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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-08 Fire Commission Minutes HAWAI‘I COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2012 NORTH HAWAI‘I COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CALL TO ORDER Chair Toby Taniguchi called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Toby Taniguchi, Chair Scott Stabo, Vice Chair Laurie Bass, Commissioner Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kimo Lee, Commissioner Byron Moku, Commissioner Luahiwa Namahoe, Commissioner Kaloa Robinson, Commissioner Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Renwick Victorino, Deputy Chief Tom Brandt, Volunteer Fire Chief Lincoln S. T. Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary All commissioners were present, and there was a quorum. APPROVAL AGENDA Commissioner Namahoe moved to approve the agenda. Vice Chair Stabo seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS DARREN SHIMAOKA, Big Island Chair of HFFA (Hawai‘i Fire Fighters Association), came before the commission. He stated that he was there to make sure due process was being done. Notice of this meeting wasn’t brought to his attention in time, but he was able to attend. Next time they want more notice. Fire personnel did what they should do. The situation that they were put in and how they reacted, was more than professional. They stepped up and did what they had to do. His main concern is that these guys are not put under the gun. The commission needs to find out what happened. In response to questions by the commission, Mr. Shimaoka stated that he received notification of this meeting by email on Friday. He is on duty, and fortunately he was able to attend this meeting. A union representative should be here. Hawai‘i County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 8, 2012 Page 2 Chair Taniguchi reassured Mr. Shimaoka that the commission is committed to due process. Chief Rosario stated that it is the employee’s responsibility to contact the union. They have protocol, but it is not written. Mr. Shimaoka stated that he wants to receive the commission’s meeting agenda. Ms. Pelayo will send it to him every month. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 14, 2011, Executive Session Minutes: Commissioner Robinson moved to approve and file the minutes as amended. Commissioner Namahoe seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. January 11, 2012, Regular Session Minutes: Commissioner Robinson moved to approve and file the minutes as amended. Commissioner Moku seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. CHIEF’S REPORT Fire Chief Darren Rosario came before the commission and highlighted items on his written report: Budget: County Finance is going through their budget for 2012-13. They are projecting retirements for next year. Fire service has cash in lieu of vacation, and it could be a significant amount. They average five retirements a year. At seven months into the budget cycle, they are about 3% under budget. Some areas such as fire equipment maintenance are slightly over. Maintenance is on a two-day furlough. They receive a lot of grants for the work they do. Alternative Funding and Grants: The bid award for the Pahoa fire apparatus is being protested, and is now being delayed a couple of months. There is no update on the grant for the Pahoa tanker. Capital Improvement Projects: The Makalei fire station is about 65 completed and is scheduled to open in late summer or sooner. Bid specifications for the Naalehu and Pahala volunteer garages are being handled by public works. Human Resources Division: They are moving on filling all vacancies. Emergency Operations Division: The revised MOA for the Coast Guard SAR has been approved and signed. Hawai‘i County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 8, 2012 Page 3 Support Services Division EMS Bureau: The MICT class started with its largest class in HFD history with fourteen personnel. Fall Prevention training was conducted by the State DOH EMS Injury Prevention Branch for EMT and MICT students as well as the EMS Bureau and Prevention Bureau personnel. th Training Bureau: The 40 firefighter recruit class graduated on January 28. The newly promoted captain to the Training Bureau, Darwin Okinaka, started on January 16. Prevention Bureau: Their fire prevention fire code passed. Auxiliary Services: The mechanic shop employees have two furlough days a month. They are doing a remarkable job of repairing and keeping equipment running. They did anticipate furloughs to have a negative impact. Today they have the same number of mechanics as in 1990, but the number of stations have grown. When they have a full staff, they still have to work over time. There was a suggestion to work full time at lower wage, but the union felt they would rather take a day off instead of lower wage. Apparatus/Equipment Section: Chief Rosario briefed the commission on their vehicle inventory, age, and apparatus condition. The average age of their fire trucks is 17 years. The national average replacement age is 10-15 years. They don’t have a replacement when one is being repaired. He is preparing a fleet replacement schedule for 15-20 years. Mileage is also a consideration. Their process is to rotate apparatus. At age 25, they will retire from service and be auctioned off. They are looking to purchase two apparatus a year with county funds. The average cost of an apparatus increases about 3% a year. At the end of this 10-year plan, with 3% increments each year, it’s about $900,000. They have to plan for $2 million for each year’s budget. Volunteer Training Section: Volunteer Fire Chief Tom Brandt introduced the volunteer captains James Milar from Pa‘auilo and James Fritz from Pu‘uanahulu. He thanked the commission for having more meetings in Kona and Waimea. Commissioners Taniguchi and Moku participated in their quarterly meeting. A highlight was to establish a healthy safety committee. They are not going to do interior fire fighting. They are willing to work with the Chief to assist career personnel. The next volunteer meeting will be on April 28 at HPP at 10:00 a.m. There website is: hvfca.net. New Projects/Business: They have a new Arson Task Force with an arson dog. They work with the police to deal with any suspected arson. Employee/Public Relations: Grievances are continuing. Hawai‘i County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 8, 2012 Page 4 In response to Chair Taniguchi’s inquiry into other sources of income, Chief Rosario stated that they received approval from the Mayor to apply for the SAFER grant for fire fighter positions. It will provide salaries for two years and then the county will pick it up after the grant period. They apply for the SBG grant yearly. They have also received a few private grants. NEW BUSINESS Selection of Chair and Vice Chair of the Fire Commission for 2012 Commissioner Moku moved that they keep the current Chair and Vice Chair in place. Commissioner Henkel seconded the motion. Commissioner Robinson stated that he is interested in the Vice Chair position. Commissioner Lee moved to nominated Commissioner Robinson as Vice Chair. Commissioner Moku rescinded his motion. Commissioner Moku moved to nominate Toby Taniguchi as Chair. Commissioner Robinson seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel moved to nominate Kaloa Robinson as Vice Chair. Commissioner Stabo seconded, and it carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Robinson moved to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges of employees where consideration of matters affecting privacy would be involved and a closed session is requested and to 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) (4) (6) and Hawai‘i County Charter Section 13-20(b). Commissioner Henkel seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:10 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 1:10 p.m. Investigation and Deliberation of Complaints Complaint HCFC 12-01: Fire personnel responded to a call of illegal burning. Complainant alleged that fire personnel harassed, threatened, and intimidated him. He also alleged that personnel refused to identify themselves. Complaint HCFC 12-02: Complainant stated that he went to the fire station to get the names of personnel involved in a prior incident. He alleged that the personnel at the station assaulted him. Commissioner Namahoe moved to defer action on the two complaints until March in order to afford the complainant an opportunity to be heard. Vice Chair Robinson seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawai‘i County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes February 8, 2012 Page 5 COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget and Finance (Committee Chair Taniguchi): No report. Office Management and Staffing (Committee Chair Stabo): No report. Rules and Policies (Committee Chair Lee): No report. Public Relations (Committee Chair Henkel): No report. Training and Education (Committee Chair Namahoe): No report. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Taniguchi announced that the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona. Chair Taniguchi stated that items for the next monthly meeting agenda should be submitted to either him or Ms. Pelayo. Chair Taniguchi reminded the members to submit their financial disclosure statements to the Board of Ethics in the Corporation Counsel’s office. Collection of files and documents. – Done. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Robinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Stabo seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1:26 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: TOBY TANIGUCHI, CHAIR