BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, :30 P.M. GUILFORD FIRE HEADQUARTERS

Transcription

1 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, :30 P.M. GUILFORD FIRE HEADQUARTERS Present: Commissioners: William Dwyer, Barbara Hemming, Chairman Joseph Travaglino, Ken Wilson Dep t. Members: Chief Herrschaft, Assistant Chief Wayne Vetre, Commissioner Leete was attending a funeral and could not be present at the meeting. Chairman Travaglino called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. 1. Public Forum 2. Approve minutes of: 2.1 Approve minutes of the September 7, 2010 regular meeting Mr. Wilson noted that Item 4.1 should refer to the transmission on Unit Upon a motion by Ms Hemming, and seconded by Mr.Dwyer, the Commission voted to approve the minutes of the September 7, 2010 regular meeting. Dwyer, Hemming, Travaglino, Wilson 3. Correspondence and Notices

2 4. Departmental Officers and/or Committee Reports: 4.1 Fire Chief/Fire Marshal s Report Calls volume is considerably ahead of last year. The Chief reported that the department is ahead 200 calls from last year at this time. At the recent Department Head meeting, First Selectman Mazza made three major announcements. The first was that there will be a zero increase budget again next year. This includes wages. The Grand List is not growing and the Town is facing $800,000 in bond indebtedness for the East River Preserve. First Selectman Mazza also announced that all major departments will be expected to make a capital outlay presentation in October. There are several major issues facing the Fire Departnment in this regard. There are three ambulances with over 100,000 miles on them, one has over 160,000 miles. The Chief s car also has 130,000 miles on it. Parts are no longer available for several major pieces of apparatus including the tanker in North Guilford, and the air tank on Unit The defibrilators need to be replaced at a cost of $25,000 - $30,000 per unit. The Commissioners discussed the department s five year capital plan which will be reviewed in anticipation of the presentation. In response to a question from Mr. Wilson, the Chief stated that Commissioners were also invited to attend. Department Heads were also requested to attend the Costco public hearings which begin in November. The Chief stated that he does not expect Costco to have a major impact on the Fire Department. He has consulted with his peers in towns with big box retailers and they have not seen major impacts on their departments outside of the every day operation issues (keys locked in a car, for example). No staff increases are anticipated if Costco does build a store on the rockpile. There were three fatalities last month as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Two of the fatalities were the result of a MVA on Route 80 which involved a major extrication. The other was a motorcycle accident on Route 77 near Bluff Head. There were a couple of structure fires and the department has responded to several Carbon Monoxide calls. The new hire is on board and has started working. He will be sworn in tonight along with the other new department members.

3 4.2 Assistant Fire Chief Report Activity Report(s) Assistant Chief Vetre distributed the Activity Reports. There were 305 calls last month. The pattern of back to back calls continues. A ladder truck had to respond to a medical call. The department is 200 calls ahead of last year. 5. Monthly Business: 5.1 Status of FY Budget The budget is at 13.3% and should be at 16.6%. The Chief continues to closely monitor the salaries accounts due to the SAFER grant and the replacement of the department member who has been deployed. The Finance Department has been consulted, but has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the grant funds. The Assistant Chief will be submitting another grant request. They continually ask for the number of employees and social security numbers. Overall the budget is in good shape, overages are due to encumberances. Mr. Wilson provided the Commission with an updated revenue report. The department had a phenomenal month. As of September 30, 2010 the department collected $125,598, or 14.8% of projected revenues. The Billing Coordinator billed out 168 ambulance bills in August. This was the biggest month the department has ever had. The Commission discussed additional hours for the Billing Coordinator to get caught up. Eventually more adminstrative personnel hours will be needed to keep up with the workload. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Wilson for providing them with the updated revenue report each month. 5.2 Consider and take action on monthly Department Expenditures Expenditures for the month totaled $47, Notable expenses included Class A uniforms, tires for the rescue truck and engine, and a scuba diver course for five members of the department. The department had to make an emergency pump out call to deal with a septic problem. The Purchasing department recently went out to bid for septic services, and the Chief is not certain who instructed A&W Sanitation not to perform the regularly scheduled pump out for September without advising the department.

4 Upon a motion by Ms. Hemming, and seconded by Mr. Dwyer, the Commission voted to approve the monthly expenditures of $47, Dwyer, Hemming, Travaglino, and Wilson 6. Old Business: 7. New Business There will be a heavy resuce class this weekend. The Commissioners are invited to attend. Class will be at Fire Headquarters on Friday and at the Guilford Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday. 8. Any other business to properly come before the Fire Commission Mr. Wilson asked for the Commission s support for his drafting a letter recognizing the Chief and Assistant Chief for their hard work. This letter has been done in the past two years and he offered to compose the letter again this year. Upon a motion by Ms Hemming,a nd secnded by Mr Dwyer, the Commission authorized Mr. Wilson to draft letters of commendation to the Chief and Assistant Chief on behalf of the Commission. Dwyer, Hemming, Leete, Travaglino, and Wilson 9. Public Forum Upon a motion by Mr. Dwyer, and seconded by Mr. Wilson, the Commission voted to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Dwyer, Hemming, Travaglino, and Wilson

5 The meeting was followed by the Swearing-In Ceremnony which began at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Karen Quercia, Clerk