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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-21 Fire Commission MinutesHAWAI`I FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 OFFICE OF AGING CONFERENCE ROOM 1055 KILAUEA AVENUE, HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Agdeppa called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Present: Benjamin Agdeppa, Vice Chair Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Gerald Kosaki, Commissioner Shon Magsalin, Commissioner Wesley Mattos, Commissioner Gene Nakashima, Commissioner Daniel Paleka, Commissioner Absent: Corey Luke, Chair Kyle Keamo, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Kazuo Todd, Fire Chief Eric Moller, Deputy Fire Chief Dakota Frenz, Deputy Corporation Counsel Malia Hall, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 8, 2021 Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Paleka seconded. Discussion: Commissioner Kosaki stated the amended minutes that they received included additional information that he reported under Ocean Safety. The motion carried unanimously. There was no executive session. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Fire Chief Todd highlighted items from his written report: State of Department and Highlights: Chief Todd reported that his philosophy is to allow subordinates to have more authority in making decisions at their level. The shortage of dispatchers and paramedics has resulted in higher than normal overtime. He met with council members to discuss their concerns over the brush fires and to discuss future initiatives. He met with Pu`ukapu residents with regards to the impact fires have on their community. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of September 8, 2021 Page 2 Budget ✓ FY 2021-2022: The County's spending through July 31 is at 21.80% with 16.66% of the fiscal year completed. S & W closed at 22.52% in Fire and 20.38% in EMS. OCE expenditures closed at 29.82% in Fire and 13.88% in EMS. Staffing has been affected by Covid exposure. The State's 2020-21 reimbursements for EMS is current to March, and they expect the remaining submittals by September 31. ✓ Alternative Funding and Grants: The National Forest Service Grant with 50/50 matching funds for $50,000 is still pending. They are working on the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation grants. Human Resources: Promotions were made for Fire Radio Dispatcher III. Five new Fire Radio Dispatcher I started on September 1. Emergency Operations Division: Their overall call volume has increased by 9% in the past 5 years. This holds a similar trend with population growth which is hovering around 8.4% in the County of Hawaii. There has been a big upswing of Rescue/EMS calls, nearly 11 %. Three -fourth of all their calls are for EMS. Much of the calls could be associated with Covid-19. The Fire Department is very diverse and includes Fire, EMS, Ocean Safety, and even helicopter. Commissioner Kosaki stated that nationwide, no fire department can compare to the services that Hawaii County provides. Chief further reported that he has been visiting stations around the island and meeting with personnel. They had an incident in Ka'u where a volunteer was burned. All PPEs were worn, and they are following up with personnel on the injuries. Their vaccination rate is over 70%. This is not a medical issue. For most people it is a political ideology. Personnel have talked about leaving the department over the vaccination mandate. He doesn't think they will get 100% compliance, perhaps 90%. Vaccination is voluntary, but testing is mandated. They are trying to do their own testing, but the Mayor said it will be the same county -wide. The Mayor said if they are not vaccinated, they must have weekly testing. Commissioner Kosaki stated that with an unvaccinated fire fighter in Queens with Covid, you would think more fire fighters would get vaccinated. Commission Mattos stated that he worked on the set of the Love Island TV show, and they had mandatory testing on rotating dates. He questioned what the problem was with fire personnel. Chief Todd stated that they need to be tested if they are not vaccinated, and they have to get tested on their own. If they don't get tested, they cannot come back to work, and that causes staffing issues. HazMat personnel will be doing Confined Space Training in October. They continue to work on CAMEO training. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of September 8, 2021 Page 3 Support Services Division: The training bureau has 18 recruits in the 50t" Fire Fighter Recruit Class. They are working with HGEA and HR about re-examining the dispatcher position. There is a push to make dispatchers emergency workers. Starting salary for dispatchers is about $17/hr. Commissioner Magsalin suggested getting traveling dispatchers like traveling nurses. They get no benefits but a little more pay. Commissioner Paleka stated that they need to consult with HGEA to push for the pay increase and other benefits. They should also work with the County Council on this. Dispatch and EMS is a big concern. Commissioner Mattos stated that EMS and Dispatcher vacancies has been a problem since he was working. Chief's Briefing: Chief Todd reported that he is still working on using the County Council Room for commission meetings. However, the commission's meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month, and the Council uses the room on that day. The commission would have to change the date of their meetings. Deputy Corporation Counsel Hall stated that it could be done. Regarding the paramedic shortage, a fire fighter has to have been in the department for 3 years before becoming a paramedic. Commissioner Mattos stated that they need commitment. Fire fighters get trained as paramedics, and then they move back to fire. Chief stated that the Prevention Bureau is back to a 40-hour week. Chief Todd presented Ms. Pelayo with a plaque for her service to the Fire Commission and Fire Department. Ms. Pelayo will be retiring on October 1. Recess was called at 10:25 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:40 a.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Discussion regarding having online access/participation in Fire Commission Meetings. Chief Todd is still working on this. They may have to change the commission's meeting dates in order to use the County Council Room. (Continued to next meeting.) • Fire Commission's annual report. (Continued to next meeting.) • Robert Perreira's appeal to the Merit Appeals Board concerning the selection of the fire chief. In open session, Deputy Corporation Counsel reported that the Merit Appeals Board requested a declaratory ruling from the Hawaii Labor Relations Board on this matter. (Continued to the next meeting). AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Unfinished business matters will be on the next agenda. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of September 8, 2021 Page 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chair Agdeppa announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Paleka motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: APPROVED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY BENJAMIN AGDEPPA, VICE CHAIR