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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-13 Fire Commission MinutesFIRE COMMISSION MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2021 HAWAII COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING TRAINING ROOM 1055 KINO`OLE ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Luke called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Present: Corey Luke, Vice Chair Benjamin Agdeppa, Commissioner Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Shon Magsalin, Commissioner Absent: Robert Yamada, Chair Daniel Paleka, Vice Chair A quorum was present. Ms. Pelayo announced that Donna Payesko and Merrick Nishimoto resigned from the commission. Also present: Robert Perreira, Acting Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka, Assistant Chief Ian Smith, Assistant Chief John Mukai, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary Acting Chief Perreira introduced Cathy Ferreira, his private secretary. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 9, 2020 • Regular Session Minutes: Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. • Executive Session Minutes: Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Agdeppa seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Acting Fire Chief Robert Perreira highlighted items from his written report. The detailed report is on file. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 13, 2021 Page 2 BUDGET ✓ FY 2020/2021: Chief Perreira reported that as of December 31, 2020, their budget was on track. This year, they don't have funding for Hapuna and have been covering it with Cares Funding. They received funding for Kua Bay for 2021. ✓ FY 2021/2022: Their proposed budget is $51,965,902 includes State EMS and anticipated grants. Supplemental budget requests were submitted for staffing, station equipment, apparatus replacement, personal protective equipment, and overtime. Copies were given to the commission and each was explained. The supplemental request for a Business Manager was recommended by the Finance Director. This position will oversee their HR and Fiscal Divisions. It is a critical position because they are operating a business, and they need someone to run the day-to-day operations of the business. They don't anticipate getting funding for Kua Bay and Hapuna for 2021-2022. They are asking their legislatures to lobby for these beaches. Otherwise, they will have to seek county funding. Commissioners Magsalin asked about ways to cut overtime. She stated that at the hospital, they use traveling nurses, and they don't have to pay them benefits. Chief stated that they are looking at ways to avoid overtime. He asked Accountant Lorenzo to find where the overtime is so they can analyze the data. They have collective bargaining requirements that require overtime. If personnel is on the way to an incident, they have to finish that assignment which could incur overtime. The county does not look at the details of the overtime. They just look at it as overtime. They have constant challenge with movement of personnel. They will be filling every vacancy with recruits, except one. EMS staffing has a lot of overtime because they have to be replaced with only paramedics. They have a paramedic assessment tomorrow. AC Okinaka stated that two thirds of their $3 million overtime budget is due to rank for rank pay which is required by contract. Holiday pay is another requirement. They were not given the funding required for overtime. They were given only $1,000 per person overtime. Commissioner Magsalin asked why firefighters couldn't learn and do other duties. Chief stated that it all goes back to position description, job duties, and the union contract. • ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND GRANTS: They are working with the Daniel Sayre Memorial Foundation in distributing Covid-19 related protective equipment and purchases through Sayre continues. Through USFA FEMA Assistance to Firefighter's grant, they are purchasing electrostatic sprayers worth approximately $24,000. They will be submitting USFA FEMA Assistance to Firefighter's grant application for their Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 13, 2021 Page 3 extractor project (like giant heavy duty washing machines.) Through Cares Funding, they received a new van for the warehouse. HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION: They have departmental recruitment for Fire/HazMat Specialist, Battalion Chief of Operations, and Fire/EMS Specialist. They received the referred list for Firefighter Recruit. Officer development for new captains is scheduled for February. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION: Chief went over the written apparatus update. They had numerous brush and structure fires in East Hawaii. More recently, he has seen the need for volunteers who come out without being compensated. Volunteers from Commander Bertsch's station in North Kona have responded to fires all the way out in Ka'u. Company 1 and Volunteer Company 1A participated in a drive through Christmas parade in Hilo. West Hawaii had numerous rescues, including a shark attack. ✓ Special Operations ➢ Hazmat: Fire Hazmat Specialist recruitment is ongoing. Replacement Tyvek Suits and gloves were distributed. ➢ Ocean Safety: Contract awarded for iPads for all towers and officers. Recruitment process for WSO II has started. All towers continued to do daily Covid-19 reporting. They are working on acquiring a new PA system for Kua Bay and repairs on Hapuna towers. ➢ Rescue: They are looking for funding to repair and upgrade the rescue boat. SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION ✓ Training: 49th recruit class completed driver audits and are now working on their performance appraisals. ✓ Volunteer Training: Brought on and trained new west side captain. Added 1 volunteer to Co. 11 C and 1 to Co. 9B. ✓ EMS Bureau: Upcoming MICT class is scheduled to start January 11 with 8 personnel and additional person will join the class during the internship portion. They received 6,000 more N95 masks. Completed preconstruction meeting to replace Medic 14. ✓ Prevention Bureau: The bureau continues to assist the Covid-19 Task Force and community outreach. The bureau continues its 24-hour schedule and is fully staffed for the first time in years. Two Fire Inspector I are temporarily assigned to leadership positions. ✓ Auxiliary Services: The new Mobile Data Terminal Project is 50% complete. The Electronic WMS System Project that loads EMS products into the system is 70% complete. ✓ Mechanics: They are implementing vehicle tracking and work status through Trello. ✓ Repairs/Maintenance: Stations have a long list of work to be done. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 13, 2021 Page 4 • NEW PROJECTS/BUSINESS: Implemented Fire Chief's monthly update at the beginning of December. Information is sent via email to all personnel. They had good feedback. OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES: Commissioner Henkel asked for comments on illegal fireworks. Chief Perreira stated that he came from the Prevention Bureau. Honolulu has a total ban on all fireworks. Since then, illegal fireworks have increased. From a Fire Chief and Fire Department's standpoint, they would like to support no fireworks because of fires and injuries. Historically, there are many people involved in illegal fireworks. He believes the State has to do something about it. Fortunately, this island had only one incident that was less than $2,000 in damage. The legislature is looking at total ban of fireworks. Enforcement is not the fire department's job. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (No report.) Recess was called at 10:32 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:44 a.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Agdeppa motioned to meet in executive session to investigate a complaint against an employee of the fire department where matters affecting privacy will be involved, to work on the selection of a new Fire Chief, 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) and (4) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:45 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 12:32 p.m. ACTION ON COMPLAINT HCFC 20-01: Commissioner Henkel motion that the classification is Performance of Duty. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel motioned that it was a Lawful Occurrence. Commissioner Henkel seconded. Ayes: Keamo, Agdeppa, Luke, Henkel. Nay: Magsalin. The motion carried with a majority vote. ACTION ON FIRE CHIEF SELECTION PROCESS Commissioner Henkel motioned to have County Human Resources schedule a proctored assessment as soon as practical. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel motioned to schedule oral interviews on February 10 in Kona. Commissioner Keamo seconded. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 13, 2021 Page 5 Discussion: Vice Chair Luke stated that he wanted more time before the interviews. Ayes: Keamo, Henkel, Agdeppa, Magsalin Nay: Luke The motion carried with a majority vote of 4. Commissioner Keamo motioned that the interviews scheduled for February 10 will start at 9:00 a.m. Everyone will be told to report every half an hour and wait to be called. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chair Luke announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2021, in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74- 5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Vice Chair Luke stated that at the next meeting, he would like to talk about having virtual meetings. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:14 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: COREY LUKE, VICE CHAIR