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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-08 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII 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. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 8, 2020 Page 2 Deputy Chief Uchida stated that their budget will be tight. They have been paying attention to their expenditures and making plans to make it through the fiscal period. Accountant Lorenzo did a good budget presentation to Finance. In response to Chair Yamada's inquiry into how the commission could help, Deputy Uchida stated that it would help for them to testify before the County Council in support of their budget. Assistant Corporation Counsel Schoen stated that they could submit written and oral testimony. Mr. Lorenzo stated that the letter should be sent to the Council by March. Ms. Pelayo stated that the previous Chair gave oral testimony in support of the Fire Department's budget. Chair Yamada asked that the Fire Department and Corp Counsel draft testimony for the commission to make a presentation to the Council. Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned that the commission support the Fire Department's budget before the County Council both in writing and orally. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. Deputy Chief Uchida stated that if there are any cuts in their budget, there will be cuts in services. A large reason for their overtime is due to personnel shortage. With the new recruits in February, they will be 100% staffed, but training will take months. Alternative Funding and Grants: Deputy Chief Uchida stated that assistance from the Sayre Foundation continues. They are still waiting for official approval on the $50,000 USDA USFS Wildland Grant. They continue to work on the submittal of the USFA FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant. • Human Resources Division: Internal and open recruitments continue. Emergency Operations Division: Both east and west were busy with different types of rescues and different environments. They did a lot of special service events. They continue to look at ways to maintain service and eliminate overtime. ✓ Hazmat: BC Kim is working on the HAZMAT ID unit updates. ✓ Ocean Safety: They filled the remaining WSO vacancy. BC Kim continues to work on the Rescue Water Craft expansion program. Specifications were identified for four new purchases. ✓ Rescue: They are creating new rescue boat logs to address maintenance requirements. They continue to work on diver certifications. Four Rescue Captains retired in December. ✓ Sayre Foundation: They are working on getting the Council to accept newly donated equipment. 0 Support Services Division (AC Perreira.) Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 8, 2020 Page 3 ✓ Training: The 47th recruit class will have 10 graduates on February 1. The 48th recruit class continues with training. The 49th class will start on February 1. ✓ Volunteer Training: They have about 120 volunteers. The volunteers are the ones who go to the parades to represent the Fire Department. Commander Bertsch reported that they had their Captain's meeting on December 21, and Captain Bergin did wildland training. The County is putting on a volunteer website. They are looking at resolving issues with the Active 911 program. They still have problems with recruitment and retention. Exposure to the community through parades, does drive people to volunteer. They are still looking at ways to give their volunteers an advantage towards the career section. He suggested that they send a letter to the Council in support of the volunteer budget. ✓ EMS Bureau: They hosted a station meeting at North Hawaii Community Hospital, had a tour, and a presentation by Liberty Dialysis. They had an Active Shooter exercise at Airport Fire Fighters in Kona. Hands Only CPR continues at the high schools. They are working with Hilo Medical Center on percutaneous coronary intervention. ✓ Prevention Bureau: They are looking to certify personnel as NFPA Fire Inspector I. Their Arson Canine Kaimi retired last month. She can be replaced with funds from State Farm, but they need someone to commit to be the handler. ✓ Auxiliary Services: They continue to do fixes and repairs. ✓ Maintenance Shop: They did numerous repairs, service calls, and contract tows. They received three 2003 Ford Expeditions from the Honolulu Fire Department. These vehicles have less mileage than their 2007s, and will be deployed to various stations. New Projects/Business: Deputy Chief Uchida reported that Chief Rosario and AC Okinaka are reviewing new equipment on the mainland. B. FIRE CHIEF DARREN ROSARIO'S LETTER TO THE COMMISSION GIVING NOTICE OF HIS RETIREMMENT: Assistant Corporation Counsel Schoen reported that at the next meeting, they can go over the commission's write-up and can bring HR Director Brilhante to discuss the selection process further. The deadline is not set in stone. They could ask HR to publish the vacancy immediately. • Complaint HCFC 19-01: Complainant alleged that a firefighter test drove a fire truck on their easement road to provide evidence and statement for a civil matter and arbitration proceedings. Wayne and Mia Cummins came before the commission. Chair Yamada stated that they read everything they submitted and asked if they had anything to add. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 8, 2020 Page 4 Mrs. Cummins talked about their arbitration hearing. She stated that they had evidence that a fire truck drove up the road and wants to know who took it upon themselves to take it from Captain Cook to their subdivision. She showed photos of steel posts that stuck out of the ground off the side of the road in brush which she felt was dangerous. Chair Yamada asked the significance of showing them photos of remnants of steel posts. Mrs. Cummins stated that the roadway was not wide enough to accommodate the fire truck. The fire truck was staged to show that it could fit there. A picture of the truck was used in their arbitration case. Mr. Scarbrough was going to testify that the easement was sufficient. They want to know who authorized the truck to be up there. Chair Yamada asked if her complaint is of unauthorized use of County equipment. Ms. Cummins stated that that was the key idea. They thought he violated County codes and want the commission to look into it. They went on to talk about their road easement issues. In response to questions, Mrs. Cummins stated that their civil case had been settled, and Mr. Scarbrough did not testify. They don't know if Mr. Scarbrough was the actual driver of the fire truck. She submitted the documents they talked about, which is on file. (Cummins exited.) 5. EXECUTIVE SESSION (CLOSED SESSION) Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to meet in executive session regarding Complaint HCFC 19-01 to consider charges against an employee of the Hawaii County Fire Department were matters affecting privacy will be involved, to work on the Fire Chief's annual evaluation, and may consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2), (4), and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Vice Chair Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:51 a.m. Open session reconvened at 11:20 a.m. 6. ACTION ON COMPLAINT HCFC 19-01 Following an executive session discussion, Mr. and Mrs. Cummins came before the commission. In response to Chair Yamada's question, Mr. Cummins stated that they didn't know if it was true that Mr. Scarbrough actually drove the fire truck. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 8, 2020 Page 5 Chair Yamada stated that the Fire Department, on a regular basis, uses their equipment to verify access to property so if there's any issue, they can notify property owners. It was explained to the commission that having a fire truck there to do exactly that would be a regular event for the Fire Department to do if the equipment is available. In that process, while the fire truck was there, if there ever was a call, it would immediately come out over the fire truck's radio. A response to an emergency while the fire truck was there, could have been addressed adequately. This was logged, and is something that is handled internally. The commission was assured that a proper review as made, and the commission is satisfied that this issue had been managed correctly. They look at this as a performance of duty type of complaint. He told the Cummins that they are complaining about their perceived unauthorized use of a County Fire Department equipment driven by a Fire Department employee. The Fire Commission determined that it was being used to check access to the property. It is a common occurrence that the department does all the time to better prepare themselves. This is a performance of duty complaint that they looked at as a lawful occurrence. Proper steps were taken by the fire fighters and the department to provide their equipment to verify access to the property on that easement. In response to Mrs. Cummins questions about code of ethics, Chair Yamada told her that there is a commission who handles that; it's not the Fire Commission. They have reviewed the case and are satisfied with their findings. Commissioner Henkel motioned to classify the complaint as Performance of Duty and find that the incident was a Lawful Occurrence. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. 5. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (None.) 6. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Yamada announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:35 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT M. YAMADA, CHAIR