2022-03-09 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 9, 2022 Page 3 ✓ HMGP Post Fire Grant: set at $584,000 for post fire recovery. ✓ Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) federal grant: for 6 captain positions and 3 firefighter positions. The grant awards $3.5 million, beginning in February 2022, for 3 years. Human Resources: ✓ New recruit class started February 1, 2022. ✓ They added 3 new positions this year: IT, fire captain in dispatch and an accountant in administration. Looking to restructure Fire, EMS and Ocean Safety. ✓ Chief Todd is looking into creating clerk positions, as they currently only have 1 and Chief Officers are tasked with completing clerical duties. ✓ Dispatch has a shortage issue. They currently have 5 new hires. All Dispatch positions were reclassified from "Fire Radio Dispatcher" to "Fire Communication Officer." Base Salaries for all positions were also increased. Organization chart has been restructured. There's extra pay when temporary assignments are performed, such as for trainers and supervisors. There will also be a Fire Captain assigned to dispatch. Chief Todd feels that they need the best communication center, he believes that good quality care for the public requesting assistance starts in dispatch. ✓ Shortage issues with paramedics. Chief Todd is looking at possibly making changes to the layout and structure, bringing in paramedic recruits. It's in the works and is experimental. Commissioner Paleka brought up a concern about the promotional opportunity for existing personnel that exists in the contract. Chief stated that he doesn't foresee a problem because they do not have enough paramedics and probably won't be able to fill all vacancies. Commissioner Mattos stated that they will most likely lose a lot of personnel coming in as paramedics, as they'll probably cross over to fire. Chief responded that they won't be allowed to cross over, the goal is to attract more applicants and hold paramedics for at least 5 years. Human resources is currently doing the write up. Chief advised that this is still in the works, details need to be addressed, it's an experimental concept, and they need to go through union negotiations. • Highlights: ✓ Chief Moller is currently working on redrafting their policies and procedures that hasn't been updated since 1984. The goal is to have it updated by this summer and have it available online.