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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BFC-1991-12-10 • BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS DECEMBER 10, 1991 MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners Baker, Begg, Mayer, Neigh (Commissioner Neigh arrived at 1621 hours; Commissioner Begg left the meeting at 1710 hours. ) ABSENT: Commissioner Cornelius 1 . Chairman Baker called the meeting to order at 1612 hours . 2 . Additions/deletions to the agenda: - None 3 . Persons wishing to speak to the Board of Fire Commissioners : - Commissioner Mayer, speaking as Captain of Co. 6, reported the results of company elections for 1992 and added that the company has just purchased a large screen television set for West Hill Station. 4 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the minutes of the special meetings of October 29, November 5, and November 12, and the regular meeting of November 12, 1991 be approved as written. Carried unanimously. 5 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Begg that the audit dated December 10, 1991 in the amount of $30,494 .41 be approved. Carried unanimously. 6 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Cornelius that the resignation of Andrew Barr be approved, as recommended by Co. 6 . Carried unanimously. The board also noted the death of Howard Klinko, Sr. , member of Co. 6 . (Commissioner Neigh arrived at this point in the meeting. ) Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Neigh that the transfer of Michael Antos from Co. 5 to Co. 6 be approved. Carried unanimously. 7 . Moved by Commissioner Mayer, seconded by Comm. Baker that a special meeting of the board be scheduled for December 30, 1991 at 1630 hours to approve the 1991 year-end audit. Carried unanimously. 8 . The board noted receipt of forms to be used for annual reports to the state regarding use of "2%" money. These forms were distributed to the volunteer companies and Ithaca Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association on 11/17/91. • Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 12/10/91 Page 2 9 . Concerning modifications to the "Application for Relief Form, " Commissioner Mayer sought advice on wording that should be used to indicate that these funds are to be used as a "last resort. " It was suggested that research be done and that the wording used be in line with the intent of that used in the charter authorizing the fund's establishment. As part of this discussion, it was also suggested that it would also be beneficial to have an index of all board resolutions that had been passed since 1871. 10 . Commissioner Begg reported she has talked with a representative of the board from the Varna Fire Department concerning its request related to employee parking at Cornell and hopes to have a draft letter ready to present at the January meeting. 11. Volunteer Coordinator Lynch reported the final editing of the Volunteer Handbook is nearly completed, the final draft will be circulated among commissioners, and the handbook will be printed and distributed early in 1992 . 12 . Chief's Report: - Monthly reports : presented. The Chief reported the monthly report on volunteer response was not yet produced, but will be distributed as soon as he completes it. - Henry Ford is now living at Lakeside Nursing Home, Room 236 and would appreciate Christmas cards from department members . - There have been some inquiries from some department members regarding whether the flag would be lowered to half- staff in memorium of those who died in the STAR helicopter crash. The Chief reported department protocol for such action covers only those who die in the line of duty and retirees/former members, but that the action could be taken if the board desired. (Note: Though no action was taken at this meeting, commissioners reached informal consensus and directed staff the next day to lower the flag to half- staff. ) - Copies of contracts have been located, between five of the eight volunteer companies and the City. (Sample copy distributed. ) - Final 1992 budget: distributed. Chief Olmstead also briefed the board on the budget situation and recommended board action, as detailed in the memo attached. Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes of 12/10/91 Page 3 (Note: Commissioner Begg left the meeting during discussion of this item. ) Moved by Commissioner Begg, seconded by Comm. Baker that the bunker recruitment freeze be lifted immediately. After discussion, it was moved by Comm. Mayer, seconded by Comm. Baker that the motion be amended to indicate that the bunker recruitment freeze be lifted, with the understanding that no more than 12 new, previously untrained bunkers may be added to the program in 1992 . Some commissioners questioned whether lifting the bunker and not the volunteer recruitment freeze would indicate a preference for bunkers over volunteer members . The Chief assured that was not the case; timing was the only consideration. Amendment carried unanimously (Comm. Begg absent) . Motion carried unanimously. (Comm. Begg had indicated her support of her motion prior to leaving the meeting. ) 13 . Other: None 14 . At 1724 hours, the board moved into executive session to consider a request from a needy member. The board resumed to open session at 1731 hours . Moved by Commissioner Neigh, seconded by Comm. Mayer that the city Chamberlain be authorized and instructed to pay from the Active Firemen's Relief Fund reimbursement in the amount of $1,887 .28 for a needy member of Co. 7 . Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 1732 hours. Respectfully submitted, Lyman E. Baker Chairman � Qy ITF, �'y 11 CITY OF ITHACA 310 WEST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: 272-1234 FIRE CHIEF CODE 607 MEMORANDUM TO: ,, Board of Fire Commissioners FROM: t / E It/Edward M. Olmstead, Jr. , Fire Chief DATE: ' 10 December 1991 SUBJECT: 1992 Budget Common Council passed the 1992 Budget for the City at their regular meeting on Wednesday, December 4 , with no changes from the B&A Committee recommendation. The details of the budget are as follows: PERSONAL SERVICES Administration salaries ( 105) - the Municipal Training Officer' s position is not funded. Raises for the Chief and Deputy Chiefs will be discussed by Council after the first of the year, with funding to come from Contingency. Staff salaries - two (2) Fire Fighter positions are not funded. Two positions that are held by Fire Fighters who have announced their intention to retire are funded for the full year, but the Vacancy Committee must approve the filling of those positions . Overtime - funded at the same level as the 1991 budget. $14,000 of this amount came from the LOSAP funding ( 1990 & 1991) . EQUIPMENT Other equipment (225) - $6 , 000 is funded for 2 SCBAs and 15 pagers . The entire amount came from LOSAP funding ( 1990 & 1991) . CONTRACTUAL SERVICES The entire 400 line is funded at $390,000, which is 15 . 3% below this year's budget. Obviously, this will make for a very difficult year, more so than anything we have experienced to date. However, the budget is now decided, and we must move forward to make the best use of this money that we can. An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" • Board of Fire Commissioners, 12/10/91 Page 2 All of the 400 accounts are running close to the margin, particularly those that cover utilities and maintenance. There are a few accounts that I believe we need to look at with respect to budget limitations and department need. Clothing (415) - In the 1992 budget, we have a total of $21,500 for protective equipment and $5400 for facepieces . Add to this, $40,000 that has been encumbered this year for protective equipment ( funding form the LOSAP program) . The total funds available ( $61,500) for protective equipment, not including the SCBA appropriation, will purchase approximately 75 sets of gear. Assuming two (2) sets of gear for each active member, that breaks down as follows : Current class of recruits totals 14 people, or 28 sets of turnout gear. This number is necessary whether we issue the gear or put it in reserve (there is virtually no reserve gear left) . Bunker class for Fall of ' 92 will be 12 people, or 24 sets of gear. This leaves of 23 sets of gear, or enough for 12 new members . Contractual Services (435) - Except for the LOSAP funding, this account is funded at the same level as 1991 . These accounts and amounts, coupled with the vacant Training Officer' s position mean that we will have a limited ability to recruit and train new members . As a result, I am recommending the following steps be taken: 1 . Lift the freeze on bunker recruitment. This program provides us with the most active pool of volunteer labor, and we must move quickly in the next 90 days if we are to fill the available spaces . 2 . Continue the freeze on volunteer recruitment until April 1, 1992, with the objective of recruiting 24 new members for the balance of 1992 . Revise the membership process to include the following: A. A prospective member must be able to provide at least 24 months of service to the Ithaca Fire Department, as of the date of the application. In no case, will a member be approved by the Board of Fire Commissioners unless they are able to provide at least 18 months of continuous service. B. All members will be considered as probationary members for 1 year. Failure to complete New Member Board of Fire Commissioners, 12/10/91 Page 3 Training within that year and failure to respond to at least 50 alarms will result in automatic expulsion. C. New members will be issued one ( 1) set of turnout gear. At the successful completion of their probationary period, they may request a second set of gear. This will be issued, if available, but there is no guarantee of the second set of gear. D. Consider the formation of a 9th volunteer fire company, to be comprised of active members only. All new members will be required to join this company and to remain members during their probationary period. They may remain a member of this company as long as they wish, or they may transfer to one of the existing 8 volunteer companies . E. Request of the current 8 companies that they create a membership status of "Social Member", with a prerequisite of membership in the Active Company. "Social Members" would enjoy the benefits of regular company membership, subject to the provisions of the individual company by-laws . This would not violate the dual-membership prohibitions of State Law. 3 . Effective 1/1/92, each Company will receive $750 of funding from the 1992 budget, subject to requirements established by the Board of Fire Commissioners. A second payment of $750 will be distributed, upon receipt of the following: A) - An accounting of 2% funds for 1991. B) - An accounting of expenditures of the $2, 000 distribution of City funds made in 1991. C) - A detailed budget request for funding for 1993, not to exceed $1,500, to be submitted to the Fire Chief not later than May 15, 1992 . 4 . The balance of the Company appropriations of $4,000 will be used for the administration and operation of the "Active Company" . Note that I do not propose to distribute 2% funds to the "Active Company" . 5 . Any current member of the Ithaca Fire Department may elect to transfer to the "Active Company" . In addition, I recommend that we review the use of the volunteer incentives money, particularly that amount set aside for the Recognition Dinner, with the following objectives : 1 . Discontinue the Recognition Banquet. Attendance of those being recognized has diminished considerably. Replace Board of Fire Commissioners, 12/10/91 Page 4 the Recognition Banquet with a "Graduation Ceremony and Dinner" of much smaller size, following the completion of each recruit class . 2 . Issue other training and service recognition awards at the annual Fire Company Banquets. 3 . Initiate an immunization program modeled after the program established through the Union Contracts, with funding to come from this line. We are mandated to provide this benefit for some of our volunteer members, and it makes sense to extend the coverage to all active members, whether they provide health care or not. I would ask that the Board consider acting on this memo at the next regular meeting on January 14, 1992, with the exception of Bunker recruitment, which should be acted on tonight. CC: DC Wilbur DC Dorman VC Lynch Company Captains 1992 Budget File Chrono •