2012-09-12 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes September 12, 2012 Page 3 ➢ FY 2012 Assistance to Fire Firefighters Grant Application: They requested funding for a "Save a Fire Fighter Obstacle Course" and for a replacement ambulance for Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. They lost the unit in a roll over traffic accident. ➢ FY 2011 CDBG Grant for Pahoa Apparatus: The grant will be completed shortly. Chief Rosario will be going to Wisconsin to do a final inspection and acceptance of three brand new apparatuses. ➢ FY 2012 CDBG Grant for Pahoa Tanker: They applied for a 3,000 gallon tanker for the Pahoa area. HUD awarded funding to the County of Hawaii. Their grant total was for $250,000. The 2010 grant paid for a 2,000 gallon tanker for the Ka'u District. Capital Improvement Projects: ✓ Makalei Fire Station: The power has been tied in, and will have two to three weeks of testing. The contractor is allowed five weeks for testing. The apparatus is co- housed at the Waikoloa station and will be moved over. He is looking at a grand opening in October. ✓ Ka'u Public Safety Package: The lifeguard power for Punalu'u and fire hydrant for Hawaiian Ocean View water well have been completed. Bids have been awarded for the two volunteer apparatus sheds, one for Pahala and one for Naalehu. They have 45 days to complete the project. ✓ Hapuna Water Safety Tower: They are having land ownership issues and are working with Corporation Counsel. Councilman Hoffman is assisting. HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION ➢ Hiring and Promotions: In his first year, they worked really hard. They did more movements and promotions than in the last several years. They filled ever rank position. They have one vacancy for Fire Medical Specialist 11. They have 10 Fire Fighters in class right now. They finally hired their Accountant I on August 16. An Account Clerk will start next week. They also filled their Water Safety Officer summer hires. Their goal is to have an eligibility list existing so when a vacancy comes up, they can fill it instead of waiting. They had a very small pool of applicants for summer hire. In response to questions, Corporation Council Ashida stated that the names and positions of all county employees can be made available. Chief Rosario will give the commission an updated organizational chart. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION ➢ Operations: They are on a new call out system at Civil Defense. It is an upgraded system that allows them to select names for recall. It is more user friendly than the previous one.