Wednesday, June 4, 2008

(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)

A special-called meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 6:30 p.m., in the Wake County EMS Training Facility, Carya Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

Ms. Ann Suggs called the meeting to order.

The following members were present: Chief Tom Vaughan, Mr. Billy Myrick, Chief Mike Cooper, Mr. Michael Fletcher, Chief Cecil Parker, Chief Mark Haraway, Mr. Bryan Lane, Mr. Lucius Jones, Senator Vernon Malone, Chief Rodney Privette, Chief Scott McCollum, Mr. Bill Gatewood.

Members absent were: Chief Chris Wilson, Chief Tony Mauldin, and Commissioner Paul Coble.

County staff present were: County Manager David Cooke, Deputy County Manager Joe Durham, Public Safety Director John Rukavina, Fire/Rescue Services Director Raymond Echevarria, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Perry, Budget Manager Ben Canada, and Budget and Management Analyst Jason Horton.

Mr. Myrick gave an invocation.

Ms. Suggs welcomed County Manager David Cooke and Deputy County Manager Joe Durham.

CONSIDER FEEDBACK FROM BUDGET COMMITTEE ON COUNTY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDED FY 09 FIRE TAX BUDGET

Chair Ann Suggs requested Fire/Rescue Services Director Raymond Echevarria read a statement from Ms. Suggs regarding this year’s budget process. Raymond read the letter that expressed the chair’s opinions related to the budget process and comments made at the budget public hearing.

Chief Roof responded to the statement. Chief Roof clarified his comments.

Fire Commission members provided feedback regarding the comments made at the public hearing.

The Fire Commission discussed suggestions made by the Chair on how to handle these situations going forward. It was decided that more research should be done. Chair Suggs reiterated that she would be sending a letter of apology to the Board of Commissioners regarding the comments made at the public hearing.

Chief Sidney Perry, Budget Committee Chair, presented a report on behalf of the Budget Committee. He informed the Fire Commission that the Budget Committee has reviewed the County Manager’s recommended budget and has two proposals related to the manager’s recommendation for the Fire Commission to consider.

The first proposal from the Budget Committee was:

The budget committee requests that we be allowed to use the necessary funds, approximately $198,000, out of the proposed staffing funds to provide a maximum 10% retirement to all current fulltime firefighters. No department would be funded above 10% for retirement from county funds.

Chief Vaughan made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Myrick, to approve the recommendation.

Clarification was made that these recommendations were intended to be discussion points during a future meeting with the County Manager. Discussion on the motion followed. After discussion, the motion passed on a vote of 6-yes, 5-no. Chair Ann Suggs voted for the motion to break a tie.

The second proposal from the Budget Committee was:

The budget committee requests that the county be asked to re-instate the 2.5% administration fee instead of the proposed manner (direct fees for functional support). This is currently a part of our contract and it also cost our budget approximately $154,000 to proceed as currently recommended.

Mr. Myrick made a motion to support the recommendation, and Mr. Gatewood seconded the motion. Mr. Cooke provided background on the administrative cost and the basis for the recommendation to allocate direct fees for functional support to the fire tax fund. After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Suggs thanked Mr. Cooke for attending the meeting.

Mr. Cooke expressed his appreciation to the Commission and its work.

ADJOURNMENT

Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.