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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1991-05-14 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MAY 14, 1991 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Cornelius, Baker, Reeves, Neigh and Howell. 1 . Chairman Cornelius called the meeting to order at 1635 hrs . 2 . Additions/deletions to the agenda: - Annual Report of City funds received from Co. #2 - Letter from Personnel Administrator Valerie Saul - Request from Co. #6 regarding signage - Update on POW/MIA flag request - Grass cutting and snowplowing update 3 . Persons wishing to speak to Fire Commissioners : - After discussion regarding a request from Co. #6, Commissioner Baker made a motion to approve Co. #6 's request to display the Company log0next to the new signage being proposed for the front of Station 6, at Company #6 ' s expense, and after review by the City Engineer and approval from Deputy Chief Wilbur. Seconded by Comm. Reeves . Carried unanimously. Company #4 and #5 are considering the same type of arrangement at Station #5 . 4 . Commissioner Baker made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 9, 1991 meeting as written. Seconded by Comm. Neigh. Carried unanimously. 5 . Commissioner Baker made a motion to approve the audit dated May 14, 1991 in the amount of $44,854 . 21 . Seconded by Comm. Neigh. Carried unanimously. 6 . - After discussion, Commissioner Baker made a motion to approve a request from the Ithaca Paid Firefighter' s to reimburse Firefighter Crowley $85 .55 and Firefighter Trask $159 .00 to replace boots that were damaged. Seconded by Comm. Howell . Carried unanimously. - Commissioner Reeves made a motion to accept a donation of $500 from Cornell University for assistance in emergency responses on campus, to be deposited to the Donation Fund checking account. Seconded by Comm. Howell . Carried unanimously. 7 . Membership Changes : Commissioner Baker made a motion to approve the following Minutes May 14, 1991 Page 2 additions : - Company #2 : Scot Taylor - Company #3 : John Skawski Seconded by Comm. Reeves . Carried unanimously. 8 . - After a request from Co. #2 to sponsor a delegate to the CNY annual convention this summer, Commissioner Baker made a motion that due to a shortage of funds in the Donation Account, no requests for funds for the convention will be considered this year. Seconded by Comm. Reeves . Carried unanimously. A letter will be sent to all companies regarding this item. Discussion followed regarding use of the Donation Fund. The Board will establish guidelines for use of this fund at some future time. - The Board is in receipt of Co. #2 ' s annual report of City funds for 1990; therefore Commissioner Reeves made a motion to authorize their 1991 City allotment of $2,000 be processed for payment. Seconded by Comm. Baker. Carried unanimously. 9 . - Commissioner Howell made a motion to approve and accept the bid received from Churchville Fire Equipment Company for SCBA parts and supplies . Seconded by Comm. Baker. The vote was as follows : Yes : Commissioners Cornelius, Howell, Baker and Neigh. Abstain: Commissioner Reeves. The motion carried. - Commissioner Neigh made a motion to approve and accept the bid from Motorola C & E Co. for radios and pagers . Seconded by Comm. Baker. Carried unanimously. 10 . After discussion of requests from 3 bunkers to keep their pets with them, Commissioner Reeves made a motion to continue with the policy of not allowing pets to be housed in the Ithaca fire stations . Seconded by Comm. Baker. Carried unanimously. 11. Chairman Cornelius read a note from Deputy Chief Brian Wilbur thanking the Board for naming him as the recipient of the Commissioner' s Recognition Award for 1990 . 12 . Chief ' s Report: - After reviewing the monthly reports, Company Captains were asked to remind their members of the importance for signing Minutes May 14, 1991 Page 3 in for alarms on a regular and consistent basis . It was also noted that companies need to participate more in recruitment and retention of volunteers . - We are in the beginning stages of the 1992 budget preparation process . A form is being designed that will hopefully simplify the process a great deal. - There is a possibility of hiring 4 new firefighters in the near future - 3 have already been approved, 1 additional will need approval to replace a firefighter who will be retiring. - Chief Olmstead will attempt to have ISO elaborate and make a specific recommendation on the need for a new training center. He reported that ISO is always reluctant to put a specific recommendation in writing, but he will try. This item could be included in the space needs study. - There has been no reply from the City Attorney's office regarding the request to fly the MIA/POW flag above fire stations, Length of Service Awards, or the issue regarding snow removal . - The Fire Department (City of Ithaca) has signed a contract with Northern Scapes to mow the lawns at the 2 stations located in the Town of Ithaca: $55 . 00 per time at South Hill station, and $100 . 00 per time at the West Hill station. 13 . - A letter was received from Personnel Administrator Valerie Saul asking the Board for any input on training activities . They decided that since there are so many mandatory trainings required by Fire Department personnel, that any training issues be handled by the Municipal Training Officer and the staff, as they have been. - Chairman Cornelius read a letter written by Commissioner Reeves addressed to the Mayor indicating he did not wish to be reconsidered for reappointment to the Board of Fire Commissioners . His term expires June 30, 1991 . - The Board received official information and an invitation from the Broome County Firemen's Assoc. for the CNY Convention being held in Binghamton this summer. - After a discussion regarding the request to fly the POW/MIA flag over fire stations, and the lack of a response from the City Attorney' s Office as requested, Commissioner Reeves made a motion to allow the flags to be flown. Seconded by Comm. Baker. Further discussion: Chief Minutes May 14, 1991 Page 4 Olmstead feels that this action should be delayed until an opinion is received from the City Attorney. He also noted that the advice from two previous City Attorneys indicated the Board of Fire Commissioners does not have the authority to make this type of decision. The motion carried unanimously. 14 . At 1810 hrs . Commissioner Baker made a motion to move into Executive Session to discuss a request of a needy member. Seconded by Comm. Reeves . Carried unanimously. Open session resumed at 1815 hrs . Commissioner Baker made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Comm. Reeves . Carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, David H. Cornelius, Chairman