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Home My WebLink About2016-05-11 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MAY 11, 2016 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Robert Becker called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Robert Becker, Vice Chair Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Scott Susman, Commissioner Mapuana Waipa, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner Absent: David De Luz, Jr., Chair Kimo Lee, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Renwick Victorino, Deputy Fire Chief Gantry Andrade, Assistant Chief Jerry Lum, Battalion Chief Paul Lakin, Volunteer Commander Jennifer Ng, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Waipa seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • April 5, 2016, regular session: Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. April 5, 2016, executive session: Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. DISCUSSION ON FIRE CHIEF'S WRITTEN REPORT Chief Rosario highlighted items from his written report: • Budget and Finance: The final bid on the Battalion Chief vehicles was cancelled by the Finance Department due to the high cost. They did a complete engine replacement of the West Hawaii BC's vehicle. When considering a purchased, they Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 2 look at having the vehicle for 20 years. They are looking for extended cab trucks so they can separate personnel from dirty residue and equipment. Cost is a big factor. Accountant Melanio Lorenzo reported that they project to spend up to all but .03% of funds by the end of the fiscal year. They now have a deficit for fire equipment maintenance due to repair costs of old vehicles. Overtime for incidents and vacancies is driving costs up. The budget was submitted to the Mayor and reflected all bargaining unit increases. Chief Rosario explained the lease -purchase program which is used for apparatus replacements. After the five-year lease, they will own the equipment. They continue to receive donated vehicles from other municipalities. Alternative Funding and Grants: The 2015 CDBG for the Pahoa Brush Truck is moving along, and they expect delivery in August. They are still waiting for notification on the 2015 AFG for the SCBA purchases. Application was submitted for the 2016 CDBG for the Wildland Pumper Apparatus. Human Resources Division: They will be hiring six temporary hires for Water Safety Officers; five are summer hires. Selection for Fire Prevention Inspector I and Fire Rescue Specialist is pending. Water Safety Officer I positions have been reallocated to II. Emergency Operations Division ✓ Operations: They have been busy with fires in West Hawaii which they attribute to homeless people moving into brush areas and suspect arson. They continue to conduct their "Shattered Dreams" presentation at schools throughout the island. ✓ Special Operations: They held a Collaborative US Army Combat Support Team exercise in March which included Weapons of Mass Destruction and Active Shooter components. They tied it in with the Merry Monarch Festival. ✓ Rescue: They are finishing up their confined space training for all rescue personnel. A Search and Rescue exercise was held with the Coast Guard in April. ✓ Ocean Safety: The County Council accepted the BU raises for Water Safety Officers. They received approval for the last replacement tower which is for Kahalu`u Beach. All personnel have completed the Rescue Water Craft Crew training. • Support Services Division ✓ Training: The 44th Firefighter Recruit Class graduation will be in June. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 3 ✓ Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander Lakin reported that they continue to assist with wild fires. They continue to get recruits through their website. They do not have replacement vehicles, so they work very hard at maintaining them. Training continues on a regular basis. The next Captain's meeting will be on Saturday in the Aupuni Center at 10:00 a.m. They have 20 companies, and some companies do not have a captain. ✓ EMS Bureau: They participated in a community para -medicine meeting called for by Representative Gabbard. All eight MICT students passed their first internship assignments. They continue with their "Hands Only" CPR training. ✓ Prevention Bureau: They conducted over 100 inspections. Evidence for the suspected arson brush fires in West Hawaii have been turned over to the Police Department. Their arson K9 was used in the fires, but they had no positive alerts. ✓ Auxiliary Services: Pack radios have been distributed to online personnel. Volunteer radios will be distributed in May. • New Projects: They are increasing grant research and applications for FY 2016-17. They are proposing an EMS Community Based Supervisor position for West Hawaii as well as Basic Life Support Units. Grant funds are being utilized for Wildland Training and All Hazard Incident Management Team Training. • Public Relations: They received multiple letters of commendations. COMPLAINTS FOR CONSIDERATION AND INVESTIGATION • Investigation of Complaint HCFC 16-01: Complainant Leah Burns alleged that an employee harassed her. Ms. Burns came before the commission and requested to be heard in open session. She stated that she has breathing problems and spinal injuries. Vernon Hara caused her injuries. She read a written statement in which she spoke about her life and her work as a Chef. She filed a civil complaint which she presented to the commission. She was evicted from her home and land. Consideration of Complaint HCFC 16-03: Complainant Selene Copeland filed her complaint 7'/2 months from the date of incident, which is beyond the 60 -day filing deadline. Ms. Copeland came before the commission and requested to be heard in open session. She stated that she was not able to file in time because of medical reasons. She is a victim of violence and rape. She submitted documents to support her request for an exception to the 60 -day rule. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 4 EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Susman 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 consider charges brought against employees of the Hawai'i Fire Department; 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). Executive session convened at 10:45 a.m. Open Session reconvened at 12:18 p.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS • Complaint HCFC 16-01: Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to exonerate the employee. Commisioner Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. Complaint HCFC 16-03: Commissioner Susman motioned to not accept the complaint for investigation because it was not received within the 60 -day filing period. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. Ms. Ng returned Ms. Copeland's documents to her. COMMITTEE REPORTS: (There were no committee reports.) UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Review of Fire Commission's 2015 Annual Report: Vice Chair Becker reported that there were no substantive change since the last meeting. Ms. Ng stated that this was approved at the last meeting. • Review draft of 2016 Fire Chief's Performance Evaluation Elements: Commissioner S. Ambrogio motioned to approve subject to any typographical changes. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. • Review draft of 2016 Department Program of Work: Vice Chair Becker explained the document, and stated that it replaces the goals and objectives. Commissioner Waipa motioned to accept subject to formatting and typographical changes. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. • Review draft of Fire Chief's Position Description: Ms. Ng stated that she will discuss this with Gabriella Cabanas of Human Resources. Commissioner St. Ambrogio stated that the commissioners should have some sort of identification so the public knows who they are. Hawai'i Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chair Becker announced that the next meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2016, 9:00 a.m., West Hawai'i Civic Center Bldg. G Conf. Rm., 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. • Collection of files and documents (Done) ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:11 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT BECKER, VICE CHAIR