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Hawaii Fire Commission <br />Regular Session Minutes <br />April 14, 2021 <br />Page 4 <br />3. Fire Chief's Report <br />Newly appointed Fire Chief Kazuo Todd along with Assistant Chief Darwin Okinaka <br />came before the commission. The commission reviewed the Chief's written report <br />and portions were briefly highlighted: <br />• Budget: AC Okinaka stated that they have a surplus due to reimbursements <br />from Cares Funding. Their Accountant IV Melanio Lorenzo moved to another <br />department. They had their budget hearing with the County Council yesterday. <br />It was a great meeting, and they had good questions. They are public safety, <br />and they want to get the support they need. He doesn't know if the surplus due <br />Cares Funding goes back to the General Fund. <br />• Alternative Funding and Grants: AC Okinaka stated that AC Smith and BC <br />Honda are working on supplementary grants. They submitted an application for <br />the SAFER Grant which is for 6 captains and 3 FF positions. Through the Sayre <br />Foundation, an anonymous donor donated an off-road tanker, and it was <br />delivered to the South Kohala station. They will also be receiving another off- <br />road tanker through an anonymous donor via the Sayre Foundation. <br />• Human Resources Division: AC Okinaka stated that they are looking at WSO <br />summer hires in May and permanent hires in June. WSO III promotion will be <br />made on April 16. Ten WSO candidates successfully completed the PAE on <br />April 6. <br />In response to a question about dispatch positions, Chief Todd stated that <br />Dispatcher IIIs are the supervisors. They need 8 people to staff a normal day. <br />Training takes about a year. There is about 20% retention. Not many people are <br />interested in that salary point. Our dispatchers get $17/hr. Helco dispatchers get <br />paid $24/hr. The dispatcher center is high tech. They spent $30,000 for <br />equipment. It's difficult work, and standards are high. This week is National <br />Tele -communicator's week. <br />• Emergency Operations Division: AC Okinaka reported that two bids have been <br />awarded for rescue watercrafts. The Sayre Foundation said they received <br />funding for two more. They got iPads for Ocean Safety. <br />ANNOUNCEMENTS <br />Chair Luke stated that he would like to add to the next month's agenda: <br />• Review of the March minutes <br />• Election of vice chair <br />• Meetings via Webex <br />• Training on the Sunshine Law, parliamentary procedures, ethics, powers, duties <br />and functions of fire commission <br />