White River Township Fire Department

Staff Meeting *  November 17 & 18, 1998

 

Tuesday (17th) meeting called to order at 1300 hours.  Present:  Mike Dutton, Eric Brown, Jeremy Pell, Scott Cassin, Carey Slauter, Joel Thacker, Joe Marsh, Jeremy McKee, Troy Wymer, Mike Shoemaker, Joe Marcum, and Kim Clawson.

Wednesday (18th) meeting called to order at 1307 hours.  Present: Mike Dutton, Kevin Skipper, Casey Arkins, and Jeremy Pell.

 

IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND, REMEMBER TO CONTACT YOUR LIEUTENANT IF YOU

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ANYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED.

 

1.        We were recently censored by Rick Cooley because we chose to post the new hires in their order of ranking.  He was correct in the fact that it lowers morale.

 

2.        Joe Marcum ranked above John McMillan in the process and therefore is the first available to move to compensated.  Marcum promoted to compensated ranks, which now are at 60.

 

3.        Joel Thacker and Joe Settles are working with Kerry Bancroft on his EMT-P affiliation.

 

4.        Chief Dutton reminded everyone that all the Reserves, especially the new ones, must be kept up to date in all aspects.  Lieutenant Wymer agreed.

 

5.        Budget update.  We are on track at this time and currently do not see a need to suspend the third position in December as we usually must do. 

 

6.        PMT:

-          There will be no change in our dealings with PMT.

-          A recent meeting between Chief Dutton, Brian Griffith, and Sonny & Retta Taylor assured us that Medic 51 will be back by Wednesday, November 25.

-          After that meeting Sonny & Retta met with Brian to discuss administrative issues.

-          If there are any problems, contact Brian Griffith or Joe Marcum.

 

7.        FPDB update.  Everyone involved in the subcommittees will be meeting at 3:00 on 11/17 to discuss next course of action re: pending changes.  Chief Dutton is still optimistic that the goals will be met, but we just aren’t on any kind of timeline right now.

 

8.        Ladder bids went out and as of today (11/17), Seagrave is the only company that hasn’t picked one up.  Local rumor has it that they may have filed bankruptcy.  Pre-bid meeting will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m.  Bids are due on 11/30 and they will go back to the committee to make a recommendation to the FPDB.  Chief Dutton suggested including members of the district board on the committee.

 

9.        Troy announced that station renovations will begin soon at station 52.  Demolition begins Monday 11/23.  Total construction will not be finished until after 1/1/99.  They will be sealing the lockers so that dust doesn’t get in.

 

10.     Troy also mentioned that a new assignment board has been hung at station 52.

 

11.     Troy stated that he has posted a memo at station 52 ordering that no video games be played before 1600 hours. 

 

12.     Chief Dutton stated that we will be adopting a Zero Tolerance policy regarding alcohol or illegal drugs.  It will be posted in memo form.

 

 

 

13.     Training update.

-          C9:  Training program is up and running.  See notice on bulletin board for available classes.

-          EMT-P:  After talking to Dr. Fried, the protocols may be updated.  He would like to conduct a special study and is currently applying for a waiver from the State for WRTFD to use paralytics.  He must also obtain approval from Community Hospitals.  There has also been unofficial talk of going to 12 lead EKG’s.  Funding is the major set back at this time.

-          New Community South EMS Educator:  Harry Watson.

-          Site update:  Joel has been having problems contacting Greg Allen regarding the multiple training sites we have.

-          There has been  concerns raised to the purchase of Special Ops equipment.  Chief Dutton reiterated that our Primary focus is water rescue, 2nd trench rescue.  He mentioned that he would also like to see special ops trainings with all of our mutual aid companies scheduled at least once every four months.  We cannot always rely on IFD.  Joel stated that attitudes with our mutual aid companies must stop immediately!

-          Joel will release a list of people who are cleared to train on the boat so that any of the crews may take it out for training.  He reminded everyone that trainings aren’t restricted – if you want to train with the boat and there is nothing else scheduled, do so.

 

14.     Joel stated that recent problems with runs are very upsetting. Officers should not allow, or participate

in, ‘bad mouthing’ a run if they were not there.  Ideas to help some of the problems discussed include:

-          Formal incident critiques scheduled as soon after the incident as possible.

-          At each shift change, assignments must be explained thoroughly to all crews and make sure they understand.  This would be done by either the company officer or Battalion 5.

-          There will be training handouts in everyone’s mailboxes.

-          Perhaps make training attendance a minimum requirement so that everyone understands how to handle incidents.

-          Mondays following significant incidents will be used for critiques of that incident if time is not available immediately following the incident.

 

15.     If there are two medics at one station, move one to the other station.  Only exception is that medics will NOT be primary chauffeur at station 52.

 

16.     Beginning January 1, 1999, medic pay will be shown as an increase on the hourly rate of the EMT-P employee instead of a monthly stipend.  Joel has done the necessary ‘numbers’ research.

 

17.     Jeremy Pell will be keeping track of all dispatch problems from now on.  A file will be kept and a process will be created with which to report problems.  He will be posting a memo.

 

18.     Scott Cassin will add a section in Firehouse asking for status of 2nd ambulance coverages.  It will be the Battalion’s responsibility to do this.

 

19.     Carey reminded Lieutenants to remind the people under their command that physicals have to be obtained by 1/1/99.

 

20.     Gear fitting will be Thursday and Friday 4p-7p at station 2.  Memos have been posted and pages have been sent.  Discussion on color of the gear.  Consensus agreed that a survey should go out with the next payroll and let the employees decide what color they want.

 

21.     Joe Marsh will be making a list of truck maintenance companies to contact for each truck and problem.  Always notify him if something is fixed or taken out of service.