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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1992-04-14 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS APRIL 14, 1992 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Baker, Cornelius, Mayer, Neigh ABSENT: Commissioner Begg 1 . Chairman Baker called the meeting to order at 1905 hours. • 2 . Additions/deletions to the agenda: - Chairman Baker asked that Item #7 be considered out of order, as Item #3A. Commissioner Cornelius asked that a report from Co. 7 also be submitted at that time 3 . Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners: - None 3A. ( Item 12) Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Mayer that 1991 annual reports submitted by Companies 4, 5, 7 and 9 be accepted and that $2,000 in City funds be appropriated to each company which has submitted the required annual report. Carried unanimously. 4 . Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the minutes of the regular meeting of March 10 and the special meeting of March 26, 1992 be approved as written. Carried unanimously. 5 . Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the audit dated April 14, 1992 in the amount of $31,447 .55 be approved. Carried unanimously. 6 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer that Andrew Palmeri be approved as a member of Co. 5 . Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the resignation of John Havens from Co. 5 be accepted. Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the membership of John Hunter (Co. 1) be terminated for failure to complete New Member Training within the first year of membership, and that Mr. Hunter be directed to return all IFD property within his possession, appropriate legal action taken, as necessary. Carried unanimously. 7 . The board received a letter confirming Co. 5 's support of FF Chris Katz 's request for reimbursement in the amount of $621 . 95 for replacement of items stolen the night of the Cayuga Street fire, 1/6/92 . FF Katz also submitted copies of the police report filed and verification that personal insurance will not cover the loss . Commissioners noted that Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 4/14/92 Page 2 this was by far the largest request of its type the board has received. After discussion it was moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the loss be reimbursed at roughly 50%, in the amount of $325 . 00, from the donation fund. Approved 3-1 (Comm. Neigh opposed) . 8. Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Neigh that a $15 . 00 donation from the Bridge Club of Ithaca be accepted, and that a letter of thanks be sent. Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that a donation in memory of Harry Jordan to the Rescue Squad Donation Fund from the Controller's Office staff at Cornell University be accepted, and that a letter of thanks be sent. Carried unanimously. 9 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Mayer that 1992 dues to the Central New York Firemen' s Association in the amount of $8 . 00 be paid out of the appropriate line item or the donation fund. Carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the board ask Comm. Neigh to serve as its delegate to the 1992 Association convention, with the understanding that the board cannot support his attendance financially. Carried unanimously. 10. Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the City Chamberlain be directed to distribute equally to the eight volunteer fire companies interest earned on 2% money for the year 1991, less 1991 payments to sick and indigent fire fighters, leaving $90,000 plus interest earned in 1992, less 1992 payments to sick and indigent. Carried unanimously. 11. The following resolution was moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Mayer: "Resolved, that the Board of Fire Commissioners authorizes the establishment of a credit card account through the Tompkins County Trust Company, and Be in further resolved, that the Fire Chief is authorized to execute the necessary agreements with the Tompkins County Trust Company, and Be it further resolved, that the Fire Chief shall establish the authorized signatures for the account, and Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 4/14/92 Page 3 Be it further resolved, that only authorized expenditures that are approved by the Fire Chief may be charged to such account. " The credit account is designed to relieve occasional problems in payment for certain goods and services through City purchase orders and those caused by delays in reibursement by the City for travel expenses billed on personal credit cards . DC Wilbur noted that gasoline credit cards are already in use. Carried by a vote of 3-0-1 (Comm. Cornelius abstaining) . The board also asked that the Chief file with the board the procedures whereby the credit account can be used. 13 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Neigh that a request for use of the South Hill Station ready room for eight sessions between 4/20 and 4/30/92 for first aid/CPR classes for Ithaca College patrol officers be denied, due to conflicts with "Ithaca's Volunteer Fire Fighter Week" recruitment open houses. Carried unanimously. 14 . Moved by Commissioner Cornelius, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the draft form entitled "Request for Funds from the 2% Relief Fund" be adopted immediately, replacing the old "Application for Relief" form. Carried unanimously. 15 . The board discussed a similar draft for use in documenting requests from the Donation Fund. It was suggested that any such form should be based upon guidelines for allocation of such funding. Chairman Baker appointed Commissioners Mayer and Cornelius to consult on the matter and report to the board at the May meeting. 16 . Following research on account options for the Donation Fund, Commissioner Cornelius recommended that the current checking and savings accounts be consolidated into one interest- bearing money market checking account. These accounts earn interest rates comparable to certificates-of-deposit and will avoid the $5 . 00 monthly service charges instituted by Citizens Savings Bank, as of 4/1/92 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the accounts be consolidated into an interest-bearing money market checking account, preferably at the Tompkins County Trust Company, where the Rescue Squad Donation Fund is already held. Carried by a vote of 3-0-1 (Commissioner Cornelius abstaining) . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 4/14/92 Page 4 Chairman Baker be authorized to execute the account modifications . Carried by a vote of 3-0-1 (Commissioner Cornelius abstaining) . 17 . Volunteer Coordinator Lynch reported on plans for "Ithaca's Volunteer Fire Fighter Week, " an intensive, week-long recruitment campaign for new volunteer members . Open houses will be held the evenings of Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1 (6-9PM each night) , and on Saturday, May 2 ( 10AM-4PM) . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the board support "Ithaca's Volunteer Fire Fighter Week" and to request that the mayor and town supervisor join in proclaiming same. Carried unanimously. 18 . VC Lynch reported that, in view of a continued lack of information on the availability of binders for the Volunteer Handbook through state contract, some volunteer companies have offered to purchase three-ring binders for their members . This approach will save money on the project. Based on Lynch's recommendation, it was moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the handbook be bound by ACCO clips and distributed in that manner, as needed. Carried unanimously. The little remaining work left on the handbook will be completed, as soon as other responsibilities permit. 19 . The board discussed the current staff vacancy situation (anticipated at five fire fighters plus the Municipal Training Officer) , with an eye toward working toward setting some priorities for filling such vacancies to recommend to the City. As a starting point for discussion, Commissioner Mayer informally proposed recommending that the board support retaining sufficient personnel to keep 12 fire fighters per shift and to fill the MTO's position. (He made it clear that this was not meant as a motion. ) After further discussion, it was moved by Comm. Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the board solicit opinions or positions from each individual volunteer company and the union regarding the filling of positions, for use by the board in determining priorities for the department prior to the May meeting of the board. Carried unanimously. 20. (Discussion of these two items combined. ) Commissioner 21 . Neigh reported the Volunteer Company Standards Committee has discussed issues at length, bypassing the issue of a proposed ninth company for now. Commissioner Mayer submitted an open letter to the board regarding his position Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 4/14/92 Page 5 on the proposed changes, saying he fears the idea of changing for the sake of change. Expressing frustration at delay in entry of the training records, Commissioner Cornelius moved and Comm. Mayer seconded that the training reports and volunteer incentive reports for 1991 be made available to the board by the May board meeting. Carried unanimously. Further discussion on these items was tabled to the May meeting. 22 . Chief's Report: - Monthly reports: presented by DC Wilbur in Chief Olmstead's absence. 23 . DC Wilbur proposed initiating a rotating display in the trophy case at Central . Various elements of the department would be invited to sign up and assemble displays promoting their areas . Commissioners were enthusiastic and gave DC Wilbur informal authorization to proceed. Commissioner Neigh expressed concern about the quality of March in-service training, whose final session was delayed at the last minute. There was some discussion about the limited number of announcements that dispatch is willing to run concerning training. DC Wilbur stated that alternate means of communication (such as low-power transmitters) might advisable to investigate. 24 . At 2120 hours, the board moved into executive session to discuss a request from a needy member. At 2122 hours, the board resumed open session, and it was moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the city Chamberlain be authorized and instructed to pay from the Active Firemen' s Relief Fund reimbursement in the amount of $125 . 75 for a needy member of Co. 9 . Carried unanmously. 25 . At 2123 hours, it was moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius and carried unanimously that the meeting be adjourned. Respectfully subinitted,-4 L lh ma a4� Ch rn