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Home My WebLink About2003-10-08 Fire Commission Minutes HAWAII COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION - MINUTES - AS AMENDED October 8, 2003 Liquor Control Conference Room Hilo Lagoon Centre Hilo, Hawaii CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Neil Brazier at 10:00 am. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Neil Brazier Dale Fergerstrom Rudolph Hart Louis Kaoiwi Terry Wallace Laura Ward A quorum was present. Absent: Stephen Bowles (excused), Karen Maedo (excused), Natalie Flattes (unexcused) ALSO PRESENT: Vivian Akine Lincoln Ashida Karen Bugado Laurie Kaneta Ty Medeiros Darryl Oliveira Martha Rodillas Noni Sanford Ron Sanford Joe Whitney STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS None APPROVAL OF MEETING PROCEEDINGS Commissioner Kaoiwi moved to accept the September 10, 2003, regular session minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hart and unani APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Kaoiwi moved to accept communication numbers 03-66 through 03-82. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ward and unanimously car Corporation Counsel Ashida stated that Chief Oliveira and Union Representative Ty Medeiros would like to discuss Communication No. 03-68 in execut DISPATCH PRESENTATION See attachment A & B that was read by Vivian Akine, Auxiliary Services Supervisor and Karen Bugado, Dispatcher, respectively. The turnover rate at Fire Dispatch is low. People stay until they retire. Right now there are three people out on extended leave. There are a total of 12 positions. The average workweek is barely manageable because of the minimum amount of staff. For about one month, Fire Dispatch has been operating with only four people. They are hopeful that two employees will return by the end of the month. Should Fire Dispatch need to evacuate to Civil Defense headquarters, the entire island would operate on one frequency. Chief Oliveira explained that they are working on splitting the island in half for better means of communication. This would enhance communication between police and fire personnel. Terry Wallace and Dispatcher Karen Bugado conducted a brief role Karen briefly explained the procedure followed upon receipt of a 911 call. Landlines provide location & information provided by the phone c made by cell phones do not give a location of the caller. Commissioner Kaoiwi commended the staff at Fire Dispatch for wor especially for him personally. Commissioner Hart thanked Vivian and her staff. He sympathizes with Fire Dispatch and supports their work. Commissioners were invited to visit the Dispatch Communication Center. 2 CHIEFÓS REPORT Chief Oliveira re-emphasized to the Commissioners that they are welcomed to visit the Dispatch Communication Center. Budget: Thanks to the Commission was expressed. Last communication rece EMS stated that the budget is secured as submitted. Additional funds have been requested for bargaining unit increases. County budget: attended Finance meeting. Will revisit the supplemental budget request. Each department has been given direction to avoid any recurring costs. Items submitted for supplemental budget request includes a radio system maintenance agreement contract with vendors; collective bargaining unit meals for personnel; vehicle repairs and mainten for replacement vehicles; fleet replacement program; ladder truck; two pump apparatus; vent system for the removal of diesel emission in some stations. 04-05 budget Î encouraged being cautious with optimism. This is due on October 31. Will keep HFC updated at next meeting. Grants: received three grants. These will be used for rescue eq education. $750 from Hilo Wal Mart $1,500 from Kona Wal Mart $1,500 from the Sayre Foundation CIP: Fire administration building: working with the Mayor to establish sites in the Hilo area for potential complexes. Facilities included are dispatch & warehouse. Central Fire may have to be separated from Administration. Puna public safety complex (fire & police) needs to be replaced in Keaau. Pahoa replacement fire station with a sub-station for HPD. Kalaua fire station Î met with contractors. Tentative completion date is November 2004. Next budget will include operational costs. No start date yet. Funds will lapse in February 2004. Will monitor this closely. been identified; the northwest corner of the lot will be used. Promotions & hiring: Received packets for dispatcher position. 48 applications were Working on filling the position. Training will need to take place. Next supplemental budget would like to have 15 total personnel with o on each shift. Replacing & filling vacancy for fire equipment mechanics. Internal recruitment will be conducted for the Fire Auxiliary Battalion Chief position. 3 Operations division: RMS (Records Management System) is on-line as of October 1, 2003. Everyone is positive & patient using the program. Encountered 2 software glitches in the program. Thank you to Department of Data Systems & lead contacts. Maebo Noodle Factory fire Î working with inspectors regarding the cause. There were doors that were open and the business was not open at the t Inspectors and HPD investigators are working on the cause of the fire. Tsunami watch this past month got cancelled. HFD needs to revis emergency attendance involvement. Personnel should be sent to d help receive calls. Training division: Conducted firefighter recruits agility test. 66 candidates passed the test out of 97 candidates that took the test. 11 failed at the swim; 11 failed at the bag drag; 1 failed on the hose carry, and 4 failed on the run. 66 candidates passed the test out of the 109 who were scheduled to appear. There were 17 no shows. 11 failed at the swim; 11 failed at the weight drag; 1 failed on the hose bundle carry; and 3 failed on the endurance run. There will still be 13 vacancies. There are 2 recruit classes going on now. HFD is expecting 8 employees to retire this year. Looking at reorganization of the HFD. Volunteer division: Next meeting scheduled for October 25 at the Fern Forest Station. HFC members were encouraged to attend. New projects: Chief Oliveira participated in the first ÐcharetteÑ meeting. A big-time developer wants to do a community minded project for the island of HawaiÒi. Project would consist of athletic stadiums, etc. This would involve bringing in the public and the community. st Chief Oliveira attended the 1 Annual Statewide Municipal AttorneyÓs Conference sponsored by the Office of the Corporation Counsel. The Chief f very beneficial. Topics of interest included the Sunshine Law, sexual harassment, etc. Would like to send more of HFD staff - to benefit in keeping us out of problems legally. Public Relations: bucket brigade to be held this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. Î 2:00 p.m. There will be displays and the re-blessing of ÐChopper 1Ñ. donations. Ice cream will be given. Chief Oliveira requested that someone be designated from the HFC to say a few words at the ceremony. Chief Oliveira mentioned that there are not enough candidates to go thru MICT training at this time; would like a bigger class. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4 NONE COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget & Finance (Bowles/Hart) none Office Management and Staffing (Fergerstrom/Wallace) none Rules and Policies (Kaoiwi/Flattes) none Public Relations (Ward) none Chairman Neil Brazier called for a recess of 5-10 minutes at 10:55 a.m. The meeting resumed at 11:12 a.m. NEW BUSINESS None. MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION It was moved by Commissioner Kaoiwi and seconded by Commissioner Ward that the Fire Commission go into executive session pursuant to Section 92-5(2), HawaiÒi Revised Statutes and Section 13-20(b), HawaiÒi County Charter. The motion was unanimously carried. Chairman Neil Brazier noted that Corporation Counsel Ashida has been asked to remain in the room during this portion of the meeting. The regular session ended at 11:14 a.m. and went into executive session. The regular session resumed: 11:37 am ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTER None. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at the Hilo Lagoon Centre, Liquor Control Conference Room. 5 Set agenda for November 12, 2003 meeting. Chairman Brazier stated that items to be placed on the agenda should be given to Martha two weeks prior to the meeting date. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: __________________________ MARTHA A. RODILLAS Secretary B&C:Fire Commission:Regular Session Minutes 9-10-03 LSA/mr 6