Thursday, May 17, 2001

Meeting Minutes

(ADOPTED 7/19/2001)

The Wake County Fire Commission met Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 4:30 p.m. at the Wake County Public Safety Center, Room C170, 330 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Cloyce Anders called the meeting to order. Roll of members:

Members Present: Cloyce Anders, External Facilitator
Ray Echevarria, Director-Fire/Rescue Division
Mark Melvin, South Region/Alternate (Proxy for Ms. Woodruff)
Ned Perry, Citizen/Consumer
Donald Pierce, South Region/Primary
David Price, President of Firefighter's Association
Ron Roof, North Region/Primary
Rodney Privette, East Region/Alternate
Tom Vaughan, East Region/Primary
Bonnie Woodruff, Citizen/Consumer (Excused at 5:30 PM)

Members Absent: Tony Chiotakis, West Region/Alternate
Herb Council, Wake County Commissioner
Darrin Holt, West Region/Primary
Jimmy Nobles, Citizen/Consumer
A.C. Rich, North Region/Alternate
Charles Sannipoli, Citizen/Consumer
Buddy Scarboro, Wendell Town Representative

Staff Present: David Cooke, County Manager
Joseph Durham, Deputy County Manager
John Rukavina, Public Safety Director
Donel Braxton, Deputy Fire Marshal
Sherry Scoggins, Executive Secretary

OLD BUSINESS
Adoption of 03/15/2001 Minutes:
Mr. Ned Perry motioned to approve the March 15, 2001 Minutes; motion seconded by Ms. Bonnie Woodruff. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the March 15, 2001, meeting.

Adoption of 05/03/2001 Minutes:
Ray Echevarria distributed the DRAFT Minutes of the May 3, 2001 Special Called Session of the Wake County Fire Commission for review and comment. Chief Ron Roof motioned to approve the May 3, 2001 Special Called Minutes; motion seconded by Captain David Price. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the May 3, 2001, special called meeting.

NEW BUSINESS
BUDGET PROCESS UPDATE:
Update on Countywide issues only:
Ray Echevarria gave an overview of the below items.

Countywide policy on volunteer compensation options
Countywide specification of capital equipment
Common operating procedures (e.g., personnel accountability system)

Facility study:
Chief Vaughan motioned that Wake County contract with a consulting firm to prioritize building and/or remodeling needs of Wake County Fire Departments; motion seconded by Mr. Ned Perry. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the motion.

Other:
Chief Ron Roof mentioned that he would like to see some way for departments with major traffic congestion to have support for changes with the traffic lights.

Ray stated that he still has a couple of fire departments to meet with to discuss budget.

Chief Donald Pierce brought up an item of concern as it relates to the budget process and spending down funds in reserve. Recommended including language in contract to address fire departments going out of business or incurring major unplanned expenses.

Chief Roof stated that he would like to see what is actually collected in the fire tax district, and where the revenues are.

WAKE FOREST FIRE STATION #2:
Chief Jimmy Keith of Wake Forest Fire Department addressed the Wake County Fire Commission and request that the items touched upon be referred to committee. About 2/3 of Station #2 project was for the Town of Wake Forest for properties that were annexed to the Town beyond the 5 mile fire district. The share for the county response area is about 30-35% funding of total project. Put together general information about the project and would like to request to give what he has for review to Ned Perry's committee for review. Chief Ron Roof was in favor of giving the information to Ned Perry's committee for recommendation. There were no objections from the Wake County Fire Commission members. Chief Keith gave information to Mr. Ned Perry. Mr. Perry stated that he would be in contact with Chief Keith.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS PLANNING:
Ray suggested a committee do the legwork and bring recommendations to the Fire Commission with prioritizations. Possibly have Ned's committee review the Facilities needs and Tom's committee review the Apparatus needs. Would like to begin discussion on these items before the next Fire Commission meeting in July.

COUNTY PROTOTYPE FIRE STATION DESIGN:
Brought four prototype drawings of fire departments. Members and guests are welcome to look at the prototype designs.

OTHER BUSINESS:
Chief Melvin stated thermal imagers have been researched by DOI. Maybe invite someone to the next meeting to discuss thermal imagers.

Chief Roof questioned the status of the CIP project with the Knightdale Fire Department and the Town of Knightdale. If the Town of Knightdale was not going to match the funds for the fire station renovations, would the Fire Commission give consideration to those other projects next on the list until the CIP funds were exhausted.

Chief Ron Roof motioned to wait until the July meeting, if at the July meeting there is not a firm commitment on what is going to happen to the Knightdale renovation, then the funds that had been applied to Knightdale would be applied to whatever projects 4, 5, & 6 or however many that $300,000 will fund and then we go into creating new list for next year; motion seconded by Chief Donald Pierce. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the motion.

For clarification, Mr. Echevarria inquired about something going to the Town of Knightdale about a deadline. Chief Tom Vaughan motioned that we send a letter to the fire chief and the Town of Knightdale about our decision of our previous motion, motion seconded by Chief Donald Pierce. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the motion.

Chief Melvin mentioned criteria for response to structural calls as it relates to ISO evaluation. May need to make a change in the contract reference mutual aid for ISO evaluation ratings.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:
No public comments were received.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Anders motioned to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

Handouts:

DRAFT Wake County Fire Commission Special Called Session Minutes from 5/3/2001

ACTIONS OF THE WAKE COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION:
Mr. Ned Perry motioned to approve the March 15, 2001 Minutes; motion seconded by Ms. Bonnie Woodruff. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the March 15, 2001, meeting.

Ray Echevarria distributed the DRAFT Minutes of the May 3, 2001 Special Called Session of the Wake County Fire Commission for review and comment. Chief Ron Roof motioned to approve the May 3, 2001 Special Called Minutes; motion seconded by Captain David Price. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the May 3, 2001, special called meeting.

Chief Vaughan motioned that Wake County contract with a consulting firm to prioritize building and/or remodeling needs of Wake County Fire Departments; motion seconded by Mr. Ned Perry. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the motion.

Chief Jimmy Keith of Wake Forest Fire Department addressed the Wake County Fire Commission and request that the items touched upon be referred to committee. About 2/3 of Station #2 project was for the Town of Wake Forest for properties that were annexed to the Town beyond the 5 mile fire district. The share for the county response area is about 30-35% funding of total project. Put together general information about the project and would like to request to give what he has for review to Ned Perry's committee for review. Chief Ron Roof was in favor of giving the information to Ned Perry's committee for recommendation. There were no objections from the Wake County Fire Commission members. Chief Keith gave information to Mr. Ned Perry. Mr. Perry stated that he would be in contact with Chief Keith.

Chief Tom Vaughan motioned that we send a letter to the fire chief and the Town of Knightdale about our decision of our previous motion, motion seconded by Chief Donald Pierce. The Wake County Fire Commission unanimously approved the motion.