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Home My WebLink About2014-11-12 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 12, 2014 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST, HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Taniguchi called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Toby Taniguchi, Chair Byron Moku, Vice Chair David De Luz, Jr., Commissioner Carol Ignacio, Commissioner Kimo Lee, Commissioner Mapuana Waipa, Commissioner Absent: Carol Kitaoka, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant Paul Lakin, Volunteer Commander Kathy Garson, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None) APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Ignacio motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Waipa seconded, and it carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2014 Vice Chair Moku motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner De Luz seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Fire Chief Darren Rosario highlighted items on his written report: • BUDGET STATUS FY 2014/2015: Chief Rosario introduced Accountant Melanio Lorenzo who briefly explained items on the written expenditure report. Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes November 12, 2014 Page 2 Chief Rosario reported that the three storms and the lava flow have impacted their budget. They are hoping for FEMA reimbursement and without financial assistance, they will be in the red. They have been doing daily helicopter fly-bys over the lava. When their funds are exhausted, Civil Defense will take over the costs. The collective bargaining increases also affected their budget. Vice Chair Moku requested a month-to-month report on the effect of the budget. They submitted a status quo budget and a supplemental budget which included an internal IT staff person, fire captains for four stations, a clerk position, and replacement apparatus and support vehicles. Commissioner De Luz stated that the County Council approves the budget. He doesn't want them to be short-changed. • ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND GRANTS ➢ FY 2012 Assistance to Fire Fighters Prevention Grant Application: They are still waiting for notification. ➢ FY 2013 CDBG Grant for Waiakea Quint: The apparatus was delivered. The vendor conducted training and additional training will be ongoing. Once training is completed, it will be put in service. ➢ FY 2013 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: This is for the driver simulator which needs to be put out to bid. ➢ FY 2014 CDBG Grant for Ka'u Brush Truck: KME was the awardee. They are waiting for notice to proceed. ➢ FY 2014 State Highways Grant: This is for extrication devices. Of all grants applied for, only one was denied. Most of the grants were spearheaded by EMS Captain Jesse Ebersole. ➢ Capital Improvement Projects: They continue to work with DLNR on the Kawailani Fire Station replacement. There have been concerns of flooding in the area, and the project design will provide for flood relief. • HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION: Internal recruitments within department: They have three temporary Fire Captains positions for the new Pahoa Village Fire Station. • EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION ➢ Operations: Personnel have done great work with the hurricanes that impacted Puna. HPP volunteers did a really good job in helping out. A fire ground survival training course was conducted. ➢ Special Operations ✓ Hazmat: They continue to work on funding for obsolete equipment. Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes November 12, 2014 Page 3 ✓ Rescue: Dive Rescue I classes are scheduled for October and November. ✓ Ocean Safety: The lifeguard towers in Onekahakaha and Richardson's Beach have been replaced. The Honolii tower will be replaced by a private helicopter operator. SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION ➢ Training Bureau: The 43rd Fire Fighter Recruit Class has been in driver training for a month. Half of the recruits will attend EMT class in January. ➢ EMS Bureau ✓ Personnel assisted with the planning and staffing of high profile events such as the Thirty Meter Telescope groundbreaking and the Ironman World Championship. ✓ In October, 300 plus Konawaena High School students were trained in Hands Only CPR. Over 3,700 people have been trained to date. ✓ Personnel worked with KCC EMS training to put together the MICT Refresher Training agenda which included STEMI and stroke activation performance. Personnel participated in numerous training including customer service, post traumatic stress, and Ebola and other contagious diseases. ➢ Prevention Bureau: Arson K9 Kaimi was successfully recertified. BC Perreira attended a conference that offered a new Fire Prevention Track; training will be conducted with Prevention inspectors. ➢ Auxiliary Services ✓ Maintenance Shop: The aerial quint was received from KME in October. ✓ Warehouse: Work continues on reoccupying the old Pahoa Fire Station. ➢ Volunteers Training: Volunteer Commander Paul Lakin Volunteer reported that their relationship with the paid side has been excellent. Their website has generated a lot of interest for volunteer fire fighters. The next volunteer meeting will be in February. NEW PROJECTS/BUSINESS: Development of the new Pahoa Village Fire Station continues. Their goal is to provide service to all affected areas. Work on the strategic plan was canceled due to the lava flow. EMPLOYEE/PUBLIC RELATIONS: Battalion Chief Lance Uchida was nominated for County of Hawaii supervisor of the year. COMMITTEE REPORTS/UPDATES • Budget and Finance (Committee Chair De Luz): None Office Management and Staffing (Committee Chair Taniguchi): None. Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes November 12, 2014 Page 4 • Rules and Policies (Committee Chair Kitaoka): None. • Public Relations (Committee Chair Lee): None. • Training and Education (Committee Chair Waipa): None. INVESTIGATION AND DELIBERATION OF COMPLAINT HCFC 14-02 Complainant Hope Cermelj alleged that responding personnel said she was not high priority and left her behind. She requested to be heard in open session. Ms. Cermelj came before the commission, gave a statement and answered questions. She stated that her friends called 911. She had fever and sweats. She could not drive her vehicle to take herself to the emergency room. The ambulance got there. They took her vitals. She does know what her temperature was. She needed to go to the emergency room. One of the gentlemen told her she was not high priority enough and drove away. He stated to one of the people that maybe one of them could take her to the emergency room. She was taken into town about 40 minutes later. When she drove by the fire station, Christopher and Chad were in the front of the station waiting for their shift change. Her diagnosis at the hospital was cellulites. She hopes no one will be left behind again like she was. She had no other way to get to the emergency room except by calling 911. She would have felt better if they took her to the emergency room. (Cermelj exited.) (CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC) EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner De Luz motioned to meet in executive session to consider discipline and charges against employees of the Fire Department; to consider the evaluation of the Fire Chief; to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities; and to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Ignacio seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:15 a.m. Open session reconvened at 11:47 a.m. Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes November 12, 2014 Page 5 (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Investigation and Deliberation of Complaint HCFC 14-02: Commissioner Lee motioned to exonerate both personnel as the incident occurred but was lawful and proper. Commissioner Ignacio seconded, and it carried unanimously. • Planning for Upcoming Fire Chief's Annual Evaluation: Chair Taniguchi asked Chief Rosario to submit his recap of the past year's activities. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Taniguchi announced that the next monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner De Luz motioned to adjourn. Vice Chair Moku seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 11:58 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: TOBY TANIGUCHI, CHAIR