2003-01-08 Fire Commission Minutes

Home

CHIEFÓS REPORT Budget: progressing with budget for 2003-2004. Will meet with Finance Director regarding supplemental budget on Friday. Had meeting with Mayor yesterday. There has been $8 million in requests for supplemental budget submitted County- wide. HFD has submitted $4 million of the $8 million. Will re-evaluate the budget. All items are essential in the eyes of the Department. Grants: received formal approval from USFA grant. Granted award of $152,000 with $62,000 of County matching funds. Grant to be used for equipment Î air compressors for West Hawaii; training materials; safety equipment. HFD will continue pursuing grants. Promotions & hiring: effective December 15, 2002, 22 operators were given new assignments around the island, which created a firefighter shortage. There are 34 firefighter vacancies; this opened the door to hiring new personnel. In the process of scheduling an ÐovertimeÑ program to minimize daily shortages. It will be more acceptable for personnel to accommodate their family lives. Firefighter recruit interviews will start early February. Hopefully firefighters will be on staff by March 1. Expedite process; background process; pre-employment medical screening, etc. Working on streamlining the process. Operations division: closed out 14,000 + incidents. During the last 48 hours of year 2002, there were 51 fire incidents related to fire works. Permitting process had some impact on fire works sales and use; not significant enough. Prevention bureau: Richard Kihara retired on December 31, 2002. He will be a temporary hire for 89 days and conduct formal training for his replacement then he will officially retire. Kihara is currently the only qualified person. No one willing to move here and take over the responsibility. Working on getting two others qualified which will require someone moving up in that division through the ranks. Will submit position descriptions to Commission for the next meeting. There were 2284 permits issued for the New Year holiday. Refunds were given to 134 perm lack of fireworks (less than 10% of what was issued.) Training division: idle during holiday month; preparing curriculum for upcoming firefighter recruit training. Volunteer division: fire chiefs meeting set for January 11, 2003, at 10:00 am at the Laupahoehoe fire station. The Commissioners are invited and welcomed to attend. EMS Division: MICT program progressing as scheduled. Anticipating five students to graduate this month and available for use in February. Public Relations: tossing up ideas for EMS week in May. 2