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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1999-05-11 ITHACA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MAY 11,1999 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Robert Romanowski,Lyman Baker,Cynthia Yahn, Paul Alexander;Common Council Liaison Jana Taylor. ABSENT: Commissioner Nelson. Chairperson Romanowski called the meeting to order at 1800 hrs. II. Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 13, 1999 meeting as written. Seconded by Comm. Alexander. Carried unanimously. III. Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: -Add to Old Business: Report of the BFC Commissioner's Award: Comm. Alexander; - Add to Old Business: Report of discussions with Ithaca College. IV. Persons wishing to speak to Board of Fire Commissioners: - Rick Lathrop,Captain of Co. #7, discussed his long-standing history with the Ithaca Fire Department; and his concern that confidential information presented to the Board regarding requests for 2% funds does not remain confidential. He requested the Board to investigate breeches of confidentiality. Chair Romanowski indicated he was disturbed by the rumors of misuse of these funds. He would like it be known that when funds are distributed from this account, checks are made out directly to debtors,not to the individual requesting assistance. - Rick Lathrop also passed along concerns of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association and also of Co. #7 regarding a letter the Chief had sent to volunteer companies - they question the reference to the IVFU and want clarification that the IVFU is a "unit" and not a volunteer company (as the IVFU represents all of the companies;he also asked for a definition of an "unaffiliated bunker" (which Vol. Coord. Lynch provided); also discussed concern of volunteer recruitment by companies is way down- nothing has worked - use City monies for more recruitment- address senior high school students at Ithaca High School. - Rick Lathrop is also concerned about the lack of participation of the company captain's group and the Chief's suggestion that each company allocate funds to the IFVU. He also requested an accounting of the interest accumulated in the 2% funds - Chair Romanowski indicated that the City Chamberlain providex this information each year. V. Correspondence: - FBI Agent Andy Dorman is presenting a training session on Bombs and EMS; - 911 Centralization report from Lou Withiam; - Tompkins County 911 surcharge and budget information; Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners May 11, 1999-Minutes Page 2 -CNY Firemen's Assoc.,Fairmont,and Onondaga Co. Fire Department's raffle tickets-the Board authorized the Clerk to return the tickets with a letter indicating we are not allowed to purchase raffle tickets. W. Membership Changes: - Comm. Yahn made a motion to approve the following as bunkers: - Michael Pattison-Unaffiliated Bunker -Callie Brinkman-Co. #4 -William Jones- Unaffiliated Bunker -Andrew Lorenzo -Co. #9 -Tamar Lawrence-Unaffiliated Bunker -Kristy Pocious -Unaffiliated Bunker Seconded by Comm. Baker. Carried unanimously. - Comm. Yahn made a motion to authorize removing the following member (bunker program withdrawal): -Thomas Bailey-Unaffiliated Bunker Seconded by Comm. Baker. Carried unanimously. VII. Miscellaneous Reports: - Town of Ithaca report delayed due to their meeting being rescheduled; - Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the audit. Seconded by Comm. Alexander. Carried unanimously. - Tompkins County Fire Advisory Board - Deputy Chief Dorman reported the group discussed consolidation and upgrade of the County 911 center - fire and police in one location. The County is talking about "where" and "when" -not "if" - all are working hard wading through the political processes. Chair Romanowski asked Chief Wilbur about current, past and future operations of the dispatching center. The Chief reported that the 911 committee has been visiting other 911 centers and find that training and supervision are the key factors in the success of the centers. VIII. Department Report (Chief, Deputy Chief,Volunteer Coordinator and Training): Chief Wilbur highlight his report- (See also written report in Minute Book): LIFE SAFETY DIVISION Administration - Mutual Aid Reimbursements -Chief will be sending a letter to FEMA regarding discrepancy in our reimbursement as well as requests of the communities involved to file a claim for further reimbursement. - New Hire - Dean Hathaway, who will replace FF George Garrett, will begin work on May 17, 1999. - Town MOU relating to new firefighters has been executed. Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners May 11, 1999-Minutes Page 3 -Career Personnel Report-see report from DC Dorman. -Capital Projects- see report from DC Dorman -IC Paying for Fire Protection-report later in the meeting from Comm. Yahn. -Contract Negotiations -Chief Wilbur reported that contracts for the volunteer companies,Ithaca Paid Fire Fighter's Local 737, and the City/Town of Ithaca Contract are all due to negotiate. - Station 7-See Chief Wilbur's description of space needs in his attached report; - Strategic Planning Committee- long range planning -Y2K Compliance Fire Prevention Bureau -Rabinor Decision-a bill to remedy situation being drafted by City Attorney's Office which will be sponsored by Assemblyman Luster and Senator Seward. -Other Local Code Initiates - may begin as early as next month. -Fire Investigation Unit-see monthly report from AC Wheaton. -Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Unit- monthly reports will begin next month. - Public Education Program-monthly reports will begin next month. - Fire Investigation Unit- an arson task force is being developed. - Master Box Fees- still in process. Safety -OSHA Physicals- Safety Committee working on this. -NYS Department of Labor Safety Grant-no news. - Safety Committee -no report this month. OPERATIONS DIVISION Response - Trench Rescue Project- trailer is acquired, outfitted and currently stored behind Central Fire Station- no room to store at Central permanently - only here during period of Lake Source Cooling Project. -Monthly Call Report- DC Dorman reported an unusual statistic - no structure fires reported in the month of April. -City Disaster Management Plan -next review will be May 17, 1999 - discussion of moving horns and changing use to alert the community of a disaster - no longer need to alert fire fighters due to paging system. Support - See attached report from DC Dorman. DC Dorman also reported the LTI Tower Ladder has been accepted - will be totally in service by June 1st - shift training is in progress. - Steamer Project-continues - SCBA Replacement Project- no news - DC Dorman reported that as of June 1st - paging tones will be as follows: 1st , Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners May 11, 1999 -Minutes Page 4 alarm-all station tones and officer tones;2nd alarm-career and volunteer call. A memo will go out to all volunteers, and volunteers can exchange their pagers through DC Dorman. -Eagles' Club donation of$19,000 to purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras - Bill Diamond,President. Donation solicited by Lt. Thomas Deis. Training -See monthly report from DC Dorman - Public Safety Incident Management Program-a session was completed on April 30-May 1, 1999 -additional sessions planned for the Fall. VOLUNTEER SERVICES DIVISION Membership Unit - See report from Vol. Coord. Lynch. VC Lynch reported there is little change in the#'s -only of those being trained. Bunker Program status - looks good for bunkers-about 20 total. Service Duty Unit - See report from Vol. Coord. Lynch. VC Lynch also reported that 2 members of the IVFU have committed to work on a volunteer recruitment campaign. - She also reported that 1998 Volunteer Incentive Awards have been completed - and thanked everyone for all their hard work. IX. Old Business: - Proposal for furniture acquisition (for stations) through Operating Budget - Comm. Baker made a proposal that the volunteer companies no longer purchase furniture for the stations - eg. couches, etc. After a lengthy discussion, the item will be held over to the next meeting to clarify the wording of the proposal. Some items discussed were: each volunteer company needs to inventory the items in stations that currently belong to them and submit for reference; Chief Wilbur indicated that includingfunds in the operating budget does not guarantee their purchase (as with anything else included in the budget); and Chief Wilbur also indicated that this may have an impact on City contract monies in the budget process; furniture and fixtures would be replaced on an as-needed basis and would be owned by the City of Ithaca (Fire Department). Further clarification needs to be considered for items that truly are the personal property of the companies eg. desks, etc. used for company-only business - this proposal is not intended to include those type of items - only items used by all department members. - 1998 Volunteer Incentive Awards - Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the 1998 Volunteer Incentive Awards as submitted by Vol. Coord. Lynch (for a total Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners May 11,1999-Minutes Page 5 of$4,000). Seconded by Comm. Yahn. Carried unanimously. Also, Comm. Yahn made a motion that the IVFU, on behalf of the Volunteer Services Division,be asked to submit to the BFC no later than its July meeting, a proposed plan for allocating remaining funds in the 435 account designated for retention of volunteer personnel. Seconded by Comm. Alexander. Carried unanimously. -Comm. Alexander reported the 1998 Commissioner's Award was been ordered from a City of Ithaca west end business and that the award will be presented at the June 2nd meeting of Common Council. -Comm. Yahn reported that efforts by the Board to have the Fire Chief and a Board member included in discussions between the Mayor, Town of Ithaca, and Ithaca College were successful. The meeting with Peggy Williams, President of Ithaca College,was positive and the group came away with a promise that she would bring the matter up with the Board of Trustees. As it is fairly certain the Board of Trustees would be meeting soon, the Board directed the Fire Chief to write a letter addressing the Board with the City's (and Town's) position on the importance of IC making a financial contribution. (NOTE: After careful consideration of political ramifications, this directive was later rescinded.) X. New Business: - An inquiry from Snowfighting Equipment and Consultants of Buffalo, Inc. regarding the pumper bid was noted. - 2% Funds -continue receiving requests using the current form. The Board asked to have a notice put in the IVFU reminding all of the procedure for requesting 2% funds. XI. Executive Session- not needed. XII. The meeting adjourned at 2000 hrs. Respectfully submitted, Christine M. Wilbur, Clerk (Minutes to be distributed at the 06/08/99 meeting) . 1