2014-11-12 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes November 12, 2014 Page 4 • Rules and Policies (Committee Chair Kitaoka): None. • Public Relations (Committee Chair Lee): None. • Training and Education (Committee Chair Waipa): None. INVESTIGATION AND DELIBERATION OF COMPLAINT HCFC 14-02 Complainant Hope Cermelj alleged that responding personnel said she was not high priority and left her behind. She requested to be heard in open session. Ms. Cermelj came before the commission, gave a statement and answered questions. She stated that her friends called 911. She had fever and sweats. She could not drive her vehicle to take herself to the emergency room. The ambulance got there. They took her vitals. She does know what her temperature was. She needed to go to the emergency room. One of the gentlemen told her she was not high priority enough and drove away. He stated to one of the people that maybe one of them could take her to the emergency room. She was taken into town about 40 minutes later. When she drove by the fire station, Christopher and Chad were in the front of the station waiting for their shift change. Her diagnosis at the hospital was cellulites. She hopes no one will be left behind again like she was. She had no other way to get to the emergency room except by calling 911. She would have felt better if they took her to the emergency room. (Cermelj exited.) (CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC) EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner De Luz motioned to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against employees of the Fire Department; to consider the evaluation of the Fire Chief; to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities; and to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Ignacio seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:15 a.m. Open session reconvened at 11:47 a.m.