2013-05-08 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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HawaiÒi County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 8, 2013 Page 2 BUDGET Fiscal Year 2012-13: Chief Rosario stated that he is confident they will end the year on a positive note. Overages have been in salaries and wages because of overtime due to shortage in firefighters, paramedics, and maintenance. A lot of the maintenance and repair work is backlogged because of the furloughs. They have had to farm out work to private vendors. They are at 83.5% of their total budget which is targeted at 83.33%. Fiscal Year 2013-14: The next budget hearing is scheduled for May 13. Public safety is always a hot topic area for the County Council. The Mayor, after meeting with him and the Finance Department, put the HonokaÒa apparatus replacement back into the budget. There was no funding for the Keaau apparatus, and conse council members called him to discuss this. A 3,000 gallon tanker is in the budget. They want to put a tanker in each fire district to cover water needs. The new fire code that went into effect last year called for all homeowners that do not have water supply via hydrants to have a certain size water tank, fire department connection to the water tank, and access for a fire apparatus to the tank. This put a large cost burden on the community. Fire Prevention Chief Andrade did a lot of research and found an alternative that if they provide 3,000 gallon tankers in the fire districts, that would satisfy that code requirement. They are working with the Mayor to get a new tanker with each budget year. Right now they have four tankers. The next tanker will be placed in West HawaiÒi. Funding for two full time water safety officers for PunaluÓu Beach Park is in the budget. They have 6 wooden towers that need to be replaced. They took a lot of heat for this in the newspapers, but the wooden towers no longer fit the role of todayÓs water safety officers. If they purchase 6, then can crate three together and save on shipping costs. The towers afford them to have two WSO on the beach, instead of only one in the wooden tower. It is designing for the future. He was surprised by the backlash. This is more about the safety of the public. They received an additional full-time mechanic. He is trying to work with the shop to have a roving mechanic to work at the stations, especially the west side. It is the first nd step in getting a 2 battalion maintenance shop on the west side. This new position will be staffed in Hilo. If the new hire comes out of Kona, he is open to working with everyone so as not to have someone drive to Hilo everyday. They requested an increase in their overtime budget. For almost a decade they have gone over budget. They do not have a separate line item for emergencies. It all comes under overtime. Holiday pay comes under overtime. All their supplemental requests have been restored.