Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-10 Fire Commission MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 2021 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER, BUILDING G CONFERENCE ROOM 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Present: Corey Luke, Vice Chair Benjamin Agdeppa, Commissioner Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Shon Magsalin, Commissioner Gene Nakashima, Commissioner Daniel Paleka, Commissioner Absent: Robert Yamada, Chair A quorum was present. Also Present: Robert Perreira, Acting Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka, Assistant Chief Ian Smith, Assistant Chief Chris Honda, Battalion Chief Kazuo Todd, Battalion Chief John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander John Mukai, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary Vice Chair Luke asked the members to introduce themselves. Vice Chair Luke stated that he retired from civil service and returned to Hawaii. Commissioner Gregory Henkel stated that he is a teacher at the Academy of Arts and Sciences. New Commissioner Gene Nakashima stated that he retired from the Hawaii Fire Department 11 '/z years ago. Commissioner Benjamin Agdeppa stated that he works in product distribution. Commissioner Kyle Keamo stated that he works as a teacher at Hilo High School. Commissioner Daniel Paleka stated that he was a corrections officer, worked for the UPW union, and was a County Council member. Commissioner Shon Magsalin stated that she retired from Hilo Medical Center as a nursing supervisor. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 10, 2021 Page 2 PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2021 • 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 with corrections to typographical errors. Vice Chair Luke seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Acting Fire Chief Perreira briefly highlighted items from his written report: Budget ➢ 2020/21 budget is on track. They have used Cares money for some expenses. The State funded EMS budget is being worked on, and they anticipate a 2.5% reduction. The State's Hapuna lifeguards are being funded by the County. The State's funding of Kua Bay will end on June 30, 2021. They continue to work with the State for funding. ➢ 2021/22 budget was submitted with status quo numbers. They are working with the Finance Director on supplemental requests. They are reaching out to legislatures, DLNR, HGEA, and others for funding of lifeguards at Hapuna and Kua Bay. • Alternative Funding and Grants: Through the Sayre Foundation, they will be receiving two brush trucks and two tankers from an anonymous donor. Sayre is funding additional jet skis which have not been replaced in over 5 years. Application for the FEMA 2020 Assistance to Fire Fighter's Grant will be submitted for gear cleaning machines. Human Resources Division: They are having internal recruitment within the department for Fire/HazMat Specialist, Battalion Chief of Training, Fire Radio Dispatcher II, Water Safety Officer III, Human Resources Technician, and Fire Prevention Inspector. Open -competitive recruitment for Fire Fighter Recruit and Water Safety Officer I is in progress. • Emergency Operations Division: There were numerous incidents in East and West Hawaii. In response to questions about funding for Hapuna and Kua Bay, Chief stated that those are State Beaches, so they will look to the State first, and then seek alternatives such as support from the hotels. AC Okinaka stated that they have six Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 10, 2021 Page 3 trained water craft operators. Three are at Hapuna. They don't expect to lose the water craft program if they lose total funding. Support Services Division: The volunteer captain was just promoted, and they continue to train their volunteers. New Projects and Business: The new Fire/Police Joint Dispatch Center bid was awarded and is being protested. FF Kai Willey completed a pass and review video for Jon Hara. Recess was called at 9:29 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:47 a.m. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (None.) INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS (Briefly summarized.) • Complaint HCFC 20-01 (Continued from the previous meeting.): Complainant Russell Acantilado alleged that a paramedic who responded to his call was rude and didn't want to help him. Mr. Acantilado requested to be heard in open session. He stated that he had already given a statement at the previous meeting. Complaint HCFC 21-01: Complainant Russell Acantilado alleged that a paramedic who responded to his call asked unnecessary questions, the questions were stupid, wasted his time, and gave him stress. He requested to be heard in open session. Mr. Acantilado stated that on December 16, he called 911 because he had a sore chest. Two fire department people came to his residence. They brought Police Officer Santiago and a few people into his house. He wants to know the procedure for fire fighters, what they are supposed to do when he has a sore chest. He has past injuries and health issues and wants to know their procedures. Mr. Mukai told Mr. Acantilado that procedures of the Fire Department is tactical, and the information is not readily available. He asked that he proceed with what he feels was misconduct on the part of the paramedic. Mr. Acantilado stated that the police officer told his wife they not doing nothing and to take him to the hospital. He asked the paramedic if he could do an EKG. He said it was not accurate. He talked about his many health problems. Vice Chair Luke asked Mr. Acantilado to focus on the misconduct that he felt occurred. Mr. Acantilado stated that he never do his procedures. He never do nothing. He told the commission they have three options, get him out of Honokaa, he resign, or his attorneys going come. He felt mistreated. He also stated that they always bring the police into his house. They walk into the house with shoes on. That's not respectful. In response to questions, Mr. Acantilado stated that when the two firemen showed up, they took his pressure and checked to see that he was okay. They took his vital Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 10, 2021 Page 4 signs. Everything was nice until he showed up. Police officers showed up. The fire truck, ambulance and police were there. The paramedic asked him questions about his symptoms. He asked the same things over and over. He was taking too long. He was talking and talking, so the police told his wife to take him to the hospital. She went down the road in his vehicle. She stopped the vehicle. The paramedic took the EKG while he was in his vehicle. They went down the road, then he jumped in the ambulance, and they took him to the hospital. Commissioner Luke told Mr. Acantilado that they would be going into executive session to discuss his complaint further. He will be notified by letter of the commission's decision. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed to the public.) Commissioner Henkel motioned to meet in executive session to investigate complaints against employees 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 Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:15 a.m. Open session reconvened at 10:54 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS Complaint HCFC 20-01: Vice Chair Luke motioned that in performance of duty, there was no factual basis to the complaint. Commissioner Paleka seconded. Discussion: Commissioner Henkel thanked the witnesses for coming. The motion carried unanimously. Complaint HCFC 21-01: Vice Chair Luke motioned that in performance of duty, there was no factual basis. Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Agdeppa motioned to return to executive session (for reasons stated previously). Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:57 a.m. Open session reconvened at 12:01 p.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Work on the selection process of the new Fire Chief: Vice Chair Luke motioned that they select the Fire Chief by 5 votes, minimum, using Robert's Rule Preferential Voting. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 10, 2021 Page 5 Commissioner Henkel motioned that they hold oral interviews and final vote on March 10 in Hilo on the date of their regular monthly meeting. They will not have the usual regular monthly meeting. Vice Chair Luke seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chair Luke announced that the commission's next meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2021, in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:06 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: COREY LUKE, VICE CHAIR