Thursday, March 15, 2007
(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)
A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held Thursday, March 15, 2007, 7 p.m., in the Wake County EMS Training Facility, Carya Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Ms. Suggs called the meeting to order.
The following members were present: Ms. Ann Suggs, Mr. Billy Myrick, Mr. Wayne Sherrod, Chief Tom Vaughan, Chief Mark Haraway, Commissioner Paul Coble, Chief Chris Wilson, Mr. Michael Fletcher, Mr. Lucius Jones, and Chief Tony Mauldin
Members absent were: Senator Vernon Malone, Mr. Bill Gatewood, Chief Mike Cooper, Chief Scott McCollum, and Chief Rodney Privette.
Mr. Billy Myrick gave an invocation.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Mr. Sherrod. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chief Vaughan made a motion to approve the minutes of January 18, 2007, which was seconded by Chief Haraway. The motion passed unanimously.
REGULAR agenda
BUDGET PROCESS UPDATE
Chief Sidney Perry gave an update on the budget process to date. Department meetings have begun and the committee will begin meetings very soon. Cheryl Reid presented historical tax revenue information and an analysis of fire tax revenues. Ms. Reid presented FY 2008 Revenue Projections based on two methods. A summary of department base requests, expansion requests, and small capital requests were distributed. A budget calendar was presented, which outlined key dates in this year’s project.
aPPARATUS COMMITTEE
Chief Woods presented that the apparatus committee had received several requests for additional vehicles. The committee recommends a Chief’s vehicle for both Swift Creek and Durham Highway as well as a brush truck for Fairview. Wake Forest has requested a 3000 gallon pumper/tanker. The committee recommends replacing an upcoming pumper/tanker with the county spec tanker. Chief Swift has advised that he does not support the committee’s recommendation.
Chief Vaughan asked to consider the Chief’s vehicle and the brush truck separately from the pumper/tanker request. Chief Vaughan made a motion, seconded by Chief Mauldin, to approve the committee’s recommendation regarding the two Chief’s vehicles and the brush truck recommendation. The motion was approved unanimously.
Chief Swift asked that any decision on the pumper/tanker be delayed to the next meeting to allow him time to prepare a presentation for the Commission. Ms. Suggs honored the request and asked staff to place this issue on the agenda for the May Fire Commission meeting. Discussion followed regarding the committee’s action on this matter and the reasoning for the current 2000 gallon tanker specification.
A citizen spoke to support Chief Swift’s request to delay any decision for a future presentation.
INFORMATION AGENDA
STAFFING COMMITTEE
Chief Haraway reported on the last staffing committee meeting. Representatives from the League of Municipalities and NC Department of Labor attended the meeting. Chief Haraway reported the committee learned that volunteers receiving stipends would need to receive W-2’s, as compared to 1099’s. It was also explained that incorporated, nonprofit departments could not utilize the FLSA 7(k) exemption regarding overtime, which is available to local government agencies. In addition, firefighter benefits were studied to explore the possibility of expanding coverage for life insurance.
FACILITY committee
Mr. Myrick reported on the last meeting of the facility committee. The committee continues to work on those areas not inside a six-mile rated fire insurance district, but are within the fire service tax district. The committee recommended that County explore the possibility of partnering with the Town of Garner for a fire station in the area East of Garner. The committee discussed the implementation of Heery Phase II project and lessons learned from the earlier phases.
chair report
Ms. Suggs presented the following committee appointments:
Chief Sidney Perry, Chair of the Budget Committee
Chuck Sannipoli, appointed to Facility Committee and Compensation Committee
fire/rescue services director REPORT
Ray explained that, at the request of the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, he would be working on meeting attendance by members. Any member not meeting attendance requirements will be contacted directly.
Ray explained that committee members are distributing minutes as requested at an earlier meeting.
Staffing workbooks are available and updates will be provided due to new developments since the books were produced.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
Adjournment
The next regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is scheduled for Thursday, May 10, 2007. This date is one week earlier than regularly scheduled to allow for budget consideration.