HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-11 Fire Commission Minutes
Harry KimDixie Kaetsu
MayorManaging Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
HAWAII COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION
C/O 25 Aupuni Street #217, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone: 961-8316; Fax: 933-1521
Email: Firecomm-agenda@co.hawaii.hi.us
REGULAR SESSION - MINUTES
July 11, 2007
Aupuni Center Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Brazier at 10:00 a.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
John Bertsch(10:05a.m.)
Stephen Bowles
Neil Brazier, Chair
James Browne
Karen Kudlo
Karen Maedo
Wil Okabe
Henry Pomroy, Jr.
BillRosehill
Aquorumwaspresent.
ALSOPRESENT:
Tom Brandt
Bill Brilhante, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Kaycie Carter
Terrie Henderson
Glen Honda, Deputy Fire Chief
Darryl Oliveira, Fire Chief
Noni Sanford
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Commissioners:JohnBertsch,StephenBowles,NeilBrazier,JamesBrowne,
Karen Kudlo, Karen Maedo, Wil Okabe, Henry Pomroy, Jr., Bill Rosehill
(Open to the Public)
STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Maedo moved to accept the June 13, 2007, regular session
minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kudloand unanimously
carried.
APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Commissioner Maedo moved to accept communication number 07-012. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Kudloand unanimously carried.
CHIEFS REPORT
Budget
FY 2007/08Budget:Disseminated copies of FY 07/08 budget to
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Commissioners. In the process of working on the next program budget
proposal. Will be keeping the Commissioners updated on the progress.
Alternative Funding and Grants
FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Plymo-Vent)
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Expecting the system to be completed by July 13, 2007.
State Department of Transportation Highway Safety Grant: Awaiting the
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status on grant proposal of $29,500for the purchase of three electronic
message boards. The boards will provide early notification to motorists of
road closures.
Capital Improvement Projects
Makalei Fire Station: Projects Manager Desmond Wery is presently
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meeting with the Mayors Office and the developer regarding off-site
improvements.
Pahoa Fire Station: Apparatus bay is framed. The dorm and living
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quarters framing will begin today, July 11, 2007. Also started the
construction on the fuel station. The foreman advised the HFD that the
projectisbackonschedule.
FireAdministration&SupportFacility:Designcontractisbeingroutedfor
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execution.
Central Fire Station: Presently, the Mayors Office is in communication
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withtheStateHousingandUrbanDevelopmentOfficeforthepurposeof
conducting an Environmental Assessment.
CentralFireStationRetrofitProject:Recently,personnelraisedtheir
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concerns to Chief Oliveira regarding demolition debris left in one of the
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stations living quarters. As a result, the dorm will be closed off and the
personnel will be relocated to the second dorm.
Chief Oliveira stated that it is necessary that the administration improve on
its awareness of the risks and impact renovations have on employees.
Captain Cook Fire Station: Continuing to meet with the design consultant.
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Chief Oliveira explained to two Captains the personnels concerns, and
assured them that although architects may show up to inspect the
property, there is no solid plan to date.
Promotions and Hiring
Active recruits include:
Open-Competitive Recruitment
FirefighterRecruitOpenRecruitment:Recruitmentclosedwith
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Department of Human Resources on June 26, 2007.
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36 Firefighter Recruit class slated to begin on July 16, 2007. Total of 17
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recruits to be hired.
Fire Radio Dispatcher I: Recently received the certification list for the two
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vacancies.
Internal Recruitment
Battalion Chiefs (Emergency Operations and Special Operations):
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Promoted Captain Aaron Arbles to the Emergency Operations position
and Captain Clint Coloma to the Special Operations position on
June 16, 2007.
Emergency Operations Division
Brush Fires
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Waikoloa brush fire: Occurred on July 1, 2007. It affected
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9,300 acres. The Fire Department is working closely with the Police
Department on the investigation. Arson is suspected.
HazardMitigationProject
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In anticipation of the Fourth of July holiday and the summers dry
conditions,theFireDepartmentconductedanaggressiveandproactive
last minute campaign to inform the public of the potential risk of fire. The
DepartmentofPublicWorksmanufactured30signsovernight.TheState
Highway Division posted 21 of the signs and the Fire Department posted
theremainingninesigns.Thesignswerepostedinspecificareasthatare
pronetobrushfires.
Public Education
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Flyers were attached to fireworks permits.
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Posters for vendor sites.
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Community outreach through on-site interaction at specific locations in
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the communities.
Fourth of July
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One fireworks-related injury; relativelyminor injury.
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Support Services Division
Fire Auxiliary Services Bureau
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Communication Section
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Assistant Chief Mento has been working with the Dispatch Supervisors
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in order to prepare them to conduct interviews and candidate
selections.
Emergency Medical Services Bureau
Battalion Chief Ralph Yawata on board effective July 18, 2007. Met with
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the different medical facilities and personnel in order to get acquainted
with the EMS program. State EMS Director Dr. Linda Rosen will introduce
Battalion Chief Yawata to the EMS Advisory Committee on July 19, 2007.
Training Bureau
Operations Section
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Recruit Training
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34 Firefighter Recruit Class: Currently enrolled in HazMat Tech class
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from June 18-29, 2007.
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35 Firefighter Recruit Class: Presently enrolled in EMT-B didactic
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training.
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36 Firefighter Recruit Class: Will begin on June 16, 2007.
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37 Firefighter Recruit Class: Targeting start date for December 2007
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or January 2008.
On-Line Training:
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Fire Instructor II class scheduled for July 9-13, 2007.
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Chevron Petroleum Fire Protection Course scheduled for July 9-13,
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2007, at the Honolulu Fire Department Training Center.
Volunteer Section
West Hawaii
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Captain Henry DeSa, who replaced Ralph Yawata, is getting
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acquainted with the West Hawaii Volunteers. Trained 10 Companies,
96personnel.ContinuestoworkcloselywithCaptainClydeKomatsu
to further build and develop the Volunteer program.
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Report provided by Volunteer Fire Chief Tom Brandt.
Volunteer Chiefs Quarterly Meeting: To be held on July 21, 2007, at
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10:00 a.m., at the Ocean View Fire Station. Details will be provided on the
Hawaii Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association website.
Chief Brandt stated that prior to the meeting, Commissioner Bowles
inquired as to whether there was a Volunteer incident report. In response
to his question, Chief Brandt said that there is a report. However, it is not
available on a regular basis. He will begin providing a monthly report so
that the community and the commission are informed of the number of
Volunteer responses.
Chief Oliveira mentioned that Assistant Chief Quince Mento is compiling
that information into the Records Management System. Once the
information is gathered, a monthly report will be provided to the
commission.
HELCOTrainingClass:VeryinformativetrainingclassheldinJune.
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Onbehalfofthepaidstaff,ChiefOliveiraextendedtheirappreciationto
the Volunteers for their support and assistance with the recent brushfires.
New Projects/Business
Explorer Program: Pilot program began on June 30, 2007. Meetings are
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held every Saturday at the Fire Departments Training Room. There is a
total of twelve students enrolled. The HFD will make arrangements for the
students to be introduced to the commission at a future meeting.
Ocean Safety Integration: Battalion Chief Clint Coloma is meeting with
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management and personnel to improve communication. It is necessary to
identify if there are any issues before implementing changes.
Employee/Public Relations
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Annual Employees and Awards Dinner: Scheduled for Friday,
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August 17, 2007, at Hilo Meishoin. Invitations were sent to the Fire
Commission.
EMS Week: Finalized the program proceeds. The event generated
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$4,500 to be donated to the Easter Seals of Hawaii Early Intervention
Program.
Hawaii Island United Way: 2007 campaign is set to kickoff, with the Fire
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Department as a pacesetter company.
Commissioner Bowles questioned whether the Fire Department was tracking its
personnels ages and their retirement status.
Chief Oliveira replied that he has a spreadsheet that shows the ages and
breakdownofthedepartment,andwillprovidethisreportatthenextmeeting.
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He explained that the department acknowledges that it does have a young
workforce and loses a lot of experience due to retirement. The department has
recognized a trend; the employees are retiring with years of service rather than
age. The HFD has actively supported legislation that would try to address this
issue and will continue to submit testimony. Both the Fire and Police Department
have a vested interest because both departments rely on experience.
Commissioner Bowles requested that the Fire Commission be included in that
endeavor.
Commissioner Okabe questioned why Ocean Safety Divisions budget shows
zero funds.
Chief Oliveira answered that the expenditure report does not show actual budget.
ThereisalineitembudgetfortheOceanSafetyDivision,whichwillbeprovided
to the commission.
Commissioner Okabe asked whether there were position ranks among the
Ocean Safety personnel.
Chief Oliveira replied that there is the Water Safety Officer I and II positions,
which are the beach lifeguards. The Water Safety Officer III is a Lieutenant
position and Water Safety Officer IV is Captain Position.
Commissioner Okabe questioned what union they would belong to.
Chief Oliveira answered that they will remain members of the HGEA union.
Commissioner Kudlo questioned whether the Fire Commission would hear
complaints and concerns brought forward by the public.
Chief Oliveira replied that all complaints of misconduct against any member of
the Fire Department may be filed with the Fire Commission.
Commissioner Pomroy questioned whether personnel will be able to transfer
laterally between Ocean Safety and Emergency Operations.
Chief Oliveira answered that both are special fields and it is required that all
individuals use the open recruitment process.
Commissioner Pomroy inquired on what the response was regarding the
Firefighter I open recruitment.
Chief Oliveira replied that he will request the numbers from the Department of
Human Resources.
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Commissioner Okabe asked whether there were discussions among the Fire
Chiefs on implementing a program for the State with regard to having a common
standard for interdepartmental transfers.
Chief Oliveira replied that it was discussed with the State Fire Council.
Whenever the department is involved in the collective bargaining process, it is
discussed with the union. The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is
certification. The Fire Departments standards require that all members are
EMTs. Therefore, a transfer would be less qualified.
Commissioner Rosehill expressed his concern and commented that he senses
frustration regarding communication with Captain Cook Fire Stations personnel.
Chief Oliveira agreed that the department can always improve on
communication.However,communicationgoesbothways.TheFire
Department sends communication out through meetings with the staff,
commission, and open membership. He attends meetings in East and West
Hawaii quarterly and participation is extremely poor.
Chief Oliveira stated that he believes the reaction to what is happening in
Captain Cook reflects premature panic. The design consultant visited the
property in order to survey the site. It is difficult for the design consultant to
survey a project without going to the site to measure.
Commissioner Rosehill responded that the surveyor had plans which showed ten
stalls on the south side of the station and asked how those design concepts were
conceived.
Chief Oliveira replied that the personnel were looking at the design consultants
preliminary proposal, which the administration has yet to see.
Commission Rosehill reiterated that he doesnt understand how they would come
up with a design without speaking with the Fire Administration.
Chief Oliveira explained that the design consultant was asked to help figure out if
it is possible to build an additional apparatus bay to support a large apparatus,
minimize vehicle reversing from roadway to station, maintain or improve
employee parking, and maintain diesel fueling capability.
Commissioner Maedo commented that the Commission needs to remember that
communication is a two-way street. The Stations have direct lines to the
administration. The Commission needs to reinforce the notion that all
communication is going to be 50 percent if the receiver does not know about it.
Commissioner Bertsch commended the Fire Department on how it handled the
recent brush fires. Also, the State Forestry and Wildlife Division and the National
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Fire Service, which donated the Hot Shot Crew, have done a wonderful job in
backing up the Fire Department. He recommended that the County and the HFD
send letters of appreciation to them.
In regards to the issue on communication, Commissioner Bertsch said the rank
and file likes to share their ideas with the Commission. If a Commissioner hears
an issue that he/she feels requires the Chiefs attention, the Commissioner
should advise that individual that the Fire Chief is available 24/7 and he is the
easiest man to get in touch with.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Budget & Finance (Kudlo)
Commissioner Kudlo inquired on the Financial and Expenditure Report.
Office Management and Staffing (Bertsch) No report.
Rules and Policies (Rosehill) No report.
Public Relations (Pomroy) No report.
Training and Education (Maedo)
Commissioner Maedo inquired on the status of the Firefighter II curriculum.
Chief Oliveira replied that the Training Bureau is working on it.
Chair Brazier requested that the Commission revisit the Fire Chiefs evaluation
form. The commission will entertain any suggestions or recommendations at the
next meeting.
Commissioner Maedo and Okabe will present a draft to the commission at the
next meeting.
Commissioner Bertsch asked Chief Oliveira if he would arrange for the Fire
Commission to meet with the Civil Defense Administrator Troy Kindred for the
purpose of reviewing what type of preparations the County has in effect for future
disasters.
ChiefOliveiraagreedtodoso.
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NEW BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2007, at
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10:00 a.m., in the Liquor Control Conference Room, Hilo, Hawaii.
Set agenda for August 8, 2007, meeting
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Commissioner Bertsch recommended that the Fire Commission visit the
Emergency Operations Center.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
SUBMITTED BY:
__________________________
KAYCIE A. I. CARTER
Secretary
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