HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-09 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MAY 9, 2018
AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM
101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Becker called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Present: Robert Becker, Chair
Scott Susman, Vice Chair
Gregory Henkel, Commissioner
Kyle Keamo, Commissioners
Donna Payesko, Commissioner
Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner
Ralph Yawata, Commissioner
Absent: Denise Laitinen, Commissioner
A quorum was present.
Also present: Gerald Kosaki, Battalion Chief
Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant
Jessica Yeh, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Josie Pelayo, Secretary
Everyone introduced themselves.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Susman
seconded, and it carried unanimously.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 11, 2018
Vice Chair Susman motioned to approve the regular session minutes. Commissioner Yawata
seconded, and it carried unanimously.
Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the executive session minutes. Vice Chair
Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously.
FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT
In Chief Rosario's absence, Battalion Chief of Special Operations Gerald Kosaki highlighted
items on the Chief's written report:
• Budget and Finance: They are in the black. The 2018-19 budget did not get any
supplemental budget approvals, although funding for apparatus replacement may be
approved. Travel and training have been reduced or eliminated. Adjustments were made to
fuel and other OCE costs. They haven't see much of an increase in ambulance calls directly
related to the lava flow. They have an incident management team there.
Hawaii Fire Commission
Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2018
Page 2
Accountant Lorenzo reported that he projects a deficit in Salaries & Wages due to the lava
flow. They will request reimbursements from County Finance. They submitted a revised
budget which called for a $200,000 reduction.
Alternative Funding and Grants
✓ 2016 CDBG: The Pahala Wildland Pumper Apparatus is in the shop for a leaking roof,
and reps for the manufacturer are here to assist.
✓ 2018 State Highways Grant was awarded for child protective seats ($16,490) and
powered portable extrication tools for HOVE, Pahala, and Honoka`a ($96,944).
✓ 2019 State Highways Grant was submitted for additional portable extrication tools.
• Human Resources Division
✓ Internal Recruitment within the Department: Fire Captain of Operations, Fire
Equipment Operator, Fire/Hazardous Materials Specialist, Fire Prevention Inspector I.
✓ Open Competitive Recruitment: Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Fighter Recruit, Water
Safety Officer I.
Emergency Operations Division
✓ Operations: They conducted a body recovery at Rainbow Falls and responded to a
murder/suicide. Lifeguard stands at Isaac Hale Beach Park have been moved to Hilo
due to the lava flow.
✓ Special Operations
➢ Hazmat: AFG grant application was denied. Four hazmat technicians attended
an Improvised Explosive Device and Chemical workshop put on by the FBI.
Travel was funded by the LEPC. Twelve personnel attended a Hazmat
Technician Class which was funded by the Hazardous Materials Emergency
Planning Grant.
➢ Rescue: They are looking into more price term agreements for their dive bag
and hiking boots. The RB -7 Radon refurbishment was completed with funding
from the Sayre Foundation and County Council contingency funds.
➢ Ocean Safety: They are awaiting the MOA between the County and DLNR to
increase staffing at Hapuna Beach. Once the MOA is completed, they can begin
the process to fill 3 new positions.
Support Services Division
✓ Training: In April, they hosted the NFA Leadership and Supervision Course and
conducted training for a burn trailer for interior attack.
✓ Volunteer Training: In April, they did a Pepe`ekeo drivers' audit and closed course
testing for Volcano. The Captains' meeting will be on May 19 in Volcano.
✓ EMS: The County's P25 Medicom upgrade was completed in West Hawaii. 8 HFD
MICT interns returned from two months of training on Oahu. All are doing well and are
expected to complete the class in August.
✓ Prevention Bureau: Smoke alarms were installed and home inspections done in 4
residences. BC Perreira attended the Vision 20/20 Symposium in Virginia on
Community Risk Reduction.
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Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2018
Page 3
✓ Auxiliary Services: The MSA G1 System has gone live, and additional training is
online. The old SCBA units have been removed and will be used for training. Working
on Bluetooth capability to interface between MSA G1 and Motorola radios.
Established printing capabilities for new BC vehicles.
✓ Warehouse: Working on single point ordering system with online tracking.
✓ Mechanic Shop: 83 apparatus and equipment repairs/service. 8 contracted out tows.
Received new KME tanker 9.
• New Projects/Business (None.)
• Public Relations (Noted previously.)
• Other Departmental Activities: Chair Becker asked for a Powerpoint presentation on the fire
department for the new members. Chair Becker stated that the county's messaging is not
very good. Single consolidated messaging would be better. He hopes the county does a
critical review. BC Kosaki stated that people are not working in unison. It could be a lot
more effective. Chair Becker stated that it could all work better with one incident
commander.
• 2018 Program of Work Update (No report.)
CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION
• Chair Becker's testimony to the County Council on April 16: Chair Becker stated that he
spoke on supporting the fire department's budget requests. The fire department's budget is
about 85% for S & W vs. other departments at 62%. However, this is state negotiated.
• Recap of meeting with the Managing Director: The meeting was cancelled.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Becker announced that the commission's next monthly meeting will be held on June 13,
2018, at 9:00 a.m. in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference, 74-5044 Ane
Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chair Susman motioned to adjourn. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried
unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.
SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY
APPROVED BY: ROBERT BECKER, CHAIR