2020-01-08 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 8, 2020 PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM 25 AUPUNI ST., HILO, HAWAII 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL Chair Yamada called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Present: Robert Yamada, Chair Vice Chair, Kyle Keamo Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Lance Uchida, Deputy Fire Chief Robert Perreira, Assistant Fire Chief John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary 2. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None) 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11, 2019 Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. 4. NEW BUSINESS Deputy Chief Uchida came before the commission. He stated that Fire Chief Rosario and Assistant Fire Chief Okinaka are on the mainland reviewing construction of a new pumper truck. Items from the Chief's written report were highlighted: A. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Budget and Finance Accountant Lorenzo came before the commission. He explained the expenditure report. In December, County Finance transferred a quarter of their overtime budget into their account. They expect another transfer either this month or next month. Their overtime has been status quo and has not kept up with bargaining unit pay increases. They estimate their funding will be exhausted in March. A portion of their OT is due to incident responses. Through December, they spent 61 % of their budget. They have expanded their responsibilities by adding on Kua Bay. Finance requested that they submit three budgets — status quo, 5% reduction, and 8% reduction. They only submitted a status quo budget and supplemental requests.