Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1991-11-12 • BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS NOVEMBER 12, 1991 (Regular Meeting) MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Begg, Cornelius, Mayer, Neigh ABSENT: Commissioner Baker 1 . Vice Chairman Neigh called the meeting to order at 1913 hours . 2 . Additions/deletions to the agenda: - Budget discussion (incorporated as item 14) 3 . Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners : - None 4 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the minutes of the October 1991 meeting be approved as written. Carried unanimously. 5 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the audit dated November 12, 1991 in the amount of $20, 168 . 21 be approved. Carried unanimously. 6 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the following candidates be approved for volunteer membership: Co. 3 Betty Joseph Co. 4 Susanne Isteero Ethan Sennett Co. 9 Wade Bardo James Pasto Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that Steven Goldberg be approved as a member of Co. 5, conditional upon completion of a satisfactory physical examination and submission of the required physician's certification by November 14, 1991; and that should that verification not be forthcoming by that time, the approval be withdrawn. Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the transfer of Michael Antos from Co. 5 to Co. 6 be approved. Commissioner Neigh objected, stating that the petition had improperly not been brought up before the company meeting. After discussion, the motion failed by a 3-1 vote (Comm. Mayer in favor, Comms . Begg, Cornelius and Neigh opposed) . The board directed that the petition be returned to Co. 5 for resubmission with proper paperwork. Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 11/12/91 (regular meeting) Page 2 Volunteer Coordinator Lynch reported that a letter had been prepared to send to John Hunter (Co. 1) , regarding planned termination of his membership in December for failure to complete basic training within the first year of membership. 7 . The board noted receipt of a letter from the Varna Fire Department, asking that this department join in requesting that Cornell allow members who are university employees to park near their work locations at no extra charge, to facilitate response. Chief Olmstead reported that, although university policy permits employees to respond while they're working, that policy often gets diluted by the time it reaches individual departments . The Chief also stated that the university transportation office has already agreed to issue a special permit to any IFD member requiring one, subject to review. Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that such a letter be drafted by Comm. Begg and that it be suggested the letter either be sent jointly by the Board and Mayor Nichols or that the Mayor be asked to send a similar letter. Carried unanimously. 8 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the Board authorize the Fire Chief to grant permission for the use of the facilities and equipment of the Ithaca Fire Department by community groups and IFD volunteer companies, as he deems prudent. The Chief shall report such use to the Commissioners during his monthly report. The Board will consider any requests that the Chief suggests refusing. Carried unanimously. 9 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the time of the next regular meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, be changed to 4 : 00 PM, to avoid a conflict with Co. l ' s annual banquet, to which commissioners and staff will be invited. Carried unanimously. 10 . Report delayed until the December meeting. 11 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that Chief Olmstead be recommended as delegate, Comm. Cornelius as alternate to The Tompkins County Fire & EMS Advisory Board and that the appropriate resumes be forwarded to the Mayor for appointment by the county Board of Representatives . Such recommendations were requested in a letter recently received from the County Fire Coordinator' s Office. Comm. Begg recommended that the department work toward establishing a pool of members interested in future such appointments . Staff agreed that would be done through the department newsletter. Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 11/12/91 (regular meeting) Page 3 12 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the Board of Fire Commissioners express its appreciation to the City of Buffalo Fire Department for providing basic training for Firefighters Mahlon Irish and Don Reynolds in the recruit class of the fall of 1991, and that Chief Olmstead convey this appreciation at graduation ceremonies on November 15 . Also moved that a large cooler (similar to that on 942) be purchased as a gift for the training center and that a ham or turkey be purchased for each shift at Station 22, where Irish and Reynolds lived during training, with appropriate plaques as necessary. Carried unanimously. Chief Olmstead reported that the two recruits had a very positive training experience in an excellent program and that expenses came in significantly below budget. 14 . Chief 's Report: - Monthly reports : presented. The Chief noted that response for two bunkers who are not company members is reported on a separate page, but will be included on the main list in future reports . - The audit: The Chief reported that timing is becoming more and more of a problem, and said he has asked the Controller' s office to investigate the feasibility of the department' s paying its bills twice per month. (The Fire Department is the only city department that does not presently do so. ) Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the board authorize Chief Olmstead to deal with the City Controller to work out a way to audit and pay the department's bills twice per month. Carried unanimously. • - Space needs study: The Chief reported that, now that interviews have been completed, the committee needs to meet to pick a consultant. Commissioner Begg questioned the worth of spending money for the study at this point. Moved by Comm. Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the board direct Chief Olmstead to move this matter to closure. Approved 3-1 (Comms . Cornelius, Mayer and Neigh in favor, Comm. Begg opposed) . - Chief Olmstead reported that a check, payable to Motorola, has been issued by Cornell University, through which the department is being reimbursed for one of the department' s portable radios stolen from Cornell Life Safety last year. The funds will be used to purchase pagers and other electronic equipment. 14 . The board discussed at length various options for the 1992 Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 11/12/91 (regular meeting) Page 4 department budget, comparisons of the Mayor's and Board budget proposals, and comments made at the special board meeting earlier in the day. Chief Olmstead cautioned that, while the meeting with the Mayor was beneficial and productive, the Board is now dealing with Common Council and must accompany any requested expansions to the Mayor's budget with a revenue source for that money. After more discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the Board recommend the following adjustments to the Mayor' s proposed 1992 fire department budget: - Encumber the 1991 appropriation for the Length of Service Awards Program ($30,000) to the 1992 budget; - Reallocate these funds and the $30,000 for LOSAP already encumbered from the 1990 budget as revenue sources to support the following expansions to the Mayor's budget: Clothing $40,000 Overtime 14,000 Equipment (pagers & SCBA) 6 ,000 Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Begg that $16, 000 from Volunteer Company Appropriations be reallocated to support other equipment. The motion failed for lack of a second. Comm. Begg suggested companies had funding from other sources, such as "2%" money, but others stated there are restrictions on use of those funds. At 2219 hours, it was moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer and carried unanimously that the meeting be adjourned. Respectfully submitted, W. L le Neigh Vice Chairman