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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-10 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2014 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST, HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Taniguchi called the meeting to order at 10:13 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 Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Renwick Victorino, Deputy Fire Chief Gantry Andrade, Assistant Fire Chief Glen Honda, Assistant Fire Chief Gerald Kosaki, Battalion Chief Paul Lakin, Volunteer Commander Craig Masuda, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS BATTALION FIRE CHIEF MEDEIROS came before the commission. He stated that he was there to speak on two letters he sent to the commission for the evaluation of the Fire Chief. However, he felt it was not appropriate to bring up the information in public. Commissioner Ignacio told BC Medeiros that he talked about how much money he makes and doesn't make, but she wants him to identify his two main issues. He said he couldn't prioritize his issues. He is concerned about the Chief's actions. There are two Battalion Chiefs on paid leave during investigations. There is a strategic plan task force, but there are no minutes. Deputy Corporation Counsel Masuda told the commission that they should not respond to ongoing investigations. He told BC Medeiros that he is the commission's attorney and cannot advise him. There are two complaint procedures. The first is for the public to make a complaint to the commission about Fire Department personnel. The second is an internal procedure for Fire Department personnel to file with the Fire Chief. The commission does not have authority over administrative matters of the Fire Department. The written complaint he filed with the commission is not within the commission's Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 10, 2014 Page 2 jurisdiction. His complaint should go to the Chief, then the Mayor, then the Merit Appeals Board. He has to be conscious of the two processes. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Ignacio motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Waipa seconded, and it carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 12, 2014 Commissioner Lee motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Ignacio seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT • VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: Volunteer Commander Paul Lakin reported that they received their brush/station boots, and they are very happy with them. 9 Bravo is getting close to having their own station to house their apparatus. Two volunteer companies in the Pahoa area are standing by to help with the lava flow. The Volcano community installed a water tank. The volunteer captain's meeting will be in February. Chief Rosario said he appreciates the volunteers who have been participating in public events such as parades. Commissioner Ignacio said the volunteers are doing awesome work, especially in the Hamakua area, and she thanked them. Chief Rosario briefly highlighted items on his written report: • BUDGET STATUS: Fiscal Year 2014-15: They expect to be financially sound at the end of the year. • ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND GRANTS: ➢ Assistance to Fire Fighters Prevention Grant Application: Grants go through a peer review, and the requests are rated. ➢ Capital Improvement Projects: They continue to work with Public Works on the new Kawailani station. • HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION ➢ Recruitments ✓ Open -competitive recruitments: Ongoing for Water Safety Officer I and Fire Equipment Mechanic. ✓ Internal within department recruitments: Ongoing for EMS Specialist II, Fire Rescue Specialist, and Fire Prevention Captain. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION ➢ Operations: Hawaii Island is one of the high risk areas for wild fires due to drought conditions and lack of long-term rain, and they continue to track this. ➢ Special Operations Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 10, 2014 Page 3 ✓ Rescue: Dive rescue classes continue. They continue working on the US Coast Guard Boating Safety course. SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION ➢ Training Bureau: The 43rd Fire Fighter Recruit class continues with training. They lost two recruits in the past month. Graduation will be in May. The AFG for Driving Simulators specs have been identified and drawn up for bid. ➢ EMS Bureau: In November, an additional EMS was established for Puna along with AMR, a private company on contract with the State. Their first MICT prep class was held at the Pahoa Fire Station with 8 MICT students. ➢ Prevention Bureau: About 5,000 students participated in their fire safety program. They continue to do maintenance and inspections of businesses island -wide. ➢ Auxiliary Services: Re -roofing of the maintenance shop continues. They did not get approval to add equipment replacement to the budget. Commissioner De Luz asked for a report on vehicle age and replacement schedule. EMPLOYEE/PUBLIC RELATIONS: Battalion Chief Lance Uchida was awarded the County of Hawaii Supervisor of the Year award for 2014. COMMITTEE REPORTS/UPDATES • Budget and Finance (Committee Chair De Luz): None. • Office Management and Staffing (Committee Chair Taniguchi): None. • Rules and Policies (Committee Chair Kitaoka): None. • Public Relations (Committee Chair Lee): None. • Training and Education (Committee Chair Waipa): None. NEW BUSINESS • Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for 2015 Commissioner Lee motioned to nominated Commissioner De Luz as Chair. Commissioner Ignacio seconded. Discussion: Commissioner De Luz suggested they continue with the current Chair and Vice Chair until they are replaced. Commissioner De Luz accepted the nominated, and the motioned carried unanimously for De Luz as Chair. Commissioner Ignacio motioned to nominate Commissioner Lee as Vice Chair. Commissioner De Luz seconded. Discussion: Commissioner Lee accepted the nomination. The motion carried unanimously for Lee as Vice Chair. Hawaii County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 10, 2014 Page 4 • Revisions to Fire Commission's Rules and Regulations Chair Taniguchi turned over the chair to Vice Chair Moku for this agenda item. He stated that it is time to review the commission's rules and regulations. He motioned to create an interaction group to look at and make recommendations to the current rules and regulations. Commissioner Ignacio seconded. Discussion: Commissioner Ignacio agreed. There are conflicting information with the County's website and the County Charter. Deputy Corporation Counsel Masuda suggested that members be appointed to the committee (less than a quorum) and have a schedule for reporting back to the commission. Commissioner Taniguchi stated that the rules are 14 years old, and he wants more clarity. He would like to be on the committee. Commissioner De Luz made a friendly amendment to restate the motion to add that the current Chair appoint committee members and that they report back no later than February or March. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Taniguchi announced that the next monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Waipa motioned to meet in executive session to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities; to conduct an annual evaluation of the Fire Chief; 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). Vice Chair Moku seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:43 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 2:34 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENT Chair Taniguchi announced that the commission will recess the meeting and reconvene on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. in the Department of Liquor Control Conference Room, Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, Hawaii for the purpose of continuing the Fire Chief's annual evaluation in executive session. The meeting was recessed at 2:40 p.m. Hawai'i County Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 10, 2014 Page 5 MEETING RECONVENED The meeting reconvened on December 17, 2014, at 10:02 a.m., in the Department of Liquor Control Conference Rm., 101 Aupuni St., Hilo. Present were Commissioners Toby Taniguchi, David De Luz, Jr., Carol Ignacio, Kimo Lee, and Mapuana Waipa, Chief Rosario, Deputy Corporation Counsel Masuda, and Secretary Pelayo. Absent were Commissioners Kitaoka and Moku. A quorum was present. There were no statements from the public. Commissioner Ignacio motioned to approve the reconvened agenda. Commissioner De Luz seconded, and it carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner De Luz motioned to meet in executive session to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities and to conduct an annual evaluation of the Fire Chief pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) and (4), and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Waipa seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:05. Regular session reconvened at 1:20 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:22 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: TOBY TANIGUCHI, CHAIR