Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1992-11-10 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS NOVEMBER 10, 1992 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Bargher, Begg, Grinnell, Hamilton ABSENT: Commissioner Baker 1. Commissiongr Begg called the meeting to order at 1905 hours. 2 . Additions/deletions to agenda: - Delete discussion of item 3D (Improvements of the bunker program (Rough Draft) by IFD Bunkers) . 3 . Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioner/Correspondence to the Board: - Joe Daley discussed the proposed resolution for modification in Fire Department staffing which was passed by Common Council at the meeting on November 4 , 1992 . - Mayor Nichols stressed the fact that Common Council does support the Fire Department, but he also urges the board to seriously consider changes in staffing levels for the Fire Department. Included in this would be investigating ways to more effectively utilize volunteers. - Shirley Raffensperger, Town Supervisor, expressed her concern that any changes do not diminish the Fire Departments service to the Town, any such action may affect the Town and City Contract. She is specifically concerned for the volunteers and their ability to obtain proper training without filling the Municipal Training Officer position. The town asks for restoration of the Municipal .Training Officer position. - Dave Cornelius, former Commissioner, expressed his concern that the city is reneging on commitments formerly made as part of the Town and City Contract, and that this situation is affecting the volunteers. - Jim Mayer, Chairman of the Company Captains, expressed concern that although the proposals wording was changed before it was passed, the intent remained the sae ,e. He also stated that greater than expected overtime expenditure for 1992 is a clear result of having several unfilled vacancies in the department. He feels that the volunteers in the department were treated unfairly by Common Council. - Dave Burbanks, President of Ithaca Paid Fire Fighters Association, discussed many ways in which the proposal seems too simplistic: Although there are 4 vehicles BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONER Minutes of 11/10/92 Page 2 dispatched to an alarm, there may only be a staff of 6 for the initial attack; there is no way to immediately assess the urgency of an EMS call before arriving on the scene, therefore it would be difficult to try to cut down the number of people responding to EMS calls; widely accepted staffing levels would indicate that a staff of as many as 96 fire fighters would be needed to adequately handle the departments service area. - Volunteer Fire Fighter, Ernie Jackson, urged that the proper training for active volunteers be kept up to date, and the funding for the training be preserved in order to keep volunteers active in the department. - The board acknowledged the receipt of the memo from the bunkers Company #9, responding to the Common Councils resolution. 4. After discussion of the minutes, it was moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton that the minutes from the October 13, 1992 meeting be approved with the corrections as listed below. Carried unanimously. Item 6 - The following people should have been listed as terminated due to failure to complete New Member Training within the first year: Company 1 - Jeffrey Nelson Company 5 - Savino Ferrara Company 9 - Sergai DeLaMora Jeffrey Gettleman Jamie Gottlieb Andrew Isidore Iris Saxer Keith Seto Braden Roach was left out of the list for Company 6 - Honorable discharge. Item 14 - The statement "seconded by Commissioner Clayton", should have said, "seconded by Commissioner Hamilton" . 5. Moved by Commissioner Bargher, seconded by Commissioner Grinnell that the audit in the amount of $ 7, 097. 00 be approved. Carried unanimously. 6. Membership changes: Moved by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Bargher the following applications for volunteer membership be approved. Carried unanimously. BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS Minutes of 11/10/92 Page 3 Company 5 - Jared Forth Matthew Keilty Company 6 - Brian Breen The board acknowledged the death of Dom Amici, Company 5. 7 . No report 8 . Chiefs Reports: - Monthly reports: p re sentE,d - Other: - Chief Olmstead also distributed a shortened version of Mayor Nichols budget; the budget reflects no increases. 9 . Other: - Commissioner Hamilton asked if anyone had found out who the Common Council liaison currently is. Commissioner Begg had not yet found out, and Mayor Nichols also did not know the current liaison. - Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton that the board have a special meeting with representatives from the union, administrative staff, volunteer, Common Council, and the town to discuss the proposal and possible solutions to the problems. Carried unanimously. - The board acknowledged a rescue squad donation from Richard Cacciotti in the amount of $25. 00. 10. Executive Session - none 11. At 2009 hours, it was moved by Commissioner Grinnell, seconded by Commissioner Bargher and carried unanimously that the meeting be adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Lyman E. Baker Chairman /glp r 4 `