Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-11 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MARCH 11, 2020 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Yamada called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Present: Robert Yamada, Chair Kyle Keamo, Vice Chair Benjamin Agdeppa, Commissioner Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Robert Perreira, Assistant Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant Craig Masuda, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the regular session minutes. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Assistant Chief Robert Perreira came before the commission. He stated that Chief Rosario is in Idaho inspecting the construction of a new Bulldog apparatus. AC Perreira highlighted items from the Chief' written report as noted below: Budget ✓ FY 2019/2020: Accountant Melanio Lorenzo came before the commission. He stated that through June 2020, they are showing a deficit of $1.6 million. The deficit is mainly due to their overtime budget being reduced over the years. The last few times overtime was cut, it was arbitrary, and then it was status quo. Bargaining unit increases were not reflected in the budget, although they will pay the employees what is due to them. AC Perreira stated that they are requesting support from the Finance Director. A lot of their shortfall is due to not being properly funded, especially in salaries and wages and equipment. Employees are not allowed to take comp time off and must be paid. ✓ FY 2020/2021: Accountant Lorenzo reported that they will appear before the Council in April and would like the commission's support at the meeting. Finance instructed them to present three budgets - status quo, 5% reduction, Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 11, 2020 Page 2 and 8% reduction. They are only submitting a status quo budget because there is no way they can reduce the budget without impacting services. They have to honor the bargaining unit overtime agreement, but the County won't fund it. So, they have to take the funds from somewhere else. Mr. Masuda stated that this has been going on for about 7 years. Mr. Lorenzo further stated that apparatus replacement costs have also increased, and that is a major expense. • Alternative Funding and Grants ✓ Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation: The foundation is funding a new N95 fit testing unit that includes masks. Covid-19 is costing the County a lot of time and money. ✓ USDA USFS Wildland Grant: Still waiting for official approval by USDA. ✓ USFA FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grant: Today they are submitting the grant to purchase extractors to remove carcinogens from equipment. They should get one for every station and more for the bigger stations. It's for $70,000 with a $60,000 match by the County. ✓ Shippers Wharf Grant: They are applying for funding for Rescue Boat repairs. Human Resources Division ✓ Internal Recruitments: Ongoing for WSO IV, Fire Captain, and Fire Equipment Operator. Fire Captain in Prevention is on hold. ✓ Open -Competitive Recruitment: Ongoing for Accountant I, FRD I, WSO I, and HR Assistant. ✓ Employee Development and Training: Training held on conducting interviews and new hire orientation. • Emergency Operations Division: AC Perreira reported that two possible Covid-19 contact at an Urgent Care facility turned out negative. They did after action reviews and are looking at policies, procedures, and equipment. Supplies are low everywhere, and they got approval to order more. He and Chief Uchida were tasked with doing presentations and PSAs on what people can do to prevent the spread of Covid-19. BC Kim stepped down and is now Captain at Waiakea. Deputy Uchida and AC Okinaka are sharing the responsibilities for Waiakea. Meetings were held with captains to go over transition plans. There were many incidents in East and West Hawaii. ✓ Training: The 46th recruit class is working 24 hours on driver training and EMT runs and transports. The 47th recruit class is working 8 hours on EMT rotations. ✓ Special Operations ➢ Hazmat: Waiting for CD response to procure gas monitors. ➢ Ocean Safety: WSO I recruitment had 10 candidates who passed the assessment. Waiting for approval to procure a new Rescue Water Craft. ➢ Sayre Foundation: Captain Kim will assist with the 2019 donation inventory and distribution. AC Okinaka is working with Laura Sayre for the 2019 nominations and equipment requests. Gifting ceremonies will be scheduled following distribution. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 11, 2020 Page 3 • Support Services Division ✓ Volunteer Training: They gained 3 more volunteers. All volunteers in East and West Hawaii received training on portable fire extinguishers. ✓ EMS Bureau: The bureau has been actively involved with Coronavirus issues and maintaining inventory and distribution of PPEs. MICT interns started training in Honolulu. One month clinicals will be hospital and ambulance rotation and then four months internship. The bureau launched its new STEMI transport to Hilo Medical Center from Waimea and N5'51ehu. Anyone with a 2 -hour window will be transported directly to HMC which allows them to get to the hands of a doctor quicker. ✓ Prevention Bureau: Their Smoke Alarm Program is running with an additional 500 devices from the Red Cross. One employee was accepted for training at the National Fire Academy. Commissioner Agdeppa inquired about the Makalei Bill in the legislature. AC Perreira stated that they want to support Station 21, but they want enough funds for Station 18 first. They were focusing on funding for what they have now, which is Station 18, and then this Makalei Bill popped up. It's not their priority, but if they get it, they will have to find a way to support it with manpower. Additionally, they could use another medic in Kailua-Kona because Medic 7 is very busy. Commissioner Payesko inquired about the Fire Captain's position that is on hold. AC Perreira stated that they have a reorganization plan for the Prevention Bureau. There are only two captains, and one is vacant. If they move to 24 hours, they will need three captains. They will also need more clerks for both East and West Hawai'i. Commissioner Payesko asked about their legislative priorities. AC Perreira stated that they want Ocean Safety personnel working from dawn to dusk. They have to work with the union and will have to look at scheduling and manpower. It's being pushed by Oahu. Commissioner Payesko asked if they would be shutting down stations because of Covid-19. AC Perreira stated that workforce reduction is a consideration, but they want to prevent it. The Mayor's message is that they don't want to scare people. They want to educate them. They have considered using one of the fire stations for isolation and are looking at other facilities. ✓ Auxiliary Services: AC Todd is working with Volunteer Commander Bertsch on the Volunteer website. They are working on a contract for Bullard wipes and care kits for decontamination of their new FXR350 helmets. They continue to work on the warehouse labeling project. They are waiting for installation of a server for the Active 911 Project. They are waiting for a Fire Dispatcher I Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 11, 2020 Page 4 recruitment list. The maintenance shop continues with many repairs and service calls. They received a new EMS -1 Expedition. New Projects and Business: They are looking at renting a house in Kea'au Ag Lots to move out personnel from the Kea'au station in order for them to do renovations. They are working with DPW, Finance, and the Council to get the Pahala station roof replaced. Work on the joint dispatch center has not moved for the last 3 months. Mauna Kea took priority, and now Covid-19 is taking priority. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (No report.) Recess was called at 10:23 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed to the public.) Commissioner Henkel motioned to meet in executive session to discuss the hiring of a new Fire Chief and to 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) and (4) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:01 a.m. Open session reconvened at 12:10 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Yamada announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:12 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APROVED BY: ROBERT M. YAMADA, II, CHAIR