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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1993-10-12 4 ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS Minutes : Regular meeting, Ithaca Fire Department, Board of Fire Commissioners, held on October 12 , 1993 at Central Fire Station. I . The meeting was called to order at 1905 hrs . by Chairman Stuart Grinnell . All Commissioners were present. II . Additions/Deletions to the minutes : - Add request for equipment upgrade by Susan Begg; - Inquiry into the status of the minutes of the July Board meeting; - Volunteer bulletin board; - Attendance at Common Council meetings by Commissioners; - Juvenile Firesetters Program; - Commissioner notifications . III . Persons wishing to address the Board: - Co. 6 Captain James Rogers, addressed the Board asking whether or not the $4,000 set aside from the incentive funds for 1993 could be used to finance the volunteer bulletin board at Central Fire Station. This item was deferred to later in the meeting. IV. Correspondence: - Stuart Grinnell referenced the memo on Commons Fire Lanes and the Chief reported on the issue to the Board. Chief Wilbur indicated that maintaining the fire lanes has been a long standing problem frequently resulting in conflicts in the street by vendors and others who encroach on the fire lanes and make access difficult or impossible. This was most pronounced at the recent Apple Harvest Weekend when two of the three fire lanes were completely impassible for a period of time until confrontations between the fire department and vendors resulted in getting the lanes clear. - Charles Jennings reported that he had provided the Tompkins County Fire Prevention Task Force with video and public service announcements that were developed under a FEMA contract by Tri Data Corporation and it would be appropriate to send a thank you to Tri Data for the videos . Stuart Grinnell advised that a thank you note would be sent. Minutes 2 Board of Fire Commissioners October 12, 1993 V. Audit - Approval of the audit was deferred to later in the meeting. VI . Membership Changes : - Board Chair Stuart Grinnell administered the oath of office to Lieutenants David Burbank, Dan Tier and Rich Tracy who were promoted effective October 1, 1993 from the rank of Firefighter. The promotions were made possible by the implementation of the staffing proposal. - Other membership changes included three additions to membership: Co. #1 : Brian Bennett and E. Ryan McNeil Co. #9 : Reinstatement of Debra Vennos These additions were moved by Clayton Hamilton, seconded by Susan Begg and carried. - A transfer from Co. 6 to Co. 9 of Gary Farwell, Jr. was moved by Charles Jennings, seconded by Susan Begg and carried. - The following members of Co. 9 were dropped from the rolls for non-residence: Noel Terwilliger James Freeley Eric Schessler D. Andrew Wilkins Kevin Gorman Greg Silpe Joshua Wright Daniel McCabe Brian Rosnov Stephen Yonaty David Nathan Lisa Bumbalo Matthew Roberts The above was moved by Lyman Baker, seconded by Susan Begg and carried. VII . Committee reports: - Susan Begg reported for the Budget & Finance Committee which met on October 7 , 1993 . Susan advised the members of the Board of the significant increases included in the 1994 proposal in the 125 line, overtime, the 200 lines for equipment and in the 440 line for training and discussed the justifications that have been developed for each. Susan also reported on the program budgeting concept that will be implemented in the 1994 year. She also Minutes 4 Board of Fire Commissioners October 12, 1993 contact EKU. - The Chief also reported on the department meeting which was held on October 7, 1993 to discuss the Volunteer Selection and Training Proposal that had been developed. The meeting seemed to go well with general acceptance by the nearly 60 people who were in attendance. The Chief had asked for representatives and alternates from each company, the bunkers, the Union, the staff, as well as representation by the MTO and the BFC. Notification of who those reps . are should be received by Oct. 22 with the first committee meeting occurring on Oct. 28 - the proposed completion date is in the first quarter of 1994 . - Ernest Jackson requested additional information on the staffing proposal . The Chief indicated that an organizational chart could be included in the next issue of the Hose Line. The next issue of the Hose Line will be devoted almost exclusively to the Volunteer Selection and Training Proposal so that information is provided to everyone. - With a consensus of the Board, Lyman Baker was appointed as the representative of the BFC to sit on the Committee to develop the Volunteer Staffing & Training Proposal . - Stuart Grinnell reported for the Budget & Equipment Committee meeting. He indicated they had reviewed the new truck specifications with D.C. Dorman and the upcoming project for replacement of 933 . Feedback is required. D.C. Dorman reported on the specifications for the new aerial apparatus to replace 939 . They are nearly complete and specs. should be out no later than 01/01/94 . VIII . Chief ' s Report: - Chief Wilbur reported on the 1993 budget status indicating that several lines were well over already - most significantly was the 125 overtime account. He reviewed the circumstances leading to the overage and the additional circumstances which removed any cushions available from other accounts . Among these are the Blizzard and Flood of Spring, several fires that generated significant amounts of overtime, 2 firefighters on extended disability or injury leave, another lieutenant that was on injury for a period of Minutes 5 Board of Fire Commissioners October 12, 1993 time, maternity leave, parenting leave, military leave, 4 retirement buyouts, and similar situations. Consequently there is no room in the budget for shifting of funds as has been previously done. Chief Wilbur recommended this be addressed to the Mayor and B & A at the earliest opportunity and requested the Board to support the resolution to this which will be a request for additional appropriations . - The Chief reviewed the staffing assignments that have been made to date with the officers and a separate summary of that is attached to these minutes . - The Chief reviewed the smoke detector legislation status and requested the Commission go on record supporting the legislation as it has been developed and to record that support at the next Common Council meeting. Upon a motion of Clayton Hamilton, seconded by Susan Begg - the Board of Fire Commissioners hereby supports the pending legislation upgrading the smoke detector requirements for residential structures . This motion was carried. IX. The monthly reports were distributed to the Board. X. Other Business : - Susan Begg made a motion to purchase universal remote controls for two televisions at Central and to purchase a VCR for the upstairs ready room. She also requested that the upstairs ready room cable service be upgraded to include a second tier so that a broader range of channels be available to people using that room. The motion was seconded by Clayton Hamilton. After discussion of using Donation Fund monies for this purchase, the motion was defeated. Union Representative Chris O'Connor questioned the use of donation funds for this purchase suggesting that most of the donations received were developed from EMS incidents and that persons making those donations more or less expected that the funding would be used to support the EMS program. Comm. Hamilton responded that uses proposed are not mutually exclusive necessarily and the Board is unsure of the amount in any of the donation funds . A motion made by Clayton Hamilton and seconded by Lyman Minutes 6 Board of Fire Commissioners October 12, 1993 Baker to refer this issue to the Building & Equipment Committee. The motion carried. - A question was raised on the status of the minutes of the July Board meeting. Those minutes had been taken by Joe Bargher and the Chief indicated he would ensure that those minutes were prepared as soon as possible. Lyman Baker indicated he would help. - The volunteer bulletin board for mounting in the corridor at Central station was discussed. Lyman Baker reported on the information that was obtained thus far showing a catalog cut of an aluminum framed, glass enclosed bulletin Board 3 ' 6" x 5 ' in size, 2 doors with a red background cost of $460.00 . Lyman Baker moved and Clayton Hamilton seconded to use money in the 435 account under incentives to purchase the bulletin board. The motion carried. - Clayton Hamilton reported on his attendance at the Common Council meeting of October 6 , 1993 . Clayton advised that he had a very favorable reception by members of the Common Council. Carol Reeves suggested that two to three highlights of Board business be reported only so that the report was concise and not a burden to the Council meeting. - The Board established the following for representation at Common Council meetings : November 1993 will be Charles Jennings December 1993 will be Susan Begg January 1994 will be Stuart Grinnell February 1994 will be Lyman Baker. - Clayton also reported on the activities of the Tompkins County Fire Prevention Task Force noting the role of the Ithaca Fire Department in the successful efforts of that group during Fire Prevention Weed. Clayton noted that this group would continue to work over the long term. - Charles Jennings presented a resolution regarding the Juvenile Firesetters program noting that this is probably the single most important issue facing the Board at this time. The resolution was read and upon a motion of Lyman Baker, seconded by Clayton Hamilton was carried. The resolution is attached. A committee chaired by Charles Jennings and including Minutes 7 Board of Fire Commissioners October 12, 1993 Stuart Grinnell and Clayton Hamilton will convene to start the work authorized by this resolution. - Commissioner notifications : Charles Jennings submitted a proposal developed between he and the Chief on notifications to Commissioners made for certain activities or when certain incidences occur. The need for this notification was discussed and the matter was referred to the Budget & Finance Committee for future discussion and development. At 2048 hrs . Lyman Baker moved, seconded by Susan Begg, that the Board adjourn to Executive Session at the request of the Chief . At 2058 hrs . the Board reconvened in open session. Lyman Baker raised additional issues related to Juvenile Firesetting indicating the Board should contact the individual companies who have not yet contributed to the Juvenile Firesetters Program and ask them if they would do so. In light of the Veteran Volunteer Firefighters Assoc. pledge to match the donations made to the companies, this is a significant issue. Lyman and Stuart will develop a letter to send out on that issue. It was noted that the Board's Building & Equipment Committee will meet at 1700 hrs . and the Budget & Finance committee will meet at 1800 hrs . on October 19th at Central Fire Station. The Personnel & Staffing Committee and the Training & Volunteer Committee will meet at 1700 on October 26th at Central Fire Station. Lyman Baker made a motion which was seconded by Charles Jennings to approve the audit as submitted. With no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 2100 hrs . Respectfully submitted, Stuart Grinnell Chairman (Minutes prepared by Chief Wilbur) r L Theft of Equipment PROPOSED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK WHEREAS certain members of the Ithaca Fire Department leave the service of the department and do not return equipment issued to them for the exclusive use of serving in the Department and; WHEREAS this property represents a major expense to the Ithaca Fire Department and the taxpayers in its service area and; WHEREAS failure to take positive and decisive action could be interpreted as tolerance of such activity; RESOLVED this 12th day of October, 1993 that the Fire Chief is fully authorized and directed to make all reasonable efforts to secure the return of departmental equipment from such members; and failing this, the Chief shall take whatever reasonable steps as are necessary to file a criminal complaint in a timely manner with the appropriate police agency. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fire Chief or his designee will, in concert with the appropriate legal and police officials, take action to facilitate prosecution of these individuals to an extent commensurate with the circumstances of their case. Submitted by Commissioner C arles Jennings October 12, 1993 ti Juvenile Firesetter Program PROPOSED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK WHEREAS 90 percent of arson deaths occur in residences and over 750 people died in incendiary or suspicious fires in 1990 and; WHEREAS nationally, more than one out of every four fire service injuries and nearly one out of three fire service deaths are attributed to arson and; WHEREAS juveniles are responsible for up to half of all arson fires in some cities and; WHEREAS juvenile-caused fires are a major cause of fire deaths, injuries, and property loss to residents of the City and Town of Ithaca and; WHEREAS research and experience shows that these injuries, deaths , and property loss could be reduced through mandatory referral of juveniles and their families to appropriate assistance to include counseling and/or legal intervention; RESOLVED this 12th day of October 1993 that the Board of Fire Commissioners form a temporary committee to work with the Fire Chief and appropriate representatives of prosecutorial, court, police, psychological and other community service agencies as is necessary to develop a mandatory juvenile firesetter counseling and referral system for the City and Town of Ithaca. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this committee shall make regular reports to the Board of Fire Commissioners until such time as a program is implemented and its business can be addressed through regular means, when the Committee will be dissolved. Submitted by Commissioner CYdefrlea Jennings October 12, 1993 Juvenile Firesetter Program PROPOSED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK WHEREAS 90 percent of arson deaths occur in residences and over 750 people died in incendiary or suspicious fires in 1990 and; WHEREAS nationally, more than one out of every four fire service injuries and nearly one out of three fire service deaths are attributed to arson and; WHEREAS juveniles are responsible for up to half of all arson fires in some cities and; WHEREAS juvenile-caused fires are a major cause of fire deaths , injuries, and property loss to residents of the City and Town of Ithaca and; WHEREAS research and experience shows that these injuries, deaths, and property loss could be reduced through mandatory referral of juveniles and their families to appropriate assistance to include counseling and/or legal intervention; RESOLVED this 12th day of October 1993 that the Board of Fire Commissioners form a temporary committee to work with the Fire Chief and appropriate representatives of prosecutorial, court, police, psychological and other community service agencies as is necessary to develop a mandatory juvenile firesetter counseling and referral system for the City and Town of Ithaca. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this committee shall make regular reports to the Board of Fire Commissioners until such time as a program is implemented and its business can be addressed through regular means, when the Committee will be dissolved. Submitted by Commissioner C rles ennings October 12, 1993