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Home My WebLink About2017-05-10 Fire Commission Regular Minutes REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MAY 10, 2017 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO CALL TO ORDER Chair Becker called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Robert Becker, Chair Scott Susman, Vice Chair David De Luz, Jr., Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Bobbye St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Mapuana Waipa, Commissioner Absent: Denise Laitinen, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant John Bertsch Volunteer Commander Jessica Yeh, Deputy Corporation Counsel Craig Masuda, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 12, 2017, regular session: Vice Chair Susman motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Waipa seconded, and it carried unanimously. The commission did not meet in executive session. REPORT Chief Rosario highlighted items on his written report: Budget and Finance FY 2016/2017: Accountant Melanio Lorenzo stated that they will be in the black this fiscal year, and so they requested funding for two vehicles for the Minutes of May 10, 2017 Page 2 They will receive EMS reimbursement for EMS S & W. FY 2017/2018: Chief Rosario reported that they received the Mrevised budget. Funding for contractual overtime and training was put back into the budget. They also received funding for hazmat protective suits, Ocean Safety, and an extension of their apparatus replacement program. Mr. Lorenzo stated that their initial request of $48 million was cut by $2.9 million. $2 million was restored, and they are very grateful. Alternative Funding and Grants 2016: CDBG: The Pahala Wildland Pumper Apparatus Project is in production and is expected to be completed in October. 2015: AFG Grant: Replacement of the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Inventory is expected to be completed by June 30. Human Resources Division: Seventeen Fire Fighter Recruits started on May 1. They are in consultation for additional funding to continue the Community Paramedicine Program. Their goal is to reduce the need for 911 services. Commissioner St. Ambrogio stated that she is working with Program 360 which borders on the same issues. She asked about identifying areas where people are most vulnerable. Chief Rosario will provide her with contact information for Captains Hara and Ebersole. Bargaining Units 1 and 2 will receive 2% salary increases effective April 1. Emergency Operations Division: Operations: They conducted BC training and shadowing for captains. Special Operations Hazmat: They are in the process of replacing hazmat suits that are nearing the end of their useful life. Rescue: They received $25,000 from the Karakin Foundation via the Sayre Foundation to purchase repelling equipment. Ocean Safety: New PA systems were and routed through the Sayre Foundation. Bills HB14 to provide lifeguards at Kua Bay and SB562 to continue to provide immunity for lifeguards died at the legislature. They conducted assessment and interviews for WSOs. Minutes of May 10, 2017 Page 3 Support Services Division Training: They participated in the college and high school students. Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander John Bertsch distributed a written report. The next Captai will be on May 20 in Ainaloa. They are working with the Chief to certify drivers. Volunteers have to commit to a set number of hours for training. They are revisiting their SOGs. The west side is under a water restriction, so Battalion 2 is refraining from doing wet drills. They are going through a radio changeover. Training will be conducted an hour Chair Becker stated that he will conduct a 2-hour CERT training. EMS Bureau: Two new ambulances for are scheduled to arrive the third week of May. Twelve HFD personnel submitted their application to the KCC MICT program which begins in August. KCC received 15 applications, but only 12 will be accepted. Captain Hara represented HFD at a statewide AHA Stroke and STEMI Conference Oahu covering stroke, heart attack, and Community Paramedicine initiatives. Prevention Bureau: The bureau has been busy conducting inspections and plan reviews. They performed standby duties at the Merry Monarch Festival. system this summer. A new dispatch class is being delayed due to the nances. Re-flooring of the North Kohala station has been pushed back to July. Corporation Counsel is reviewing their records requests due to the HIPPA Law, and requests are being fulfilled in approximately 10 days. New Projects: DPW still has the Central Fire Station Renovation Project on hold. Other Departmental Activities: Chief Rosario stated that 33 personnel from Chief down to fire fighters are eligible for retirement with 25 years of service. He anticipates 5-7 retirements this year. In the Ch Chief will provide a mid-year review. Chief Rosario explained their complaint process. When they receive a complaint, an investigator is assigned immediately. He sends a letter to the employee of the allegation. The investigator interviews the employee, and a union rep may be present. The person who is complained against is interviewed last. The investigator will forward the report to Chief. A Chief. Anything beyond a written reprimand goes to Chief. They are obligated to notify the union of any corrective action. An investigation could take a couple of days or up to six months. If a complaint is already scheduled with the Fire Minutes of May 10, 2017 Page 4 Commission, he will wait for the c, unless it is very serious COMMITTEE REPORTS (No reports.) Budget and Finance Office Management and Staffing Rules and Policies Public Relations Training and Education Rules and Regulations Review Committee (Commissioner De Luz arrived at 11:01 a.m.) UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review draft on commission committees and internal governance recommendations. Nothing was added since last meeting. Review commission rules update status. Commissioner Payesko went over the recommendations. Commissioner De Luz motioned to create a permitted interaction group of three people consisting of Commissioners St. Ambrogio, Payesko, and him to work on updating the comm it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Becker announced that the next meeting is scheduled for June 14, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., in the ter, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona ADJOURNMENT Commissioner De Luz motioned to adjourn. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:01 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT BECKER, CHAIR