signed. He hopes that will
occur soon so that bids might go out later this year.
B. City of Ithaca: Commissioner Hoard reported that the City’s quarterly report from the
Board of Fire Commissioners is pending at this time.
C. Audit: The audit was reviewed and approved by Commissioner Ellsworth
Department Reports:
A. Fire Chief
Chief Parsons provided his monthly report, which will be attached to the minutes, and
highlighted the following items for the Board:
The department is fully staffed at this time. There are three new fire fighters; two are just
finishing the fire academy and the third has already completed training at the academy, and is in
the process of department training. He is hoping that by early summer all three fire fighters will
be on shift, which will help with the department’s overtime costs.
The budget summary is provided in his monthly report; the Chapter House fire in April
resulted in a significant amount of the department’s overtime budget being used.
The department began early costly repairs on one of its apparatus, and is working on
getting an estimate for a major repair of another apparatus. Some of these repairs are showing
up due to the age, mileage, and use of the apparatus. He is working on a vehicle replacement
schedule as well as a budget to maintain the department’s current apparatus until they can be
replaced.
Tompkins County is in the process of installing interoperable communications
equipment, which is designed to provide radio communications across county borders. This
permits fire and law enforcement agencies from other areas to communicate with emergency
responders in Tompkins County. In addition, the county has purchased a new Emergency
Management Software that will provide better coordination of resource requests and incident
management during an area-wide disaster. The City of Ithaca, as well as other municipalities,
will manage their incidents locally and at the same time be coordinated with Tompkins County
and our neighboring towns and villages.
The fire department was awarded a grant to fund the replacement of its 15-year old Self-
Contained Breathing Apparatus. The grant award was for $413,000, with the City required to
provide a 10% match. They hope the bid for the equipment will go out in late June or early July,
with an anticipated delivery later in the year.
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015
4
The Triad Foundation has provided a $24,000 grant to the Fire Department. The money
is to be used to replace the department’s firefighting skid unit that is used for wild land
firefighting, and for fighting fires in remote areas which are hard to reach with a fire department
pumper truck.
The Collegetown Fire Station (#9): The City is in the process of having a feasibility study
conducted. The current location of Fire Station #9 has great economic value for re-
development, and there has been interest expressed by private developers to acquire the
property. The study will look into the costs for site development and construction of a new fire
station. The study will also include a facilities assessment of the station, which will identify
repairs that will be needed over the next 20 years if the City decides to keep the current
building. Some of that work includes the installation of a new HVAC unit like the one installed at
Central Fire Station. In addition, some façade and minor structural work is needed. The
valuation of those repairs will be figured into the appraisal of what the station is worth, and
provide a basis as to what would be available to build a new station - if the City decides to do
that.
Chief Parsons has been mapping out calls from all the City’s fire stations and has found
that Station #9 is the most used, and responds to more calls than any of the other stations. The
City would need to be careful not to build a new station too far out, and possible location
selection is limited. One possible site in the City is a little farther east than the current location.
He is hoping to have a lot of this information by July because 2016 budget decisions will need to
be made then.
There are two fire investigations underway, one for a vehicle fire on Giles Street that
occurred on April 14th, and the second one is for the structure fires on the 400 block of Stewart
Avenue (Chapter house and the structure next to it).
The Chapter House has been ordered to be torn down, unless the property owner, after
a design analysis can make a determination as to whether it can remain or what part of it might
be able to be retained. The owner of 406 Stewart Avenue plans to rebuild once things are
sorted out.
A brief discussion was held on the floor regarding the work currently being done to complete
Phase II of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. The discussion centered on whether or not there would
be a travel lane lost over the Buffalo Street bridge, and what, if any, impacts it would have on
travel.
B Fire/Police Report:
Mr. David Cornelius provided the following fire/police report for the Board:
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015
5
“Fire Police training was held on April 21, 2015. The topic was a New York State course called:
Terrorism Indicators and Suspicious Activity Reporting for Fire and EMS. We had 9 fire police
members in attendance.
I do not remember any call out for fire police during the past month.
Our next training is scheduled for Tuesday May 19, 2015. The topic will be the use of fire
extinguishers.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave Cornelius”
Old Business:
Volunteer Recruitment Items/Issues:
Chair Gilligan reported that he still needs to get together and review the City’s current
recruitment effort, and develop a plan to provide more information for potential new recruits. In
addition, information should be reviewed as to potential mechanisms to put into place that would
increase the number of new volunteers. He will try to set up a meeting in June with the
recruitment committee.
New Business:
City of Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners – Commendation to Members of the City of
Ithaca Fire Department’s B Shift - Resolution
By Commissioner Hoard: Seconded by Commissioner Ellsworth
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Fire Department, on April 14, 2015, was called to respond to a
report of two structures on fire in the 400 block of Stewart Avenue; and
WHEREAS, members of the Ithaca Fire Department’s B Shift were the first to respond to the
call, and arrive on scene; and
WHEREAS, when those members arrived they found two structures fully engulfed in flames and
smoke, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Department’s B Shift included the following officers and firefighters:
Assistant Fire Chief Michael Schnurle, Fire Lieutenant Christopher O’Connor, Fire Lieutenant
Brian Weinstein, Firefighter John Powers, Firefighter Ernest Williams, Firefighter Joseph
Bargher, Firefighter Timothy Payne, Firefighter Robert Doner, Firefighter Richard Brown,
Firefighter Kevin Koehler, Firefighter Nicholas Raponi, and Firefighter Jillian Morales; and
WHEREAS, the Assistant Fire Chief Schurle immediately took charge of the scene and directed
the small crew of firefighters to begin the daunting task of trying to fight two structure fires at
once; and
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015
6
WHEREAS, the members of the B Shift also risked their lives searching the burnig buildings for
persons who may have been trapped inside; and
WHEREAS, a call was made for all firefighters from the City of Ithaca Fire Department as well
as mutual aid from other local fire companies as well as fire/police members to respond to the
incident as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, members of the B shift immediately began to mobilize trucks, equipment, and
hoses to fight the fires with determination and skill until additional City of Ithaca Fire Department
crews, mutual-aid, and fire/police began to arrive on scene with their trucks and equipment to
aid them in their efforts to fight these two large structure fires; and
WHEREAS, mutual-aid was provided by the Cayuga Heights and Lansing Fire Departments,
and together with City of Ithaca Fire Department firefighters worked together to control the fires;
and
WHEREAS, members of the Ithaca Fire Department were on scene from early morning until
early afternoon working with the other responders to contain and put out the fires and secure
the scene; and
WHEREAS, members of Ithaca Fire Department’s B Shift should be given special recognition
for their remarkable efforts in responding to and working together to fight the fires of two large
structures with their small but dedicated crews; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners wishes to recognize and
commend each member of the B Shift for their extraordinary and valiant work to fight and
contain two large structure fires; as well as prevent the fires from spreading to other buildings;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Fire Commissioners wishes that a copy of this resolution to
commend each member of B shift be placed in their personnel files.
Carried Unanimously
Adjournment:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1635 hours.
______________________________ _______________________________
Sarah L. Myers William Gilligan
Information Management Specialist Chair
OFFICE OF -THE FIRE CHIE}'
Telephone: 60'7i272-1231 ts^x: 601i212-2797
MEMORANDUM
To: Board of Fte Commissioners
From: Tom Parsons, Fire Chief
Date: May lzth,2Ol5
Re: Fte Chief s Monthly Report to the Board of Fire Commissioners
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
A1
Chief
Deputy Chief (per diem)
Assistant Chiefs
Lieutenants
Fire Fighters
Uniform Personnel
I Administrative Coordinator
Total employees as of April 30th, 2015 - 64
Vacancies
o None
Rettements:
o None
b)
c) Hiring/Promotions
1
1
6
8
47
None
CITY OF ITHACA
310 West Grcen Strect lthaca, New York 1i850-5i9'
Administration
l) Career Personnel Report
PERSONNEL STAFFING LEVELS
a)
3)
Page 2 of 5 - Fire Chiels Monthly Report May 12'r'.2015
2) Budget Status
a) 2015 Budget: Budget Summary - see accompanying report
4)
County Communications and 9l I Prcgrams:
a) Tompkins County is in the process of installing interoperable communications
equipment, which is designed to provide radio communications across county
borders. This permits fire and law enforcement agencies from other areas to
cornmunicate with emergency responders in Tompkins County.
b) Tompkins County has purchased new Emergency Management Software that will
provide better mordination of resource requests and incident management during
an area-wide disaster. The City of Ithaca, as well as other municipalities, will
manage their incidents locally and at the same time be coordinated with Tompkins
County and our neighboring towns and villages.
Grants and Donations
a)On April 23'd, 2015,I was notified that the City of Ithaca is receiving a grant to
fund the replacement ofour 15-year-old SelfContained Breathing Apparatus.
The grant award was for $413,000, with the City required to providc a 10%
match. We expect to be going out to bid for the equipment in late June or early
July, with anticipated delivery later in the year.
b)On Thursday, May 7ft 2015, I was notified by the Triad Foundation that we will
be receiving a grant for $24,000. The money will be used to replace the
department's firefighting skid unit that is used for wildland firefighting, and for
fighting fires in remote areas which are hard to reach with a fire department
pumper.
5) Collegetown Fire Station
a)The City oflthaca is currently requesting proposals for a feasibility study that will
look into relocating the fire station in Collegetown to another location. The
current location has great economic value for redevelopment, and there has been
interest expressed by private developers to acquire the property. The study will
look into the costs for site development and construction ofa new fire station. The
study will also include a facilities assessment of the Collegetown Fire Station,
which will identifo repairs that will be needed over the next 20 years ifthe City
decides to keep the current building.
Page 3 of 5 - Fire Chiefs Monthly Report May l2'h, 2015
LIFE SAFETY DIVISION
Fire Prevention Bureau
1) Code Enforcement Division: The following is a list of March Activities -
Complaints Received: 22
Referred to the City Building Division 16
Referred to the Town oflthaca 1
Investigated by the Fire Prevention Bureau 5
lnspections:87
City Fire Safety & Property Maintenance
Town Fire Safety & Property Maintenance
City - Sprinkler Inspections
City - Altemative Fire Protection Systems
City - Fire Alarm Inspection
City - Standpipe Flow Test
City - Fire Pump Flow Test
Permits or Certificates: 55
Operating Permit - Assembly Occupancy
Operating Permit - Hazardous Occupancy
Operating Permit - Lumber Yard
Operating Permit - Elevator
Operating Permit - Fireworks
Certificate of Compliance - Occupancy
Certificate of Compliance - Fire Alarm
Certificatc of Compliance - Fire Sprinkler
Certificate of Compliance - Fire Pump
Certificate of Compliance - Fire Standpipe
Certificate of Compliance - Alternative Suppression 1
2) Fire Investigation Unit:
The Fire Investigation Team performed two investigations in April. The first
investigation was for a vehicle fire that occurred on Giles St. in the City oflthaca. The
cause ofthe fire is under investigation. Thc second investigation was for a structure fire
at 400 Stewart Ave. The cause of the fue is under investigation.
6'7
4
6
I
'7
I
1
3) Public Education and Special Events
31
0
1
0
0
l5
5
I
1
0
Page 4 of 5 - Fire Chiels Monthly Report
Public Education Events:
Fire Drills Witnessed:
Child Safety Seat Inspections:
OPERATIONS DIVISION
265 Incidents (64.48%)
Fires:
Overpressure/Rupture
EMS/Rescue:
Hazardous Conditions:
Service Calls:
Good Intent:
Alarms/No Fires:
Severe Weather:
Town of Ithaca 145 Incidents (35.28%)
Fires:
Overpressure/Rupture
EMS/Rescue:
Hazardous Conditions:
Service Calls:
Good Intent:
Alarms.No Fires:
Severe Weather:
Mutual Aid:I Incident (0.24%)
Fires:
Overpressure/Rupture
EMS/Rescue:
Hazardous Conditions:
Service Calls:
Good Intent:
AlarmsNo Fires:
Severe Weather:
Simultaneous Incidents: 85 Incidents (21%)
Emergency Management: No Report
May 12tr', 2015
5
2
8
Response
City of Ithaca:
14
I
99
2t
14
43
73
0
2
0
79
7
6
28
22
0
0
(,
0
0
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2)
l) Aoril 2015 Response
Page 5 of 5 - Firc Chief s Monthly Report
3) Mutual Aid Calls: Quarterly Report
Support
I ) Training
Quarterly Report
2) Training Center
Quarterly Report
3) Apparatus and Facilities
No Report
Volunteer Recruitment and Retention
l) Summaries of Service Hours: Quarterly Report
2) There are currently l7 Active Volunteer Firefighters and Fire Police
3) Requests from Company Memberc to become active: None
May 12"', 2015
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Board of Fire Commissioners
Report to Ithaca Town Board
May 11, 2015
The following is a summary of the Board of Fire Commissioners quarterly report to the Ithaca
Town Board for the first quarter of 2015.
Included with this report are:
The Fire Chief’s Report given at the April 14, 2015 BFC meeting. This includes the Fire
Marshal’s Report & Fire Prevention Bureau activity.
The department call activity reports for January 1- March 31, 2015. Total calls 1.198
slightly less than last year’s first quarter.
The financial operations summary through March 31, 2015.
Fire Department Operational Staffing (March 31, 2015).
As of March 31, 2015 the active Fire Fighting staffing totaled 63 (uniform staffing- 1
Chief, 6 Assistant Chiefs, 8 lieutenants, & 47 Fire Fighters plus 1 Deputy Chief on per
diem. In addition there is 1 Administrative Coordinator for a total of 64 personnel. This
is the first time in recent years that the department has been nearly fully staffed.
2015 Fire Department Budget - The Department operating budget for 2015 is approximately
20,000 lower than the 2014 budget. Expenditures overall for the first quarter are running slightly
under the budgeted amount. (Note: that the staffing resources required for the Chapter House
fire on April 14, will impact these expenditures and will be reflected in future financial updates.)
SCBA Equipment – In April the department received notification that the federal Firefighters
Assistance grant submitted for the complete replacement of the Department’s 15 year old SCBA
(Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) equipment has been approved. It is anticipated that the
grant will cover a little over $400,000 of the total replacement cost which is estimated to be
about $500,000.
Station 9 (Collegetown) - The Chief reported that a developer had expressed interest in
purchasing Station 9. An appraisal has been done on the property and the City has hired a
consultant to look into the proposal.
Board of Fire Commissioners
In April the Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution urging the County Legislature to
not approve a change to the County Code that would allow “Sparklers” and similar devices to be
sold in the County. This was in response to a State law that allowed local counties to determine
whether or not to treat sparklers as an exception to the statewide ban on dangerous Fire Works.
The County Legislature voted against changing the County Code on May 5, 2015.
The BFC meeting agendas and minutes have been posted on the City Website.
The link to all available minutes (dating back to October 1987) : https://lfweb.tompkins-
co.org/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=297404&dbid=13
Board of Fire Commissioners
Report to Ithaca Town Board
May 11, 2015
Volunteer Program Development
Two volunteers began interior firefighter training in February 2015. One of these new
volunteers will complete the course next week and will become a Class I interior firefighter with
the department. The other one needed to withdraw due to an injury but is interested in serving
as a member of the Fire Police group.
The Fire Police hold monthly training sessions and the interior volunteers participate in training
with the career staff.
The draft volunteer handbook will be reviewed and revised in 2015. An effort is underway for a
more active recruitment campaign to begin in 2015.
Other Items & Items in progress:
1 Upgraded software in 2015 for the 911 system, may make it possible to implement
proposed changes in the dispatch protocols used for determining when the fire
department is dispatched for EMS calls in 2015. The software upgrade is also expected
to provide better communication capability between emergency response units from
different service areas across the state.
2 Charter Review- the BFC continues to review and discuss changes in the charter relating
to the role and responsibilities of the Board of Fire Commissioners. We anticipate
working with the Common Council’s City Administration committee on this issue.
3 Resource recovery/False Alarm Policy – Currently on hold following preliminary review
with the City Attorney.
4 County Fire-Disaster – EMS Advisory Board– no new action on this issue.
5 Training Center Facility Project – this is still under consideration, no construction has
been authorized due to the training site being located on land designated as City Park
land.
6 City-Town Fire Service Contract - The Board of Fire Commissioners remains concerned
about the organizational impact and impact on the Community served by the Ithaca Fire
Department if there is a significant change in the current agreement between the City and
the Town.
7 There has been a vacancy on the Board since January 2014 .
Notable incidents - Chapter House fire on April 14, 2015.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bill Gilligan
Chair, Board of Fire Commissioners