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Home My WebLink About2018-09-12 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Becker called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Robert Becker, Chair Scott Susman, Vice Chair Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Denise Laitinen, Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner Absent: Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Lance Uchida, Deputy Chief Darwin Okinaka, Assistant Chief Robert Perreira, Assistant Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Laitinen motioned to approve the agenda. Vice Chair Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 15, 2018 Commissioner Yawata motioned to approve the minutes with a sentence deletion on page 4. Vice Chair Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Chief Rosario introduced his executive staff: Deputy Chief Lance Uchida stated that he is from Hilo. He joined the military and was in Desert Storm. He was in the UH Nursing Program prior to joining the Fire Department. He summarized his progression in the Fire Department. Assistant Chief Darrin Okinaka of Operations stated that he just made 18 years in the Fire Department. He summarized his career in the Fire Department, most of which was at Central. Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2018 Page 2 Assistant Chief Robert Perreira of Support Services stated that he will make 25 years in the Fire Department this December. He summarized his years in the department. The best job he ever had was fire inspector working with canine Kaimi who was the first one in the State. Kaimi will probably retire next year. Items from Chief Rosario's written report were highlighted: Budget and Finance: Accountant IV Melanio Lorenzo reported that they are at 22.91 % of budget which includes June's payroll lag. They submitted May's claim to FEMA. The total claim for May's overtime wages and purchase of supplies was $603,000. They approved 50% of their 75%. FEMA has an office in the old Ironworks building, and they have been very supportive. They just submitted about $400,000 of expenditures in June to Finance. The next fiscal year budget kickoff will be on Friday. Chief Rosario stated that every year they are directed to reduce their budget. They have to make cuts but not make cuts in services. One year he told them there were no cuts he could make, and they made the cuts for him. Now, they aggressively go after grants, but they need the support staff to do it. They received grants for stations, apparatus, equipment, and training. For years, the mantra has been do more with less. Overall, the county is not in good shape. The will continue to do their best to serve the county. The shelters in Puna are closing down today. Alternative Funding and Grants ✓ 2018 CDBG: The Paradise Park Wildland Brush Truck bid invitation was posted. ✓ 2018 State Highways Grant: Grants awarded for child protective seats and extrication tools for HOVE, Pahala, and Honoka`a. ✓ Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation: Funding for a brush tanker for Waikoloa/South Kohala was given by a private donor. Assistance was given for extrication tools for Waimea and Waikoloa. • Human Resources Division: Internal recruitments were held for Assistant Fire Chief of Operations and Support Services, Fire/EMS Specialist II, and Human Resources Specialist I. Open recruitment was held for Fire Equipment Mechanic and Fire Radio Dispatcher I. Emergency Operations Division ✓ Battalion 1 had a many wild fires and structure fires. They conducted numerous swift water rescues during Hurricane Lane. There was a lot of property damage in Hamakua and Puna. ✓ Battalion 2 also had a lot of wild fires. A very large fire one on Highway 190 that came within 2 miles of Waikoloa Village took a week to control. A HAZTECH refresher training was held at the Makalei Fire Station. ✓ Special Operations ➢ Hazmat: Captains Kim of Kaumana and Loyola of Makalei will attend the Hazmat Continuing Challenge funded by the LEPC. They are waiting for grant funding to conduct more confined space classes. Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2018 Page 3 ➢ Rescue: A Sayre gifting ceremony was held for the newly renovated Radon Rescue Boat for Kailua. The Sayre Awards Dinner was held on September 1. Pretty much everything they requested was donated. ➢ Ocean Safety: Two WSO personnel attended the Drowning Prevention Ocean Safety Conference on Kauai in August. The Department sent 20 Junior Lifeguards to the State Championships on Kauai in August. Cost for travel was paid by various organizations. Personnel who were stationed at the Ahalanui and Isaac Hale towers were relocated to Hilo and Punalu`u. Support Services Division ✓ Training: Twenty-one Fire Fighter Recruits started class on August 16. The training office was moved from Central to Haihai. ✓ Volunteer Training: The volunteers, along with community volunteers, gave a lot of support during the Hurricane Lane. The next Captains' meeting will be held on September 15 at Discovery Harbor. ✓ EMS Bureau: Captains Hara and Honda spoke on Community Paramedicine at the Queens Medical Center Trauma Symposium. Six new MICTs started their 10 -shift FMS II orientation. Two more MICT students are expected to complete training soon. ✓ Prevention Bureau: Through AC Perreira's initiative, the bureau started a new 24- hour schedule. They are now pretty much caught up on their plan reviews. ✓ Auxiliary Services: The SCBA Replacement Grant was completed. The mechanic shop is busy with repairs and service calls. A draft of the Dispatch Policy and Procedures Manual was completed and is being submitted for review. Other Departmental Activities: Mayor Kim announced plans to provide access to Isaac Hale Beach Park. They are initiating tasks required to provide Water Safety Officers back to the park along with the tower placement. Deputy Chief Uchida met with Dr. Bronstein of the State Department of Health. They were told that money is coming for the additional Puna medic and two EKG units. Even though they lost 700 homes in Puna, the call volume remains the same. The new medic will increase their staff by six. They are still waiting for funding for the Community Paramedics. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Letter from the Charter Commission requesting input and any proposals for amendment to the Charter: Chair Becker stated that the Charter Commission will meet regarding Section 7-4.3. A court case on discipline of a department head that is appointed by a commission was distributed. With input from the commissioners, he drafted a red line submission to the Charter Commission. Vice Chair Susman stated that he doesn't agree with some things in the draft. Back in 2000, a councilman said to put the commission within the Fire Department. Chair Becker stated that they are being asked to make changes to the Charter. The Fire Chief is in charge of the Fire Department. The Fire Commission is independent. They do not work for the Fire Chief. Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2018 Page 4 Vice Chair Susman stated that he wants to go before the Charter Commission as an individual. This commission has never asserted itself as a commission. It should be clearly stated what the commission should be doing. Chair Becker stated that they have gone through this as a group. Right now, this is the consensus of the group. He will go to the Charter Commission as the Fire Commission's representative. Commissioner Henkel motioned to accept the proposed draft of changes to the Charter Commission and the accompanying letter. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried with a nay vote from Vice Chair Susman. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Becker reminded the commissioners about filing their Financial Disclosure Statement. Chair Becker reported that the Salary Commission requested input on the Chief's salary. His thought is they need to look at when subordinates get a raise and compare salaries with the other islands. He recommended that they look at it on a regular basis. In looking at their chart of salaries for all the islands, Hawaii Island is the lowest. He suggested that whenever subordinates get raises, they analyze and review the salary of the Chief and Deputy. Elections for Chair and Vice Chair will be in December ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Becker announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for October 10, 2018, 9:00 a.m., West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. SUBMITTTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT BECKER, CHAIR