HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-08 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION
MINUTES OF JUNE 8, 2016
WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER, BUILDING G CONFERENCE ROOM
74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII
CALL TO ORDER
Chair De Luz called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: David De Luz, Jr., Chair
Kimo Lee, Commissioner
Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner
Scott Susman, Commissioner
Mapuana Waipa, Commissioner
Ralph Yawata, Commissioner
Absent: Robert Becker Commissioner
(A quorum was present.)
Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire 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
• May 11, 2016, regular session: Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the
minutes. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously
May 11, 2016, executive session: Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the
minutes. Commissioner Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously
DISCUSSION ON FIRE CHIEF'S WRITTEN REPORT
Chief Rosario highlighted items from his written report:
• Budget and Finance: They project a balance of about $800,000 which will go back
into the County's General Fund. Finance refunded their salary increases. All their
supplemental budget requests for the 2016-17 budget were initially denied.
Alternative Funding and Grants: They hope to have the Pahoa Brush Truck
completed in July and expect to have it on island in August. The application for the
Wildland Pumper was submitted, and they are waiting for final HUD money. The
application for the replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus was submitted,
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Regular Session Minutes
June 8, 2016
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and they are waiting for notification. They are still waiting on the Office of Ageing
grant for the Community Based Paramedic Pilot Program out of West Hawaii which
is for house calls for high -call volume entities.
• Human Resources Division: Six temporary Water Safety Officer I summer hire
positions were filled in May. Fire Prevention Inspector I and Fire Rescue Specialist
promotions are pending. One Water Safety Officer I was reallocated to II in March.
Emergency Operations Division
➢ Operations: Personnel attended an active shooter drill.
➢ Special Operations
✓ Hazmat: 12 personnel completed the Hazmat technician class and are
now qualified to work on the Hazmat team.
✓ Rescue: 25 personnel completed the confined space training program.
An additional training session will be held. SOG was revised with
recommendations from HIOSH.
✓ Ocean Safety: The Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory
Committee will meet at the end of May to address ways to reduce injuries
and prevent drownings of local residents. The PA system for the north
tower at Kahalu`u will be ready for installation by June.
Support Services Division
➢ Training: One firefighter recruit/MICT passed his evaluation period. Six out of
seven firefighter recruit/EMTs passed the evaluation period. One
firefighter/EMT was extended for an additional evaluation period.
➢ Volunteer Training: The Ethics Board ruled in their favor to allow the use of the
Pepe`ekeo Fire Station as a drop off point for donated items for the Lokahi
Giving Tree Project. Volunteer Commander Paul Lakin reported that all
volunteers have been assigned a new radio. His term ends in August, and
they will be electing a new commander. Chair De Luz stated that they finally
got some benefits for volunteers injured or dying during a fire incident. This
gives them a lot of comfort. Hawaii County is the only county in the state that
has a volunteer fire department. Having a volunteer fire station allows many
homes to have affordable fire insurance.
➢ EMS Bureau: All 8 MICT students passed their second rotation internship
assignments. The Fire Department will reimburse all costs for MICT School if a
person passes the course and graduates. Hands on CPR wrapped up its third
academic school year. To -date, over 7,000 people have been trained in Hands
only CPR.
➢ Prevention Bureau: They conducted 89 inspections. The arson K9 was used
in two fires. They are the only county in the state with a K9. Forty-one
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Regular Session Minutes
June 8, 2016
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residential fire safety inspections were conducted, and 200 smoke alarms were
installed.
➢ Auxiliary Services: The Chief Mechanic and others did a pre -delivery
inspection in Wisconsin on the two new pumpers which will be assigned to
Central and Hawaiian Paradise Park.
New Projects: DPW is working on Central Fire Station renovations. The new Haihai
station is on schedule. They continue with discussions with the new State EMS
Director to propose an EMS Community Based Supervisor position for West Hawaii
as well as Basic Life Support Units to augment their Advanced Life Support Units.
They are utilizing grant funds for training to send personnel to Wildland Training
Conferences that the County could not fund.
Public Relations: The Annual Fire Department Employee Volleyball Tournament is
being organized by Fire Medical Specialist II Vern Hara. Poki, the Fire Mascot was
introduced to the community via photo shoots and installation of smoke detectors in
homes.
Chief Rosario gave a Power Point presentation that gave an overview of the Fire
Department.
Chair De Luz asked the Chief to do a presentation on the department's recruitment and
promotion process.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Budget and Finance: No report.
• Office Management and Staffing: No report.
• Rules and Policies: Chair De Luz stated that Ms. Ng is reviewing the rules for any
administrative or legal concerns.
• Public Relations (Lee): No report.
• Training and Education (Waipa): No report.
• Rules and Regulations Review Committee: Pending a permitted interactive group.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
• Review draft of 2016 Fire Chief's Performance Evaluation Elements: This was
completed.
Review draft of 2016 Department Program of Work: This was completed. Chief
Rosario reported that this was a new concept to him and the County, although he
may not be able to accomplish some items. Commissioner Susman stated that he,
Vice Chair Becker, and Chief Rosario worked collaboratively, and it was tied in with
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Regular Session Minutes
June 8, 2016
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the Strategic Plan. Chair De Luz stated that this will allow them to have a more
definitive opportunity to do the Chief's evaluation.
• Review draft of Fire Chief's Position Description: Ms. Ng stated that she still needs
to have a discussion with Gabriella Cabanas of Human Resources.
(There was no executive session.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Chair De Luz announced that the next meeting is scheduled for July 20, 2016, 9:00
a.m., Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii.
• Collection of files and documents (done)
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:33 a.m.
SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY
APPROVED BY: DAVID DE LUZ, JR., CHAIR