(Adopted Tuesday, November 16, 1999)
The Wake County Fire Commission met Tuesday, October 5, 1999, at 4:42 p.m. at the Garner Fire Department, Station 1, 503 West Main Street, Garner, North Carolina.
Members Present:
Cloyce Anders, External Facilitator
Ed Brinson, West Region/Primary
Tony Chiotakis, West Region/Alternate
Ray Echevarria, Director-Fire/Rescue Division
George Mills, North Region/Primary
Phil Mitchell, South Region/Primary
Ned Perry, Citizen/Consumer
Sidney Perry, President of Fireman's Association
Donald Pierce, South Region/Alternate
Buddy Scarboro, Wendell Town Representative
Tom Vaughan, East Region/Primary
Bonnie Woodruff, Citizen/Consumer
Members Absent:
Max Ashworth, Citizen/Consumer
Yevonne Brannon, Wake County Commissioner
Blaine Parks, Citizen/Consumer(Alternate)
Rodney Privette, East Region/Alternate
A.C. Rich, North Region/Alternate
Charles Sannipoli, Citizen/Consumer
Nancy Schwarm, Citizen/Consumer
Staff Present:
Tim Lanier, Interim Public Safety Director
Chris Perry, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal
Charles Ottaway, Public Safety Shift Supervisor
Sherry Scoggins, Executive Secretary
Facilitator Cloyce Anders called the meeting to order.
Opening Comments:
Mr. Anders opened the meeting. Stated that he had been down east because of Hurricane Floyd. It seems that the North East Fire Department has been adopted by Wake County. The North Carolina State Fireman's Association has set up a fund specifically for firemen. This fund will try to compensate them. Hopefully will be able to effect a good return and this will help individuals. While the departments are devastated, the departments will be OK. They do have flood coverage which will replace equipment, buildings, and vehicles. One department will also get reimbursed for fund raiser it could not hold because of the flood. All individuals at the fire station who lost personal effects will be compensated. Focus on individual for the fund. Everyone was insured. Twenty-four out of 25 fire members of the North East Fired Department had substantial damage. One family completely lost home. It is a real credit to those who have gone down to help. It really shows what emergency services is about. Emergency services suffered because they were out and not at the station. The treasurer of the fire department activated the alarm to notify the people in town the water was rising. Hopefully effort to bring in funds will be successful for Fire and Rescue personnel.
Approval of Minutes:
Upon motion of Mr. Ned Perry, seconded by Ms. Bonnie Woodruff, the Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the May 18, 1999, and June 3, 1999, meetings.
Public Comments:
No public comments were requested to be heard. Therefore, the public comments portion of the meeting was declared closed.
NEW BUSINESS
Chief Parker of Holly Springs Fire Department -- Holly Spring Fire Department's Apparatus Replacement Plan:
Mr. Anders recognized Chief Parker and turned the floor over to him.
Chief Parker distributed memo reference fire equipment disposal / acquisition. Chief Parker requested the support of the Wake County Fire Commission so that his department could upgrade fire equipment and dispose of pieces that were no longer functional for the Holly Springs Fire Department.
Rules of Procedure:
The gray highlighted areas are the proposed changes.
Page 3, Section II, Item 2, amend to:
Delete - Managing "mutual aid" funding for FY 98-99.
Delete - Developing all necessary operation regulations and guidelines in order to implement a single fire protection service tax district, effective July 1, 1999.
Delete - Developing a revised fire protection and emergency services contract to be effective July 1, 1999.
A. Reviewing and making recommendation on operating budget requests.
B. Reviewing and making recommendation on CIP budget requests.
C. Developing and implementing firefighter and volunteer incentive retention and recruitment programs.
D. Making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for continuing improvement of the fire protection system. Develop a method of communication to the Board of Commissioners.
E. Reviewing ISO and consultants reports and taking action for improvement as deemed necessary.
F. Enforcement of all service district operational regulations and guidelines for the Wake County fire protection service district.
Page 3, Section III, Item 1, amend to:
Change from bullets to alphabets for labeling purposes.
Page 4, Section III, Letter B, Item 1 and Item 2, amend gray highlighted area so that it reflects the region making the recommendation and not the Wake County Fire Commission on appointments to the Wake County Fire Commission.
Page 4, Section III, Letter C, Item 2, keep gray highlighted areas as is.
Page 5, Section III, Letter G, Action for Nonattendance, amend gray highlighted area to include: other than alternate appointees.
Did a show of hands:
Required to attend: 2
Not required to attend: 5
Page 5, Section IV, Letter A, Regular Meetings:
Ray Echevarria will send out survey to determine best date and time for members to attend Wake County Fire Commission meetings.
Break at 5:53 p.m.
Resumed at 6:03 p.m.
Page 7, Section IV, Item 6, amend gray highlighted area to:
Any voting member of the Fire Commission may make a motion. A member may make only one motion at a time.
Page 7, Section V, Letter A, Standing Committees:
Mr. Anders will review restructuring the committees and also outline the duties of the committees.
Mr. Anders motioned to bring back for next meeting for a vote.
Next Year's Budget Process :
Mr. Echevarria recommended bringing staff budget recommendations before the Wake County Fire Commission before being submitted to the County. The Fire Commission will have an opportunity to review and make comments on staff recommendations.
Recommended to include citizens within the budget process and not just the fire chiefs.
Chief Brinson motioned that individual departments work with staff on budget recommendations and then staff bring budget recommendations to the Fire Commission. Motion seconded by Chief Vaughan. Motion passed.
Non-Appropriated Funds from 99-2000 Budget :
Approximately $280,000 non-appropriated funds from 99-2000 budget.
Make a recommendation, not appropriation, on these funds.
Two options recommended:
C. Let budget committee make recommendation to Wake County Fire Commission.
D. Let staff make recommendation to Wake County Fire Commission.
Mr. Ned Perry motioned to hold funds in reserve for now. Motion seconded by Chief Brinson. Motion passed.
Method of communicating results of Fire Commission meetings with the Board of Commissioners :
Recommendation to notify Board of Commissioners in writing of Wake County Fire Commission activities.
No motion made.
Recommendation to look at the existing Wake County Planning Board and use as a model. Mr. Anders will bring report of Planning Board process.
No motion made.
Future Wake County Fire Commission Meetings:
Looking for a site for the Tuesday, November 16, 1999, 4:30 p.m. Wake County Fire Commission meeting.
Mr. Ned Perry motioned to survey the membership for time and day for members to attend Wake County Fire Commission meetings. Seconded by Chief Vaughan. Motion passed.
Adjournment:
With no other business, Facilitator Cloyce Anders declared the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.