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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1992-05-12 . , s A BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MAY 12, 1992 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Baker, Bargher, Begg, Mayer ABSENT: Commissioner Cornelius 1 . Chairman Baker called the meeting to order at 1909 hours. 2 . Chairman Baker, on behalf of the board, welcomed Commissioner Joseph Bargher, appointed to succeed former Commissioner Lyle Neigh, who resigned prior to the May meeting. 3 . Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the board thank former Commissioner Neigh for his conscientious service to the board and appreciates the time and effort he committed to board service. Carried unanimously. 4 . Chairman Baker nominated Commissioner Begg as Vice-Chairman of the board, succeeding former Commissioner Neigh. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the nomination be approved. Carried unanimously. 5 . Volunteer Coordinator Lynch told the board that she has notified Chairman Baker that she will resign her position as Clerk of the Board (this position only) as of the July meeting, when the board is reorganized. Since this position is not required to be filled by staff, the board will seek a volunteer from the community for this position. There was also informal discussion of upcoming commissioners vacancies, with most commissioners agreeing that the board should not be composed exclusively of volunteer fire fighters, that potential conflicts of interest that arise • lead to a loss of credibility for the board. Chairman Baker indicated that he does not agree with that position. Commissioner Bargher also stated his belief that the board in the past has not given adequate attention to career staff concerns and needs . 6 . Additions/deletions to the agenda: - Commissioner Begg asked for a short discussion of food for training ( incorporated as Item #23) . 7 . Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners : - None 8 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the minutes of the meeting of April 14, 1992 be approved as written. Carried unanimously. 9 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that • Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 5/12/92 Page 2 consideration of the audit be moved to Item #17A. Carried unanimously. 10. Chief Olmstead reported the Controller's Office has now indicated a Fire Department audit may be executed twice a month. The department is the only one in the City not presently paying bills twice a month. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the board schedule a mid-month audit on the fourth Tuesday of each month and that such audit be approved on the signature of any individual commissioner; further (as amended by Comm. Begg) , that if any commissioner objects to any bill included in the audit that consideration of that bill 's payment be deferred to the next meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners . Carried unanimously. 11. Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the transfer of Joseph Bargher from Co. 4 to Co. 7 be approved. Carried 4-0-1 (Commissioner Bargher abstaining) . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the resignations of Matthew Tirschwell from Co. 5 and David Wirtz from Co. 9 be accepted, conditional upon return of all IFD property. Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Bargher that Ira Emsig be reinstated as a member of Co. 9 . Carried unanimously. 12 . The board considered a reimbursement request, submitted by Co. 6 on behalf of FF Patrick Sullivan, for $304 . 00 in losses for items stolen from his vehicle the night of the Cayuga Street Fire on 1/6/92 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the loss be reimbursed at 50 percent, as was a similar request approved in April, and that payment of $150. 00 be made to FF Sullivan. Commissioner Begg stated her firm opposition to paying department members for items left in unlocked vehicles, which should be either an individual or company responsibility. Carried 3-1 (Comm. Begg opposed) . 13 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the City of Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners authorize disbursement of funds from the Donation Fund account by two signatures of members of the Board of Fire Commissioners, based on approval of that disbursement at a prior meeting of the board. Carried unanimously. (This resolution merely verifies past practice, in connection with the new Donation Fund account. ) • 1 ' Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 5/12/92 Page 3 14 . Blanket resolution: Authorizing automatic distribution by City Chamberlain each year of 2% money and interest: Consideration of this matter moved to Item #23B. 15 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the board acknowledge receipt of a 1991 annual report from Co. 2 . Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Bargher that copies of all such annual reports received be distributed to all commissioners at the board meeting following their submission to the department. Carried unanimously. 16 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the board schedule a special meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 1992 at 1900 hours for a preliminary meeting with consultant John Teitsch, to allow him to receive input and comments on space issues from various elements of the department (career staff and volunteer) , as part of the department's Space Needs Study ( first of two meetings anticipated) . Commissioner Begg objected, since she will be out of town on that date. Carried 3-1 (Comm. Begg opposed) . 17 . Chief Olmstead distributed consultant George Proper's report on the IFD training center ( follow-up to his meeting with the board on March 26) , along with Chief's related recommendations; among them, examination of the present facility by a licensed professional engineer, development of a proposed capital project, visits to several training facilities within New York State, consultation with NYS DEC, discussing with the county Training Coordination Subcommittee the future of training facilities in Tompkins County, and initiating discussions with the city's Board of Public Works. Following discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the board withhold until the June meeting payment of the bill submitted by Mr. Proper until members of the board have had a chance to review the report submitted. Carried unanimously. 17A. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the audit dated May 12, 1992 in the amount of $33, 352 . 07 be approved as amended (deleting the bill for $1,500.00 from Proper' s Fire Tech Associates, Inc. ) Carried unanimously. 18 . Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Bargher that an invitation and advertising request received from the Homer Fire Department concerning its annual Firemen' s Field Days (June 11-13) be distributed to the eight volunteer Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 5/12/92 Page 4 companies and the union. Carried unanimously. 19 . Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Mayer that Paine Webber Inc. , which sent recent correspondence concerning service award programs, be informed that the board is not interested in discussing a service award program at this time, and that if and when the board wishes to initiate discussions, it will contact the company. Carried unanimously. 20 . After some discussion concerning the annual Commissioners Award, Chairman Baker appointed himself and Commissioner Bargher as a committee to consider a possible 1992 award. 21 . Draft donation fund request form: Committee report tabled until the June meeting. 22 . After discussion, Chairman Baker appointed Commissioner Begg as chairman of the Volunteer Company Standards Committee, succeeding former commissioner Neigh, and appointed Commissioner Bargher as the third member of that committee. 23 . Chief' s Report: - Monthly reports: distributed - Incentives report/1992 budget issues : Chief Olmstead presented a DRAFT printout of incentives information received to date, reporting that an on-line system for tabulating incentives is in place and must be tested to verify that the information is correct. The Chief also stated that it will be necessary to postpone distribution of incentives funds until the full impact is known of two items : reduction in State aid to the City and subsequent cuts in our 1992 budget; and the impact of mandated immunizations and physical exams for all members of the department (projected maximum costs for the latter items also distributed) . The Chief pointed out that this line unfortunately is one of the few areas of the budget that offers the leeway needed to make any necessary adjustments . This matter provoked prolonged and, at times, heated discussion. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded ( for discussion) by Comm. Begg that the amount of money to be distributed for 1991 volunteer incentive awards be set at last year' s level ($8, 700 . 00) and that such distribution to qualifying volunteer members be finalized by May 31, enabling payments to be presented for board approval as part of the audit to be considered at the board's June meeting. After further Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 5/12/92 Page 5 discussion, the measure failed by a 2-2 vote (Comms. Mayer and Baker in favor, Bargher and Begg opposed) . Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the board withhold distribution of 1991 incentive funds until it knows what the department's mandated expenses are going to be. The measure failed 2-2 (Comms. Begg and Bargher in favor, Comms . Mayer and Baker opposed) . Commissioner Mayer noted that it should be recognized that nothing will be done concerning distribution of 1991 incentive awards in the absence of board action. - OSHA inspection: Chief Olmstead reported on the OSHA inspection of department facilities which took place since the April meeting. Some citations are anticipated, including those in the areas of training and immunization programs . The department will take advantage of the appeals process . - Staffing vacancies : The Chief reported we are currently down 9 people, due to vacancies and disability. There was discussion of the letter, dated 4/19/92, sent by Local 737 Dave Burbank to Mayor Nichols, expressing the position of a majority of the union' s membership urging that any vacancies allowed to be filled be filled with fire fighters, rather than a Municipal Training Officer. As part of the discussion, Commissioner Mayer expressed concern about the marked decline in the quality of training since the MTO's position was vacated. Commissioner Bargher indicated that, although the quality of training has declined in recent months and he would ideally like to fill all fire fighters ' positions plus that of the MTO, if the department has to fill only a limited number (such as two) positions, he would support filling those positions with fire fighters and leaving the MTO until later. No official board position was taken. - Other: E-911 discussions have hit another snag, with a report now not anticipated until late this year. Cost estimates keep rising. The Chief asked for clarification of procedure on giving permission for companies to participate in parades, whether the Chief or the board should authorize: Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the board authorizes the Fire Chief to allow volunteer Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 5/12/92 Page 6 companies to participate in parades, as personnel and equipment are available. Carried unanimously. 24A. After discussion concerning reported dissention within the department about the lack of food (pizza) following in- service training, while such food was provided for those attending the special Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on 3/26, it was moved by Commissioner Begg that pizza following in-service training be supported from the Donation Fund, with the realization that a limit should be set regarding the amount authorized to be spent. Measure failed for lack of a second. Chief Olmstead noted that the matter had been discussed at length at the Company Captains level and that the decision had been made only to provide soda, not food. 24B. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that upon receipt of 2% money in March and September of each year, the City Chamberlain be authorized to distribute each installment, plus any interest from the prior year (in March) , as follows : 1 . One-half to the Ithaca Veteran Volunteer Firemen' s Association; 2 . Payments to the sick and indigent fund to bring that fund to $90,000; 3 . The remainder divided equally among the eight volunteer companies . Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Bargher that the Chairman or his designee be authorized to work with the City Chamberlain to implement any minor wording changes that are necessary to the above payment policy. Carried unanimously. 25 . At 2214 hours, it was moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg and carried unanimously that the meeting be adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Lyman E. Baker Chairman