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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1991-10-08 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 8, 1991 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Baker, Cornelius, Mayer, Neigh ABSENT: Commissioner Begg 1 . Chairman Baker called the meeting to order at 1903 hours. 2 . The board noted the absence of Commissioner Begg, who was not able to attend the meeting because of a death in the family. Moved by Comm. Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the board express its deepest sympathy to Commissioner Begg. Carried unanimously. 3 . Additions/deletions to the agenda: - November meeting time (incorporated as item 15) ; - First Responder/EMT status of bunkers ( incorporated as item 13A) ; - ..Request for use of South Hill and West Hill stations for voting (incorporated as item 10A) ; - Training constraints ( incorporated as item 15B) . 4 . Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners : - None 5 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the minutes of the September 1991 meeting be approved as written. Carried unanimously. 6 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the audit dated October 8, 1991 in the amount of $20,005 .28 be approved. Carried unanimously. 7 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the following members of Co. 5 be removed from the department' s rolls, as recommended: Tony Bellavigna Terry Camilli John Hess Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the following candidates be approved for volunteer membership: Co. 5 Joseph Farnan Co. 6 Matthew Roberts Co. 9 Philip Ginsburg John Page Carried unanimously. 8 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the board accept a $100 . 00 donation to the Rescue Squad Donation Fund from the Saulsbury Fire Equipment Corporation, Minutes of 10/8/91 Page 2 awarded to the department's team for its third-place finish in the company's July Northeast Extrication Competition. Also moved that a letter of thanks be sent to the extrication team' s members . Carried unanimously. 9 . Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Cornelius to grant a request by the Ithaca Elks Club for use of the South Hill Station parking lot on 10/19/91 by the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bath for parking for an Ithaca College football game, subject to any rules that apply. Carried unanimously. 10 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the Tompkins County Health Department be permitted to use Central Fire Station for a rabies clinic on 10/28/91. Carried unanimously. 10A. Noting receipt of a request from the Town of Ithaca, Commissioner Mayer proposed the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the City and Town of Ithaca authorize the relocation of Election District #1 from the Biggs Complex to the West Hill Fire Station and Election District #3 from the NCR Corporation to the South Hill Fire Station. Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the resolution be approved and that a copy be forwarded to the Town of Ithaca. Carried unanimously. 11 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Neigh that Local 737 be permitted to affix the local ' s logo sign on the north side of Central Fire Station, as requested. It was suggested the sign be placed above the second floor level . Carried unanimously. 12 . Commissioner Mayer reported on his discussions with Deputy Chief Dorman concerning the draft Bunker Disciplinary Policy. Regarding the types of penalties to be levied, Comm. Mayer stated that the typical disciplinary action would be an additional one or two days duty. Cases would be handled expeditiously on an individual basis, with the bunker always having the option of appeal to the board. Moved by Comm. Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the board authorize Deputy Chief Dorman to handle bunker disciplinary procedures as described in the draft Bunker Disciplinary Policy proposed at the September meeting. Carried unanimously. 13 . Commissioner Cornelius reported that the Application for Relief Form remains under review and that the committee Minutes of 10/8/91 Page 3 expects to have a final draft of proposed modifications ready for review at the November meeting. 13A. Commissioner Mayer urged that EMT/First Responder status of bunkers be clarified. Chief Olmstead reported that copies of medical certifications have been requested from all bunkers possessing them and that Deputy Chief Dorman and Lt. Schnurle are working on a program whereby all bunkers possessing such certifications with participate in an orientation program concerning department procedures and protocols . Any bunker must possess New York State certification and, if certified above the basic EMT level, may only provide basic-level care, when working as part of the Ithaca Fire Department. 14 . Chief ' s Report: - ,.Monthly reports : presented. The Chief noted an error in the Volunteer Response report, crediting Laurie Roth (who has not yet completed New Member Training) with eight responses . The error arises from a misreported badge number. - Budget: a report on 1991 estimated expenditures shows accounts for telephone and property maintenance as the only areas anticipated to come in over budget by year' s end. Utilities are coming more into line. All told, with the $30,000 allocated to support a Length of Service Awards Program not anticipated to be spent this year, it appears the department could possibly end the year as much as $50,000 under budget. There has, as yet, been no official response from Mayor Nichols concerning the 1992 budget. - The Insurance Services Office ( ISO) will be back on October 15 and 16 to continue its review of the department. Most time will be spent on flow testing in the town. - Both 933 and 939 can be certified after completion of ladder tests . - Chief Olmstead reported he would present a detailed report on the fire department to Common Council ' s Human Services Committee October 9 . - Space needs study: Interviews have been scheduled with two candidates : John Teitsch on October 9 and George Proper on October 23 . The committee will likely be prevented from considering a third consulting firm, A.D. Mano and Associates, because of what a federal agency ethics officer has alleged would be a conflict of interest with Mano's responsibilities for FEMA. Minutes of 10/8/91 Page 4 - The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs has requested, and the department has agreed, to sponsor one of the association's disaster preparedness seminars, which will be held on Sunday, February 9 at Ithaca College's Emerson Suites . We made the initial facility arrangements, but do not expect to incur any expense or bear any responsibility for organizing or conducting the event. - There is a high level of frustration among members of the Paid Chiefs Committee of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs . Those at a conference October 5-6 expressed concern about budget problems, the Department of Labor, etc. 15A. Commissioner Baker reported the board may have to modify its November meeting time. He will be out of town and the normal time is expected to conflict with a Cornell lecture on earthquakes and public preparedness in which Comm. Neigh have been asked to participate. An alternate meeting time, if any, has not yet been scheduled, but commissioners will be notified as soon as that decision is made. 15B. Reporting on a recent meeting of the county Fire Advisory Board, Commissioner Cornelius reported that the county's training budget has also been cut dramatically. Chief Olmstead added that the state will now mandate written tests for EMT certification be conducted only at 24 test sites within the state, and that candidates must pay a $75 . 00 fee to take the written test. As part of the state training cutbacks, it is proposed that communities hire their own Municipal Training Officers. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that Chief Olmstead be directed to resubmit the Municipal Training Officer's position to the city' s Vacancy Committee, urging that the department be permitted to fill the position immediately. Carried unanimously. 16 . At 2031 hours, the board moved into executive session to discuss the status of a disciplinary matter and a personnel matter. At 2130 hours, the board resumed open session. Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer and carried unanimously that the meeting be adjourned. Respectfully submitted, 31111,0J,\ C- Gake) - Lyman E. Baker Chairman