2018-09-12 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2018 Page 3 ➢ Rescue: A Sayre gifting ceremony was held for the newly renovated Radon Rescue Boat for Kailua. The Sayre Awards Dinner was held on September 1. Pretty much everything they requested was donated. ➢ Ocean Safety: Two WSO personnel attended the Drowning Prevention Ocean Safety Conference on Kauai in August. The Department sent 20 Junior Lifeguards to the State Championships on Kauai in August. Cost for travel was paid by various organizations. Personnel who were stationed at the Ahalanui and Isaac Hale towers were relocated to Hilo and Punalu`u. Support Services Division ✓ Training: Twenty-one Fire Fighter Recruits started class on August 16. The training office was moved from Central to Haihai. ✓ Volunteer Training: The volunteers, along with community volunteers, gave a lot of support during the Hurricane Lane. The next Captains' meeting will be held on September 15 at Discovery Harbor. ✓ EMS Bureau: Captains Hara and Honda spoke on Community Paramedicine at the Queens Medical Center Trauma Symposium. Six new MICTs started their 10 -shift FMS II orientation. Two more MICT students are expected to complete training soon. ✓ Prevention Bureau: Through AC Perreira's initiative, the bureau started a new 24- hour schedule. They are now pretty much caught up on their plan reviews. ✓ Auxiliary Services: The SCBA Replacement Grant was completed. The mechanic shop is busy with repairs and service calls. A draft of the Dispatch Policy and Procedures Manual was completed and is being submitted for review. Other Departmental Activities: Mayor Kim announced plans to provide access to Isaac Hale Beach Park. They are initiating tasks required to provide Water Safety Officers back to the park along with the tower placement. Deputy Chief Uchida met with Dr. Bronstein of the State Department of Health. They were told that money is coming for the additional Puna medic and two EKG units. Even though they lost 700 homes in Puna, the call volume remains the same. The new medic will increase their staff by six. They are still waiting for funding for the Community Paramedics. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Letter from the Charter Commission requesting input and any proposals for amendment to the Charter: Chair Becker stated that the Charter Commission will meet regarding Section 7-4.3. A court case on discipline of a department head that is appointed by a commission was distributed. With input from the commissioners, he drafted a red line submission to the Charter Commission. Vice Chair Susman stated that he doesn't agree with some things in the draft. Back in 2000, a councilman said to put the commission within the Fire Department. Chair Becker stated that they are being asked to make changes to the Charter. The Fire Chief is in charge of the Fire Department. The Fire Commission is independent. They do not work for the Fire Chief.