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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1993-09-14 ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS Minutes : Regular meeting, Ithaca Fire Department, Board of Fire Commissioners, held on September 14 , 1993 at Central Fire Station. I . The meeting was called to order at 1903 hrs . by Chairperson Stuart Grinnell . Stuart introduced newly appointed Commissioner Charles Jennings who was present. Also present were Commissioners Begg, Baker and Hamilton. II . There were no additions or deletions to the agenda . III . Ernest Jackson spoke to the Board concerning volunteer incentive monies. He requested that the balance being held to the end of this year, 1993, be distributed to those who qualified for incentives so that a return of the funds to the General Fund would be avoided. Chairperson Grinnell reviewed correspondence which included the announcement of the appointment of Charles Jennings to the Board, various City Board minutes, and a letter on behalf of the Ithaca Fire Department from Marcia to both Cornell University and Ithaca College thanking them for their support of our bunker training week for 1993 . The Board acknowledged a donation of $100 and a card received from a motorist in appreciation for help received on the road by an Ithaca bunker. Clayton Hamilton moved to accept the donation, which was seconded by Lyman Baker and carried. The Ethics legislation provided by the City Clerk to all members of the Board of Fire Commissioners was distributed to each member. IV. The audit was reviewed. On a motion by Lyman Baker, seconded by Susan Begg, the audit was accepted and approved. Charles Jennings abstained. V. Membership Changes : New Members accepted were: - Co. #9 - Christopher Cerniglia Co. #9 - Natasha Frangopoulos Co. #9 - Aaron DiFranco - Co. #5 - Kevin Hoyt Co. #5 - Brett Winn Lyman Baker moved to accept the new members, Clayton Hamilton seconded the motion. Carried. Minutes page 2 September 14 , 1993 Resignations received: - Co. #6 - Bruce Farrow - Co. #9 - John Page Co. #9 - James McLaughlin Co. #9 - Wolf Vogel Clayton Hamilton moved to accept the resignations , Lyman Baker seconded the motion. Carried. VI . Committee reports : - Commissioner Grinnell reported for Budget & Finance noting that the Board supported the increase from $70,000 to $100,000 in overtime expenditures and from $15, 000 to $30,000 in the training account included in the 1994 budget proposal . - Building & Equipment Committee - Stuart reported that the capital budget submittal had been reviewed and there was agreement by the Committee on the submittal . They also supported the concept of a regional training center, which would allow planning for such a thing. Additionally, apparatus specifications for the new engine and new ladder were discussed on a conceptual basis; work on those is proceeding. - The Personnel & Staffing Committee and Volunteer & Training Committee did not meet - will meet the fourth Tuesday of September. At that time, Charles Jennings will be sitting on the Committee replacing Joseph Bargher, who had resigned. VII . Chief ' s report: - The Chief provided the Board with an update on the status of the staffing proposal . He indicated that interviews and selection was underway for the three new Lieutenants that were made possible by the adoption of the proposal; and negotiations were continuing with the Assistant Chief ' s unit regarding the contract changes required to implement the proposal as far as the Chief ' s Unit is concerned. The contract changes required for the Firefighters and Lieutenants have been ratified by both the Union and by Common Council previously. - The Chief reported on the request by Mayor Nichols for Minutes page 3 September 14 , 1993 departments to submit mission statements for discussion at the City level - he indicated that pending further development, he preferred to simply submit mission statement for the Fire Department as follows : The mission of the Ithaca Fire Department is "To save lives and protect property" , and to indicate that the Fire Department was at the beginning of a process to redefine its mission and subsequent changes would be forwarded to the City as appropriate. - Chief reported the air horn at Triangle Steel is currently out of service. This is because the business has been shut down and, working on a handshake agreement, the large volume air storage tank required for the horn was moved into the building and supplied by Triangle Steel on the basis they would have access to the air storage for their purposes . In any event, Fire Alarm Superintendent Srnka has been in contact with them and reaffirmed ownership of the various components of the horn system so that whatever action was to be taken in the future regarding this horn would not be impeded. Suggestions for other locations were Wallace Steel, Smith Beverage, or potentially McGuire & Bennett. The Chief also noted that the horn at Morse Chain is not functioning and Fire Alarm Sup. Srnka was working to repair it. - The Chief reported on the Danby Rd. fire which was fatal to 5 children. He reported that the Fire Dept . had engaged a critical incident stress debriefing team from Eastern Ambulance in Syracuse to assist Fire Dept. personnel and personnel from other agencies in dealing with the aftermath of this tragic fire. The Chief reviewed an action plan that was quickly put together outlining certain actions the Department would take as a result of that fire to try and ensure that such a thing wouldn't happen again. That action plan is attached as part of the minutes . - The Chief also reported that for Fire Prevention Week this year a county-wide initiative has been developed that will attempt to utilize all the county fire departments in promoting an effective public education campaign for the week and hopefully there will be a longer term effort coming out as a result of that. Commissioner Hamilton suggested that the Board of Fire Commissioners attend the meeting on Wednesday night to support that effort. Minutes page 4 September 14 , 1993 - The Chief reported on the status of the capital budget indicating which items had received preliminary approval by the Capital Improvements Committee of the City and that it appears that computer replacement funding and building renovation and upgrade funding have received high priority from the Committee and so this could be funded. - The Chief reported on the status of the operating budget for 1994 . The most significant increases were coming in overtime, equipment, staff development, and equipment maintenance lines . Equipment maintenance line is essentially a wash for the City as the design is for the funds that have been expended for preventative maintenance for Fire Dept. equipment by the Department of Public Works be transferred into the Fire Dept. ' s account so that when the work is done the DPW will bill the Fire Dept. for the amount that has not previously been spent by the Fire Dept . There was a brief discussion about the change in cost accounting between the DPW and the Fire Dept. for maintenance work. Council person Barbara Blanchard reported on the cost accounting that is currently going on at the Transit Facility and she indicated that it was working quite well . The Chief will transmit copies of the capital budget to the Board of Fire Comm. as well as the operating budget. - Additional discussions of getting the fire prevention message out: suggestions were made for Community Access Television, United States Fire Academy Public Service Announcements, and making sure there was Fire Dept. presence at the Ithaca Festival and other activities . The Chief made note of the fact that on every Common Council meeting agenda there' s an item entitled Reports of Boards and Commissions . A discussion was held regarding the opportunity for the Board of Fire Commissioners to attend and make a report of pertinent items that it would be important for the Council to be aware of or that the Fire Dept. needs to put in front of the Council . • Minutes page 5 September 14 , 1993 Clayton Hamilton moved, and Charles Jennings seconded that the Commission make monthly reports to the Common Council . This motion was carried. The Chair will work out a rotation for Commission members to make that report and Stuart Grinnell will talk with Carol Reeves , the Vice Chair of the Board of Public Works regarding the nature and kinds of things the BPW reports on a monthly basis . Common Council meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. It was also suggested that an agenda item be added for the Board of Fire Commissioners which would be a monthly report from Common Council . The Chief asked if it would be appropriate or acceptable for the BFC meetings to be used as a opportunity to present achievements to various members of the department such as training certificates for the bunkers that just completed bunker training week. VIII . Monthly reports of Department activities were distributed to the Board. IX. Other - Bills were presented from Wegman' s for food from the fire on Danby Rd. and from Top' s for refreshments for the critical incident stress debriefing that was held subsequent to that fire. Clayton Hamilton moved and Lyman Baker seconded that the bills be paid. Motion carried. - Questions raised as to the status of the minutes of the July meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners and also of the committee meetings that were taken by Joe Bargher - the Chief indicated he would attempt to have Joe prepare and provide these minutes as soon as possible. - The issue of the Board Clerk was raised for discussion. The Chief will check with Val Saul, Personnel Admin. for City workers whose hours have been cut or otherwise disadvantaged, that might be available to perform this work for a fee and it was referred to the Personnel & Staffing Committee meeting for further action. - Volunteer Coord. Marcia Lynch asked for newsletter articles from the Board of Fire Commissioners and Stuart Grinnell will develop and supply those articles for the newsletter. Minutes page 6 September 14, 1993 - The Chief reported that on October 7, 1993 at 1800 hrs . a department meeting had been scheduled with approval of the captains, to present the Volunteer Staffing and Training proposal to the membership. It was suggested that Fire Commissioners be available to attend this meeting. - Commissioner Hamilton discussed a new business that is opening up in town at the former Fisherman Restaurant at the corner of Aurora and Seneca Sts . run by Giovanni C. Freezia. He has an idea that a certain portion of receipts in some manner would be donated to a fund for firefighters. There was general discussion and additional information is required. - Commissioner Hamilton also reported on Danby Rd. fire and the various activities that this has generated particularly the Kitchen Theatre will be doing a benefit performance October 7, 1993 - proceeds from which will go to a fund for fire prevention in the county. - Deputy Chief Dorman reported on the apparatus specifications indicating the second draft was done Thursday, Sept. 16 , 1993 . A final draft will be developed as soon as possible and once the final draft has been made it will go to the Controller for review. Essentially what we are specifying is a 1, 500 gpm, single axle, rescue body style engine with a 1, 000 water tank and a six person cab. The aerial that is contemplated at this time is a rear mount, straight stick with no pump and a pre-piped, remote control water way. - In other business, Lyle Neigh reported that the family of the children killed in the fire at 1046 Danby Rd. sent flowers that were provided the day of the funeral to Station #5 . AT 2034 hrs . Lyman Baker moved, Susan Begg seconded, that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues . At 2039 hrs. the Board reconvened in open session. On a motion by Lyman Baker, seconded by Susan Begg and carried, approved payment of funds requested by a needy member. Minutes page 7 September 14, 1993 In other business, Commissioner Jennings noted there was no formal relationship for information flow between the Fire Chief and BFC. There was discussion as to the nature of the information that would be useful and the timeliness in which it needed to be distributed. Comm. Jennings will meet with Chief Wilbur and report back at the next meeting on ideas to do this . It was noted that the Budget & Finance and Building & Equipment Committees would meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 1800 and 1900 hrs . respectively and similarly the Training & Volunteer and Personnel & Staffing Committees meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2045 hrs . Respectfully submitted, It glt V, :Tian H. Wilbur Fire Chief