Thursday, May 10, 2007

(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)

A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held on Thursday, May 10, 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, Senator Vernon Malone, Chief Mike Cooper, Mr. Bill Gatewood, Chief Rodney Privette, Mr. Michael Fletcher, Chief Scott McCollum, Commissioner Paul Coble, and Chief Tony Mauldin

Members absent were: Chief Mark Haraway, Chief Cecil Parker, Chief Chris Wilson, and Mr. Lucius Jones.

Chief Vaughan gave an invocation.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mr. Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Chief Cooper. The motion passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Myrick made a motion to approve the minutes of March 15, 2007, which was seconded by Chief Mauldin. The motion passed unanimously.

Chief Mauldin made a motion to approve the minutes of the special-called meeting on April 16, 2007, which was seconded by Mr. Gatewood. The motion passed unanimously.

REGULAR agenda

FY08 Budget RECOMMENDATION

Budget Director Johnna Rogers presented a report on the fund balance for the fire tax fund. Ms. Rogers explained that there had been discussion about the status of the actual fund balance with the Budget Committee, and she was presenting a report on what has been shared with the Committee. The fund balance has been separated into two funds – uncommitted funds and unobligated funds. The uncommitted fund balance is $2.254 million at the end of FY07. Unobligated fund balance is $4.285 million at the end of FY07. The total of these two funds is $6.539 million.

Cheryl Reed presented the Budget Committee’s recommended FY08 budget. Ms. Reed’s presentation explained this year’s budget process, revenue projections, and base budgets including personnel and operating expenditures. The proposed budget does not provide for any expansions for FY08.

Ms Reed presented the fire tax capital improvement plan. Some small capital programs (air bottle replacement, small capital, turnout gear and grant match/contingency funding) previously funded in the operating budget have been moved to the capital improvement budget. The capital model includes a place holder for the Bay Leaf headquarters fire station at an estimate of $4.8 million, subject to approval by Fire Commission.

Chief McCollum requested that the issue of part-time salaries be a priority in future years, since it was not funded last year nor is it included in this recommendation.

Chief Vaughan made a motion to approve the FY08 proposed budget and recommend it to the Board of Commissioners. Chief Cooper seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

WAKE FOREST FD – REQUEST FOR 3000 GALLON PUMPER/TANKER

Chief Swift presented a request for a 3000 gallon pumper/tanker for the Wake Forest Fire Department. The presentation outlined Chief Swift’s need for a 3000 gallon pumper/tanker and explained the process to date with this request. Discussion followed regarding the request, such as price comparison of the vehicle and safety concerns.

Chief Woods answered various questions regarding the Apparatus Committee’s opinions during this process. Ray Echevarria provided a history of fire apparatus purchases since the implementation of the fire tax district.

Fire Commission members had several questions related to the request:

Chief Vaughan requested that the apparatus committee examine Wake Forest’s request to add to the fleet.

The Fire Commission asked if private dollars should be allowed to support fire apparatus purchase?

Should the pumper-tanker specifications be revised to allow for a 3,000 gallon pumper-tanker?

· Could a compromise be worked out with Wake Forest Fire Department?

The issue was referred back to committee to answer the questions.

FACILITY COMMITTEE

Mr. Myrick presented a report from the Facility Committee meeting. Ray Echevarria explained two recommendations from the Facility Committee. The first recommendation from the committee was to approve parking lot repairs at Wake-New Hope Station #1. The second recommendation from the committee was to approve Bay Leaf’s Headquarters Fire Station, contingent on approval of a special use permit, and inclusion of a substation east of Garner in the long range plan. Ray pointed out that the first recommendation was a unanimous request of the committee. The second recommendation comes from the committee at a vote of 3-yes, 2-no, 1-abstain.

Chief Cooper made a motion, seconded by Chief Mauldin to approve the request related to repair the parking lot at Wake-New Hope Fire Station. The motion carried unanimously.

Much discussion followed regarding the cost of the Bay Leaf station in conjunction with other funding priorities in place. Chief Roof provided a history of the need for the replacement station.

Mr. Fletcher made a motion to approve the Bay Leaf Fire Station project, contingent upon the approval of the special use permit. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gatewood. The motion carries 5-yes, 4-no, 1- abstain.

STAFFING COMMITTEE

Chief Mauldin presented a report from the staffing committee. The first recommendation from the committee was to endorse the process of the communication centers notifying incident commanders of the need to conduct personnel accountability counts every 20 minutes. Chief Cooper seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Chief Mauldin notified the Commission of a firefighter fatality in the Angier/Black River Fire Department, in Harnett County. Chief Brinson provided information on the death and arrangements.

INFORMATION AGENDA

WESTERN WAKE FIRE STATION #2 AD HOC COMMITTEE

Chief Perry provided a report on the ad hoc committee on Western Wake #2 closure. The committee is in agreement with the intent to close the fire station; however, they do not agree with the July 2007 time frame. At this point, the committee is working towards a July, 2008 implementation; however will wait until the next meeting to make a recommendation to the Commission, after further information is obtained.

chair report

No report.

fire/rescue services director REPORT

No report.

OTHER BUSINESS

None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Chief Brinson requested that the Commission face the audience in future meetings.

Chief A.C. Rich provided comments regarding the priority of staffing over other projects such as apparatus. Chief Rich explained that his department could utilize a 3,000 gallon tanker; however, they would prefer staffing over the additional apparatus.

Adjournment

The next regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is scheduled for Thursday, July 19, 2007.