Thursday, January 16, 2003

Adopted March 20, 2003

(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)

A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held on Thursday, January 16, 2003, 7:00 PM in the EMS Training Classroom located at lower level of the Wake County Commons Building, Carya Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina. Ms. Cathy Lohr presided as Facilitator and called the meeting to order.

Ms. Lohr stated that at our previous meeting the Fire Commission agreed to hold the meeting to a 2 and ½ hour maximum meeting and that our meeting would conclude by 9:30 PM.

Ms. Lohr advised the Fire Commission that Commissioner Phil Jeffreys had been appointed to the Fire Commission.

Ms. Lohr then recognized Sherry Scoggins. This is Sherry's last meeting with the Fire Commission. Chief Vaughan motioned to prepare a letter of appreciation to Sherry Scoggins for her work on the Fire Commission and send a copy to Clayton Town Manager Steve Biggs. Motion seconded by Ann Suggs. Motion approved unanimously.

The following members were present: Chief Tony Chiotakis, Chief Paul Dunwell, Ms. Cathy Lohr, Chief Tony Mauldin, Mr. Billy Myrick, Mr. Dewey Poole, Captain David Price, Chief A.C. Rich, Chief Ron Roof, Ms. Ann Suggs, and Chief Tom Vaughan.

Members absent were: Mr. Cloyce Anders, Commissioner Phil Jeffreys, Chief Rodney Privette, and Mr. Buddy Scarboro.

Also attending were: County Manager David Cooke, Public Safety Director John Rukavina, County Fire Marshal Ray Echevarria, Budget & Management Analyst Jennifer Willis, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Perry, Shift Supervisor Charles Ottaway, and Executive Secretary Sherry Scoggins.

There were 17 guests in attendance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon motion of Ann Suggs, seconded by Billy Myrick, the Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of November 21, 2002.

Budget & Financial Report
Budget & Management Analyst Jennifer Willis distributed a handout "Fire Fund Balance Information" to members and guests.

Station Location / Apparatus Replacement
Ray Echevarria provided an update on station location and apparatus replacement.

HEERY Report – CIP Prioritization
Mr. Myrick discussed and distributed handout of the Monday, January 6, 2003, minutes of the Fire Station and EMS Facility CIP Implementation Plan Review and Workshop was distributed to members and guests.

Ron Roof motioned for the Wake County Fire Commission to support the prioritization and categories of 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0, and to get HEERY to move ahead. Seconded by Ann Suggs. Motion approved unanimously.

COMPENSATION STUDY
Ray Echevarria provided an update on the Compensation Study.

Ms. Suggs will have information regarding volunteer membership in the Local Government Employees Credit Union available at the March meeting.

Cost of EMS Transport
Mr. Rukavina gave an update on the cost of EMS transport for injured firefighters. Referred to letter from EMS Director Barry Britt regarding Medicare rules related to providing free transport to firefighters.

Traffic Light Control
Ray Echevarria shared the following handouts with the members and guests:

DOT approved product list
-(Sample) Agreement between DOT and Town of Cary
-DOT Guidelines – additional copies; was included in the January agenda packet mailing.

DOT process for traffic light control:
-Jurisdiction identifies intersections
-DOT traffic engineers do study – at no cost
-If DOT traffic engineer agrees with need for traffic light control, then agreement is an option

Ron Roof motioned to request departments supply list of intersection(s) for study at no cost to the Fire/Rescue Division. Seconded by Ann Suggs. Motion approved unanimously.

Forestry Services
County Manager David Cooke was recognized and he provided an update on the Forestry Services funding.

Fire Contract Update
County Manager David Cooke was recognized and he provided an update on the Fire Contracts. Dewey Poole motioned for the Fire Commission to give full support to the County to help in getting contracts signed. Ann Suggs seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.

Draft Fire Commission SOP's
Ray Echevarria began discussion of how to distribute and implement countywide SOP's after approval by the Fire Commission. Members agreed that each department would adopt as an SOG standard for each department.

Committee Report

Service Level Committee
Ms. Cathy Lohr gave an overview of the Service Level Committee that met on Wednesday, January 15, 2003, as well as a handout of the minutes of that meeting.

Other Business
Chief Scottie Harris of the Western Wake Fire/Rescue Department was recognized. Recommended the Fire Commission support the purchase of monitor to support the thermal imaging cameras to be used and maintained in the WC-1 vehicle. Had quotes available.

Chief Scottie Harris of the Western Wake Fire/Rescue Department also looking into an SCBA fill station at the Wake County Fire/Rescue Training Center.

Public Comments

As no one was requested to give public comment, the public comment was declared closed.

Adjournment

As the weather was not favorable, Wake County Fire Commission adjourned.

The next regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2003, 7 PM, at the EMS Training Classroom, lower level of the Wake County Commons Building.