ADOPTED Minutes
(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)
A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held on Thursday, January 22, 2004, 7 p.m., in the Wake County EMS Training Facility, Lower Level of the Commons Building, Carya Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Raymond Echevarria presided as Facilitator and called the meeting to order.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The following members were present: Chief Mike Chambers, Chief Paul Dunwell, Mr. Jeff Frazier, Chief Scottie Harris, Commissioner Phil Jeffreys (alternate for Commissioner Harold Webb), Chief Tony Mauldin, Mr. Vernon Malone, Mr. Billy Myrick, Chief Rodney Privette, Ms. Ann Suggs, Chief Mike Cooper, Chief Scott McCollum, Mr. Lucius Jones and Chief Tom Vaughn.
Members absent were: Mr. Cloyce Anders, Commissioner Harold Webb and Chief Chris Wilson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon motion of Ms. Ann Suggs, seconded by Mr. Billy Myrick, the Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the November 20, 2003, regular meeting.
Upon motion of Mr. Billy Myrick, seconded by Ms. Ann Suggs, the Fire Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the January 8, 2004, Special Called Meeting.
Budget / Fire Tax Financial Report
Mr. Ben Canada, Wake County Budget and Management analyst, provided a brief report on the status of the fire tax fund. Ben gave report of budget committee recommendation to use small capital funds for second year of thermal imaging camera and defibrillator program. Ben encouraged all chiefs to apply for grant funds, and stated that FY 05 budget requests are due, via return e-mail, February 2, 2004.
Unfinished Business
Station Location/Apparatus Replacement
Raymond Echevarria began discussion of TriData's final report of the Fire/EMS Capital Facility and Equipment Study.
Raymond Echevarria provided Study Team's report to the Fire Commission. The report is included as Attachment A.
The Fire Commission began discussion of the report. Chief Scottie Harris guided comments by all Fire Commission members and persons in attendance.
Chief Tom Vaughn presented a series of questions and comments from fire chiefs and Fire Commission members. The questions and concerns are included as Attachment B.
After discussion, Chief Vaughn motioned:
Do not recommend study to the Wake County Board of Commissioners since the study is based on inaccurate CAD data, is incomplete, and does not give specific information on how to accomplish the recommendations.
After second by Chief Harris, the motion passed unanimously.
HEERY Report – CIP Prioritization
Ray Echevarria provided an update on the HEERY project.
COMPENSATION STUDY
Ms. Catherine Clark opened discussion of the compensation study. The compensation study team was asked to look at four issues:
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New hire salaries
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40-hour v. 56-hour employee pay rates
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Definition of part-time employee
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Reimbursement for training
The study team provided proposed interpretations on the four issues. Ms. Ann Suggs motioned to approve the study team's interpretations. Motion seconded by Chief Harris. After discussion, Ann Suggs amended her motion to approve items 1, 3 and 4, and for the study team to bring back further information on item 2. Amended motion seconded by Chief Harris. Motion passed unanimously.
Open Burning
Raymond Echevarria provided an update on development of open burning rules, regulations and permitting system.
Homeland Security Grant Information
Chief A.C. Rich provided an update on homeland security grants.
Station Location/Apparatus Replacement
Chief Cooper asked to revisit the TriData Fire/EMS Capital Facility and Equipment report. Chief Cooper offered the following motion:
Get a committee to address concerns and questions that have been posed, to fill in the holes, and follow up with no additional expense from TriData.
Ms. Ann Suggs seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
New Business
800-MHz Radios for REDS Team
The REDS team has requested Wake County provide 800-MHz radios as part of the transition to the new 800-MHz radio system. The REDS Team was part of the original project. The question to answer is whether REDS is a resource to Wake County fire departments and whether the County should provide them radios. Chief Harris motioned to not allow REDS on the 800-MHz radio system. Chief Mauldin seconded the motion. Motion passed:
1 – abstain
2 – no
6 - yes
Communal Property Use Guidelines
Due to time limitations, this item was deferred.
Calendar Year 2004 Meeting Times
The Fire Commission directed to keep meeting times as currently scheduled.
Committee Reports
800-MHz/CAD Committee
Due to time limitations, this item was deferred.
Budget Committee
Ben Canada provided Budget Committee report during budget report.
Other Business
None.
Public Comments
None.
Adjournment
The next regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is scheduled for Thursday, March 18, 2004, at 7 p.m.