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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BFC-1998-03-10 CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 10,1998 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Robert Romanowski,Lyman Baker,and Alvin Nelson; EXCUSED: Commissioners Cynthia Yahn and Paul Alexander. I. Chairperson Romanowski called the meeting to order at 1804 hrs. II. Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 10, 1998 meeting as written. Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. III. Additions/Deletions to the Agency: -To new business: Chair Romanowski-rep. to CMC; - To new business: Com. Baker- adopt slogan for 175th celebration; - To new business: Nominations for Joint Operations Committee (Training Center). IV. Persons wishing to speak to Board of Fire Commissioners: None V. Correspondence: -Questionnaire distributed by Volunteer Rick Lathrop for discussion at the Department meeting. VI. Membership Changes: -Comm. Baker made a motion to add Land Belenky as a member of Co. #9; and removed James Trauth from Co. 9 and Matthew Lloyd from Co. #4-both have left the Ithaca area. Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. VII. Misc. Reports -Chair. Romanowski made a motion to approve the audit dated 03/10/98 in the amount of$6,659.92. Seconded by Comm. Baker. Carried unanimously. -Chair. Romanowski provided a written report that he presented to the Town of Ithaca meeting- see copy in the Minute Book. -Tompkins County Fire Advisory Board-Deputy Chief Dorman reported on the last meeting. VIII. Department Report (Chief, Deputy Chief,Volunteer Coordinator and Training): ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 10, 1998 PAGE 2 Chief Wilbur summarized his report: LIFE SAFETY DIVISION Administration - 175th Anniversary Celebration- the committee continues to make plans - a slogan is recommended (to be voted on later in the meeting); - Parking Issues-further discussions have not yet begun; -Training Center-nominations to the Joint Operations Committee will be entertained later in the meeting; -Career Personnel-see report from DC Dorman; - Department Feedback Instrument-see copy in the Minute Book - Notice of Claims have been sent to Jefferson and Franklin Counties for our mutual aid participation during the ice storm-we are waiting for a submittal package to come from SEMO. (Claims total approx. $75,000) -Fire Point Software-the transition continues. -Program Analysis Committee-The presentation to Common Council is being prepared -will present on April 13th. Fire Prevention Bureau -Cause &Origin-Chief Wilbur reported that Lyle Neigh is investing a lot of time in connection with a mutual aid investigation for Cayuga Heights - depositions need to be done again due to inaccurate transcriptions, etc. Chief Wilbur also noted that neighboring departments continue to call for our assistance in technical matters- dynamics are changing all the time and we need to look for ways to deal with the requests. -Ithaca College Inspections - delayed due to an illness of IC official- expect to complete by early June if possible. Safety -Health&Safety Committee OPERATIONS DIVISION Response-See Feb. 1998 incidents report from DC Dorman; Support -See report from DC Dorman; -Station 7-two resolutions for proposed disposition of Station 7 were provided by Chief Wilbur (see Minute Book). Option 1 declares Station 7 as surplus property and recommends disposition with proceeds being credited to the Fire Department budget accounts. Option 2 resolution offers the Station to the Ithaca Paid Firefighter's Association(through sale,transfer, etc.) -IPFFA Vice President Gary Farwell,who was in attendance at the meeting, declined for the group as ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 10, 1998 PAGE 3 they are not interested in obtaining the building. Chair. Romanowski made a motion to delay the discussion of Station 7 until the full Board was present,as Comm. Yahn has been part of the Committee investigating uses for the building. Comm. Baker seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. In the meantime,the Board would like to arrange to have the building's market value determined,and Chief Wilbur will investigate the possibility of the proceeds being credited to the Fire Department budget accounts. -Comm. Romanowski made a motion to approve the resolution regarding the disposition of vehicle 942 and subsequent purchase of a computer for the C & 0 team, as recommended by the Fire Chief(see resolution in the Minute Book). Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. Training - Due to transition to Fire Point Software, the monthly training report will not be provided this month. - Lt. Tom Deis attended and successfully completed the NYS mandated First Line Supervisor's School in New York City and the Chief is pleased to report that Lt. Deis was awarded the Merit Certificate for achieving the highest rating in the class at this program. • -Chief Wilbur just returned from the last session of the Executive Fire Officer Program held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg,MD. This program consists of a two week session,each year for 4 years,plus a research project completed within 6 months of each session. -The classroom construction project at the Training Center is almost complete. VOLUNTEER SERVICES DIVISION Membership Unit -See report from Vol. Coord. Lynch attached. Service Duty Unit - See report from Vol. Coord. Lynch attached. -Company Owned Property- Board members, as well as members of the audience of volunteer company members and IPFFA Union Vice President, discussed the proposals offered by the Bunker Council (outlined in Chief's report). There were various opinions of how this issue should be handled. Most discussion dealt with the manner in which property is purchased. Gary Farwell, speaking for the Union, indicated that any property the Union purchases,comes out of the paychecks of the career staff(through their dues). Volunteer companies receive monies from the City as well as 2% monies from the State that ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 10, 1998 PAGE 4 they use to purchase property. Comm. Baker made a motion to approve Option 2 which is to inventory and appraise all furnishings and equipment affected and provide for the City to acquire ownership and future responsibility for same. Chair. Romanowski would rather write a letter to each volunteer company, include the two options, and receive their comments before making a decision. Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. -Volunteer/Bunker Clothing: 1997 clothing has been received and distributed; Chief Wilbur reported that he has retracted the resolution asking the City to add an additional$2,000 for bunker uniforms; rather, he has had discussions with the City Controller on how to purchase the uniforms from the operating budget- and subsequent funding and funding to replace the amount expended now,will • be considered as a function of continuing discussions with the City Controller. IX. Old Business: -All companies' financial reports for 1997 have now been received. - Lyle Neigh addressed the Board regarding the due dates for reports of use of the City Contract monies. Since the monies aren't normally received,until the middle of the year, it is difficult to report the use of the money on a calendar year basis. Chief Wilbur will investigate the wording of the contract and other issues related to this matter and report back at the next meeting. X. New Business: - Comm. Baker made a motion to appoint Chair. Romanowski as the Board representative to the Cayuga Medical Center annual banquet. Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. - Comm. Baker made a motion to adopt the slogan: 1998 - Our 175th Year of Saving Lives and Protecting Property . Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. The Chief and Board members encouraged everyone to use the slogan often as we celebrate this historic year! -Comm. Baker made a motion to appoint Firefighter Deane Cook, Deputy Chief Dorman and Assistant Chief Lee LaBuff to the Training Center Joint Operations Committee, as well as designate Borg-Warner as the industrial representative. Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. - Chair. Romanowski reported that the Board of Fire Commissioners' Policies & Procedures manual is 98% complete. ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MARCH 10, 1998 PAGE 5 XI. Executive Session-not needed XII. At 1910 hrs.,Comm. Baker made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Comm. Nelson. Carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, / 9 Christine M. Wilbur,Clerk Board of Fire Commissioners (Minutes will be reviewed for approval at the 04/14/98 meeting)