HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1996-02-13 ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
FEBRUARY 13, 1996
MINUTES
PRESENT: Commissioners Jennings, Baker, Nelson, Yahn and
Romanowski; Common Council Liaison Pam Mackesey
1 . Chairperson Jennings called the meeting to order at 1800 hrs .
2 . Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the minutes of the
December 12, 1995 meeting as written. Seconded by Comm.
Nelson. Carried unanimously.
3 . Additions/Deletions to the Agenda - none.
4 . Persons wishing to speak to Board of Fire Commissioners -
none.
5. Correspondence:
- Comm. Baker provided information from old Board minutes and
a copy of the section of the City Charter that outlines use of
2% monies and Board responsibilities for that fund;
- Comm. Baker also provided information regarding some history
of requests for more training;
- January 23, 1996 thank you note along with a donation of
$125 . 00 from Michael Kobre for assistance with water in his
basement;
- Receipt of memo dated January 17, 1996 regarding FEMA/USFA
funding in danger;
- Copy of memo from Lt. Schnurle to Chief Wilbur commending
the dedication and performance of Volunteer Firefighter/Bunker
Jim Crandall;
- Memo from Board Clerk outlining dates of Board meetings for
the rest of the year;
- Copy of Governor Pataki letter upon submittal of Ithaca Fire
Department Americorp application to the Corporation for
National Service;
- Copy of letter from Deputy Chief J. Thomas Dorman to
Department of Motor Vehicles regarding Commercial Drivers'
Licenses;
- Memo from Chief Wilbur to Lt. Tier regarding 1996 Protective
Gear Program;
- Copy of letter from Deputy Chief Dorman to Richard Saulsubry
regarding problems associated with Aerial 939 .
6 . Report from the Tompkins County Fire Advisory Board - no
report.
7 . Membership Changes : Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the
following new members to be added to Company #9 :
- John Hall
Board of Fire Commissioners 2
02/13/96
- Allen Baell
- Thomas Kucera
Comm. Romanowski seconded the motion. Carried unanimously.
8 . Committee Reports :
- Comm. Baker made a motion to approve the audit dated
02/13/96 in the amount of $11,260. 88 . Seconded by Comm.
Nelson. Carried unanimously.
9 . Chief's Report: (See copy of written report attached to these
minutes) -
In addition to the Chief's elaboration of his written report,
the following was also reported:
- Deputy Chief Dorman reported that new 939 was conditionally
accepted today - evaluation will continue on the steering -
early reports are good. There will be final report made when
all is said and done.
- Volunteer Coordinator Lynch reported that bunker recruitment
has begun - Cornell University Housing Fair last week - she
spoke to 12 people; Station 5 and 9 bunkers distributed bunker
recruitment posters to C.U. and I .C. - early inquiries look
positive. V.C. Lynch and A.C. Wheaton have met and feel
certain there will be enough people for a new member training
class this Spring.
- Chief Wilbur reported that he has a C.U. Intern - Ernesto
Acosta (who is also a probationary member of Co. 9) , who will
be putting together an analysis of how the fire department is
organized in relationship to the City of Ithaca and how thiE
organization and relationship compares to other cities .
Chairperson Jennings commended the Chief on the format of his
reports and would like to see this continue.
10 . Old Business :
- Comm. Romanowski made a motion to approve payment from the
donation account, the following bills that are all related to
providing refreshments during flooding incidents on January 19
and 20, 1996 :
$ 23.78 - Reimbursement to C Shift
$ 23 . 10 - Top's
$120. 00 - D.P. Dough
Seconded by Comm. Baker - carried unanimously.
- After a discussion of the draft Volunteer Company/City of
Board of Fire Commissioners 3
02/13/96
Ithaca Contract put together by Chairperson Jennings, Chief
Wilbur and assistance of the City Attorney, Comm. Baker made
a motion to approve the draft as written and that it be sent
to the volunteer companies for their review and return to the
Board by the March 12, 1996 Board meeting. Seconded by Comm.
Nelson. Carried unanimously. Chief Wilbur will write a cover
letter to go to the companies along with the draft contract.
Board members were encouraged to attend the Company Captain's
meeting on February 27, 1996 at 6 :00 P.M. at Central Fire
Station to answer any questions the group may have.
- The Board discussed the memo sent to them by Chairperson
Jennings suggesting ways for the Board to become more involved
with the department. Board members agreed to work in the
following areas :
- Life Safety - Jennings & Nelson
- Volunteer Section - Baker & Jennings
- Operations - Romanowski, Yahn, Jennings
- Comm. Yahn asked Common Council Liaison Pam Mackesey to
continue supporting IFD's needs regarding the parking lot
behind Central Fire Station.
- 1995 Annual Financial Reports of City Contract monies were
received from Co. #1 and Co. #6 . Comm. Baker made a motion
that the Board send a letter to all companies requesting this
information be submitted to the Board by the April meeting.
Seconded by Comm. Nelson - carried unanimously. Vol. Coord.
Lynch will write a draft memo for consideration.
11 . At 1910 hrs . , the Board moved into Executive Session to
discuss a personnel matter.
At 1920 hrs . , the Board resumed open session. Comm.
Romanowski made a motion to affirm Chief Wilbur's action
relating to a volunteer personnel matter. Seconded by Comm.
Nelson. Carried unanimously.
At 1921 hrs . , the Board moved back into Executive Session to
consider a request of a sick and indigent member of Co. #7 .
Due to lack of information, the request will be returned to
Co. #7 for clarification.
12 . At 1925 hrs . , the Board resumed open session - Comm.
Romanowski made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Comm.
Nelson. Carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine M. Wilbur, Clerk
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CITY OF ITHACA
31 0 WEST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TEL (607)272-1234
FIRE CHIEF FAX(607)272-2793
Monthly Report of the Fire Chief to the Board of Fire Commissioners, for the month of
February, 1996.
LIFE SAFETY DIVISION
Administration
1) Work on the RRP is currently moving at a very slow pace. It is unknown when the next
formal report will be ready.
2) Personnel Report, Career:
Hiring Process - three candidates have been offered employment. They are
currently undergoing medical and physical agility examinations to determine their
eligibility for employment.
Staffing Levels - see attached report.
Fire Prevention Bureau
1) We are in preliminary discussions with Cornell Environmental Health and Safety about
coordinating on-campus bonfire permits so that Health and Safety has sign-off authority
on small (2' X 2' max.) fires.
Safety
OPERATIONS DIVISION
Response
1) See attached reports with details of selected calls and the monthly response report.
Support
1) New aerial 939 arrived back in town today. Deputy Chief Dorman will provide a verbal
report.
Training
1) See attached reports for January 1996 training summaries.
2) We are continually challenged to find ways to provide high quality training within the
resources allocated to us.
3) Some Cause and Origin Unit members will be accorded in-service training hours for
participating in the annual Trial Advocacy Course at the CU Law School.
Fire Chief's Report for February 1996 page 2
4) A preliminary report from Assistant Chief Lee LaBuff indicates that the IFD Training
Center will be open for full use by other departments around October 12, 1996. See
attached schedule.
VOLUNTEER SERVICES DIVISION
Membership Unit
1) Executive Session required to discuss a volunteer personnel action.
2) The Americorps application was forwarded to Washington; see attached copy of cover
letter.
3) Two additional meetings of the Membership Review Committee (MRC) have been
scheduled before the end of the month to accommodate the number of interested
applicants.
4) Volunteer and Bunker Staffing Levels report: Coordinator Marcia Lynch will provide a
verbal report.
Service/Duty Unit
1) Propose residential intern criteria for 1996:
a) No stipend available, other than a room to stay in.
b) Must be an active fire fighter at home or at school.
c) Must have current OSHA physical.
d) May require an on-campus interview.
e) Will be assigned duty and specific tasks, not necessarily a project.
f) Juniors or seniors preferred.
g) A fire investigation major will be sought for specific work with the C&O Unit.
2) Two of our bunkers are taking advantage of parking privileges in the Dryden Road
parking garage.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian H. Wilbur
Fire Chief
attachments
ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT February 13 , 1996
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REPORT
FEBRUARY 1996
PERSONNEL STAFFING LEVELS
1 Chief
1 Deputy Chief
5 Assistant Chiefs
8 Lieutenants
44 Fire Fighters
59 Total on Duty Personnel
3 Fire Fighters on Disability Leave
1 Fire Fighter on Medical Leave
3 Recruit Fire Fighters beginning employment on February 19 ,
1996 (will replace 2 Fire Fighters retiring 2/28/96 and 1 Fire
Fighter on Medical Leave) .
1 Fire Alarm Superintendent
1 Volunteer Coordinator
1 Administrative Secretary
1 Account Clerk Typist
Total employees as of 2/13/96 - 67 (Recruits on included)
JANUARY INCIDENT (CALL) SUMMARY - as reported by Tompkins County
Fire Control
11 Structure Fires
4 Vehicle Fires
70 Emergency Medical
57 Hazardous Condition
1 Potential Vehicle Accident
39 Service Call
7 Fire Alarm Activation - Malicious
68 Fire Alarm Activation - System Malfunction
76 Fire Alarm Activation - Unintentional
333 - Total Calls
MUTUAL AID CALLS - ( included in totals listed above)
Mutual Aid given to Cayuga Heights, Danby, Trumansburg, Cincinnatus
ITHACA FIRE DEPARTMENT February 13, 1996
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REPORT
FEBRUARY 1996
SELECTED CALLS
103 JUNIPER DRIVE - Chimney fire that extended to first and second
floors
409 DRYDEN ROAD - Fire in walls of attic caused by touch being used
to melt ice
274 HAYTS ROAD - Fire under porch caused by discarded ashes blowing
back under the structure
Note: Many of the Fire Department responses during the flooding
are not recorded due to a computer process . The responses will be
recorded in the future.
submitted by: J. Thomas Dorman, Deputy Chief
JAN 1996 COM REPORT
TRAINING/DATE HOURS TRAIN #OF PERSONS PER.X HOURS
0
C&O TRAINING/1/3/96 3 4 12
•
RESOURCE ALLOCATION/1/4/96 1 .5 1 3 1 9.5
FBI BOMBS/1/4/96 2; 13 26
FBI BOMBS/1/5/96 2: 11 22
ICE RESCUE/1/7/96 1 .5 1 4 21
FBI BOMBS/1/8/96 2.5' 15 37.5
ICE RESCUE/1/13/96 2.5 13 32.5
OVERVIEW OF BOATS/1/18/96 1 9 9
909 OPERATIONS DRILL/1/22/96 1 8 8
IFD ORGANIZATION/1/23/96 3 8 24
CLASS A FOAM/1/24/96 1 1 1
C&O TRAI I NG/1/25/96 1 .5 5 7.5
HURST TOOL OPERATION/1/25/96 2 9 1 8
DRIVER TRAINING/1/21/96 2 1 2
909/CLASS A OPERATION 1 ! 8 8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TOTALS 2 7.5 1 32 248
Page 1
FC REPORT MONTHLY 1996
MONTH HOURS TRAIN !#OF PERSONS PER.X HOURS
JANUARY
27.5 132' 238
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER i
DECEMBER
TOTALS FOR YEAR 27.5; 1 32 _ 238
Page 1
Ithaca Fire Department
Fire Training Center Development Plan
1996
April 1 - May 15 A. Purchase lighting fixtures and wire for future installation per Srnka
advice. B. Install portable toilet on a rental basis at training site for use from
periods of 4/1/96 - 11/30/96
C. Install large dumpster on a rental basis to be kept on site from period
of 4/1/96 - 11/30/96. Dumpster will be emptied as needed.
D. Acquire contractor estimates to install steel windows throughout training
tower to allow for controlled ventilation during fire/smoke evolutions.
E. Replace Training Center sign. This will be done by DPW sign shop or
commercial business.
F. Install "No Dumping " signs along fence line to prevent unnecessary
dumping.
G. Thoroughly clean training building and site to prepare for upcoming a
activities.
May 15 - June 15 A. Install lighting on site as planned. A.S. Srnka will assist project.
B. Draw plans for storage building.
C. Break ground and set poles for storage building.
June 15 - July 1 A. Complete construction of storage building.
B. Stock and equip storage building with necessary items to carry out
training evolutions.
C. Draw plans for ventilation platform.
D. Draw plans for extrication pad
E. Break ground and set poles for ventilation platform.
F. Install concrete forms for concrete slab for extrication platform.
July 1 - July 15 A. Complete construction of ventilation platform.
B. Complete construction of extrication platform.
C. Draw plans for rope rescue/ high rise training tower
D. Break ground and set poles for rope rescue/ high rise tower
July 15 - Sept. 1 A. Complete rope rescue/ high rise tower.
B. Draw plans for drafting site.
Sept 1 - October 1 A. Complete construction of drafting site.
Oct.1 - Oct 10 A. Evaluation of entire project.
B. Establish policies and procedures for use by various organizations,
which will include a user fee.
October 12 Training Center will be open for use !!