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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1995-04-11 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS April 11, 1995 Minutes Present: Commissioners Baker, Jennings, Ch., Romanowski Chairman Jennings called the meeting to order at 1907 hours. 1. Minutes: not read 2. Persons wishing to speak to the Board: none 3. Correspondence: read in each committee 4. Tompkins County Fire Advisory Board Report was done Chief Wilbur. The dominate topic discussed was EMS. Tompkins County's relationship with the Regional Medical Council in Syracuse and 911 were mentioned. There will be a change in the way EMS is funded because of the statewide budget cuts. Most of the money for EMS training supplies, such as dummies and other equipment, will not be funded anymore. The decision hinges on the State Budget. The original target date for the completion of the 911 system was July 1, 1995. The completion of the system will probably be delayed until the Fall. 5. Membership Changes: The Board received a letter of resignation from Betty Joseph of Company 3. Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker to accept the resignation. Regrettably approved unanimously 6. Committee Reports: Budget and Finance - 1. The Board of Fire.Commissioners voted on several resolutions that were presented to the Board at their committee meetings on April 4, 1995 by Deputy Chief Dorman and discussed in committee: • Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker to approve a resolution accepting a bid from L.W. ills or the replacement of the Fire resolution accepting bid from 11 Bills Co.Ltl for the replacement IVLr Lri 11'lIIL LII the Fire L Alarm Console. • Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker to approve a resolution accepting a bid from Jerome Fire Equipment Co. for a SCBA Mr Compressor. • Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker to approve a resolution declaring Ladder 939 surplus and consigning it to the Kemper Insurance Co. for $14, 250. Ladder 939 is not the property of the Ithaca Fire Department anymore. It was driven out of town. • Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker to approve a resolution requesting that the Ithaca Common Council appropriate $37,650 for the purchase and outfitting of a 1972 Seagrove 100' aerial from the Village of Herkimer. 2. Comm. Baker told the Board that the audit the Budget & Finance committee requested was completed by the Controller's Office. Chairman Jennings stated that the Board was advised by the Controller's Office that there had not been an audit performed since the resignation and replacement of two members of the Board. The opinion from the City Attorney's Office was that the Board should have the audits done periodically. Buildings and Equipment - 1. A resolution that asks the Board of Fire Commissioners to recommend that the Ithaca Corririon Council adopt a replacement schedule for apparatus that is illustrated in a graph was tabled. The replacement schedule was tabled upon the request of Deputy Chief Dorman, who originally presented the resolution. 2. Deputy Chief Dorman said that the exhaust extraction system will start working on April 21, 1995. Personnel and Training - 1. Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker that the Board accept the Volunteer incentive System presented to the Board by the Captain's Group. Approved unanimously. 2. Chief Wilbur presented a resolution to the Board which recommended nominees as initial appointments for the Board to appoint to the Department's Membership Review Committee for volunteer personnel. He nominated George Apgar II, Earl Evans, James Joseph, Greg Stevenson, .toe Bargher, Mike Hagin, and Tom Deis. This permanent Membership Review Committee provides information about volunteers and interviews perspective volunteers. Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Sak.er to accept the nominations for the Permanent Review Committee. Fire Prevention - Comm. Romanowski asked Chief Wilbur can the Department do more carbon monoxide poisoning awareness and prevention. Chief Wilbur responded that the Department is already doing in-service training, but they can do more community outreach. 7. Chief's Report: A. Chapter 151 Ordinance - Chief Wilbur and Deputy Chief Wilbur are working on changes to the Chapter 181 ordinance. They talked with Assistant City Attorney Pat Kennedy about stating that people have to leave when a fire alarm is sounded in an ordinance. They are asking her what direction to go in to achieve the power to legally make occupants evacuate. They will meet with her again at the end of the month on this issue. There was a discussion about the powers of the "obstructing government administration" law. Chief Wilbur clarified some of the problems the Department is having in forcing people to leave, especially serving a large college community. As it stands now, unless a police officer is present and giving instructions for people to leave, the Fire Department cannot charge people with "obstructing government administration." A fraternity party where 500+ people would not leave was the final catalyst for immediate action on this issue. At this time, the Department is charging the caterer, the sorority having the party, and the fraternity that owns the building as a response to the incident.. B. Minority Recruitment Task Force - The Minority Recruitment Task Force meets again tonight after this meeting. The deadline is April 26, 1995 for the exam. The Task Force is putting a push in the print media. They have advertisements in The Ithaca Journal and The Ithaca T irries Opportunities have been arranged at GIAC and Southside Community Center for firefighters to visit and talk to perspective applicants. Also, a test preparation program is being established to relay what is expected on a fire exam. C..Town of Ithaca - Chief I,/ilbur said that the Department sold the Town of Ithaca a lockbox. The Town agreed to adopt a lockbox ordinance. They also agreed to adopt a requirement that houses be numbered. The Town is not tampering with the Sprinkler Ordinance. Chief Wilbur noted that the Town Board will not change its mind on Ithaca College concerning the Sprinkler Ordinance. D. City Charter - Chief Wilbur and Deputy Chief Dorman are setting up another scoping session with Pat Kennedy to look at the City Charter regarding the Fire Department. Looking at the Charter, they plan to review, modify, or make deletions to make the Charter more appropriate to the current Department. E. Chief Wilbur noted that the Company Captains switched their meeting night to the third Tuesday of the month. F. Chief Wilbur presented Chris O'Connor with a certificate stating that as of March 23, 1995 he met all the promotional requirements of the State of New York for a Certified Officer, Level 2. G. Vehicle 944 is back in service. There are no reserve vehicles at this time. By the end of April or the beginning of May, the new vehicle should have arrived. 8. Old Business: • Comm. Baker announced that in October of 1994 the Board proposed that the way City money is spent by Companies be changed. in November of 1994 their was a big response to a change in the system. The proposal was defeated, but the Board asked Company members to give their input on how the City money should be spent. There has been little response to this issue. Comm. Baker proclaimed that as of-now, the Ad Hoc Task Force on the use of City money and Company funds, which he headed, will be dissolved. Moved by Comm. Baker, seconded by Comm. Romanowski to ask the Company Captains to explore this issue, propose guidelines, or a new direction for the use of the City money by Companies. Approved unanimously. In the mean time, Chief Wilbur will be researching and looking fora contract that stipulates spending guidelines as an example. • Comm. Romanowski attended the Hospital Board meeting which had a presentation on managed-care. 9. Executive Session was held at 1950 regarding a personnel matter. 10. Moved by Comm. Romanowski, seconded by Comm. Baker to adjourn the meeting at 2000 hours. Approved unanimously. 11. The audit from the City of Ithaca Controller's Office was reviewed. The total amount of the audit was $6,790.73 from the operating budget.