Thursday, September 21, 2006
(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)
A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held on Thursday, September 21, 2006, 7 p.m., in the Wake County EMS Training Facility, Carya Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Suggs called the meeting to order. Mr. Billy Myrick gave the invocation.
ATTENDANCE
In Attendance were: Mr. Dewey Poole, Ms. Sue-Lynn Hinson, Mr. Lucius Jones, Chief Scott McCollum, Chief Chris Wilson, Mr. Rob McGraw, Chief Mike Cooper, Chief Rodney Privette, and Chief Tony Mauldin. Chairman Suggs noted the presence of a quorum.
Members absent were: Senator Vernon Malone, Mr. Michael Fletcher, Chief Mark Haraway, Chief Tom Vaughan, and Commissioner Betty Lou Ward.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chief Cooper made a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Mr. Poole. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chief Mauldin made a motion to approve the minutes of July 20, 2006, which was seconded by Mr. Myrick. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Jones made a motion to approve the minutes of August 22, 2006, which was seconded by Chief Privette. The motion included an amendment to strike Chief McCollum listing as an absent member. (He was listed as present via teleconference and absent.) The motion passed unanimously.
MEDICAL RESPONDER CONTINUING EDUCATION UPDATE
Medical Director Brent Myers provided an update on the program to transition the Wake County First Responder program to Medical Responder. He described Wake Technical Community College’s participation in delivering the necessary transition training.
Chief McCollum made a motion to support Wake County’s work with Wake Technical
Community College to have medical training available in a convenient and readily available fashion. Chief Mauldin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
DURHAM HIGHWAY ENGINE 1 REPLACEMENT
Durham Highway Board President Chuck Sannipoli presented a report on the source of funds used for options on replacement pumper/tankers for Durham Highway Tanker 8 and Engine 1. Mr. Sannipoli informed the Fire Commission how Durham Highway Fire Department funded options on the replacement for Tanker 8 and for Engine 1, and that Wake County staff’s interpretation is that the department used fire tax revenues to fund the options. Mr. Sannipoli explained that the department used its fund balance accumulated prior to the fire service tax district and, therefore, did not use fire service tax district revenues. Durham Highway plans to use its fund balance to pay for options on the Engine 1 replacement.
Mr. Myrick made a motion to approve the use up to $75,000 of Durham Highway’s fund balance on the purchase of this apparatus, seconded by Mr. Poole. The motion passed unanimously.
Chief Mauldin requested that a procedure be developed to address the use of fund balance for the purchase of fire apparatus in the future. Mr. Jones requested that a limit be placed on the amount of overage a department may spend. These requests were forwarded to the apparatus committee for consideration.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Captain David Price presented a report from the compensation committee report. The committee was tasked with addressing several key issues. The Committee is currently developing compensation recommendations for Chief, Assistant/Deputy Chief, and volunteer line officer. The Committee is preparing a report on compliance with certification and training requirements of the Compensation Plan. This report will be coming at the November meeting.
The Committee is also addressing part-time merit increase.
Committee appointmentS
Ray Echevarria presented recommendations regarding appointments to the various Fire Commission committees. A list of recommendations, based on input provided, was presented for consideration by the Fire Commission. The list was discussed and revised based upon the Commission’s discussion.
Recommendation #1
Not more than 2 departments from a single region can be represented on a committee.
Recommendation #2
Each standing committee must have at least one member from each region.
(Standing committees are: Budget, Staffing, Apparatus, Facility, Compensation)
Recommendation #3
Each department can be represented by no more than 1 member on each committee.
Recommendation #4
Each person can be a member of not more than 1 committee.
Recommendation #5
Each committee shall be chaired by a voting member of the Fire Commission.
Recommendation #6
The Fire Commission’s Committees develop and submit proposals and recommendations to the Fire Commission in respective subject areas. No committee may mandate or implement a proposal or recommendation until the Fire Commission approves that proposal or recommendation.
The Fire Commission supported Recommendation #1. Recommendation #2 was combined with Recommendation #5 and revised as follows: Each standing committee must have at least one member from each region and one voting member of the Fire Commission. Recommendation #3 was clarified that each department can be represented by no more than 1 voting member from a department. The Fire Commission did not support Recommendation #4. The Fire Commission supported Recommendation #6.
Ray Echevarria clarified that these provisions address voting members of the Committees, and that all committee meetings are open for anyone to attend and participate.
These recommendations will be incorporated into the rules of procedure and presented at the next meeting for approval.
DATA AND INFORMATION COLLECTION
Ray Echevarria expressed the need for departments to provide timely data and information to the various Fire Commission committees and County staff. The committees and staff have had difficulty in obtaining timely information used in analyzing issues and preparing recommendations.
Mr. Poole made a motion that departments that fail to respond to requested data (after two notifications, one being by certified mail) by the requested date forfeit any opportunity for funding connected with the respective project or program. The motion was seconded by Mr. Myrick. The motion passed unanimously.
APPARATUS COMMittee
Chief Woods presented a report from the apparatus committee. The committee is working on specifications for service trucks and next year’s pumper/tanker. Brush truck final drawings are being developed.
INFORMATION AGENDA
FIRE TAX DISTRICT FINANCIAL MODEL
Cheryl Reed presented an update on the financial model and the capital plan.
NIMS COMPLIANCE
Ray Echevarria presented a summary of work done and to be done for compliance with National Incident Management System implementation.
FACILITY COMMITTEE
Mr. Myrick reported that work is continuing on the Heery Project. Mr. Myrick explained the process of how the scope of work was determined and how the actual construction work is managed.
Mr. Poole recommended that departments that have problems with HEERY work document the issues for further review and resolution.
Chief Mauldin requested the facility committee meet to discuss identified issues and means to correcting in the future.
CHAIR REPORT
Chief Vaughan has had a cardiac stint put in place and is in recovery.
Chairman Suggs stated that we do have representation from an assigned County Commissioner to the Fire Commission. It was noted that Mr. Harold Webb last attended our meetings. She requested an official response from the Clerk to the Board as to this oversight.
Chairman Suggs thanked Mr. Poole for his outstanding service to the Fire Commission.
FIRE/RESCUE SERVICES DIRECTOR REPORT
None.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Poole discussed the Fire Commission’s work towards providing funding for volunteers and volunteer duty crews. Departments that received additional funding were asked to explain how the funding is being utilized.
Mr. Poole thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve on the Fire Commission and offered final comments.
Mr. Myrick thanked Mr. Poole for his work for the Commission.
Chief McCollum announced an upcoming train-the-trainer class of the “Courage to be Safe” program on November 18 at the Keeter Training Center. There will be a national instructor, and the course is being sponsored by the Wake County Firefighters Association and the Fire/Rescue Division of Wake County Public Safety. Chief McCollum recommended that each department have a representative attend.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chief Gupton invited everyone to the Eastern Wake Fire/Rescue barbecue on October 6.
Ms. McGill spoke regarding her son attending the meeting for a school project and how impressed they were with the Fire Commission’s work.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
The next regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is scheduled for Thursday, November 16, 2006.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________
Ann R. Suggs, Chairman
______________________________
Ray Echevarria, Fire Rescue Director
Date Approved __________________