White River Township Fire Department

Staff Meeting *  January 26, 1999

 

Tuesday (26th) meeting called to order at 1308 hours.  Present:  Mike Dutton, Eric Brown, Carey Slauter, Casey Arkins, and Kim Clawson.

Wednesday (27th) meeting called to order at 1300 hours.  Present: Mike Dutton, Eric Brown, Chad Abel, Troy Wymer, Kevin Skipper, Dave Sherfick, Mike Hoffman, and Kim Clawson.

 

 

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

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ANYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED.

 

1.      Please pass on to your platoon that we are checking time cards against the schedule and if there are any discrepancies, we will be paying according to the schedule.

2.      Battalions need to make sure shift exchanges are made on the master schedule.

 

3.      Battalions need to make sure on duty personnel are entered in the Firehouse log at both stations.

 

4.      Please attempt to call out the Auxiliary as soon as possible if incident is never marked a ‘working incident’  (ie:  Haz Mat, confined space, etc.).  Even on working fires it wouldn’t hurt to send a page as well.  This should help to improve their responses.

 

5.      Turn in newsletter items to Chief Cassin by February 1 for next issue.

 

6.      This year’s budget is extremely tight so far.  Chief Dutton is questioning the $2.60 hourly raise that was given for Paramedics.  He will be working with Captain Thacker tomorrow to refigure this amount.  We may need to go back to stipends.

 

7.      February 2 is the next FPDB meeting.  Chief Dutton met with Butch Sutton (FPDB) and Marge Buford (insurance) this morning to discuss benefits.  She does not recommend the 457 because it is an ‘employee’ contribution.  There doesn’t seem to be much else out there so this may be a salary adjustment.

 

8.      Have not had any recent complaints regarding PMT.  Chief Dutton will address 1) the ambulance proceeding on alarms/investigations and 2) ambulance starting before the engine.  Brian Griffith has posted a memo about these items.

 

9.      There was a meeting 1/25/99 at the White River Library regarding various items pertaining to this department.  Major concern were questions on the contract.  At one time Rick Cooley, Scott Alexander, and Mike Hoffman had offered to re write the contract.  Attendance at this meeting was good, however, few people spoke out about issues/rumors that had been going around the department.

 

10.  Goal Setting meeting will be held February 13 at CCG from 8am-12pm to review the goals that were established in 1998 and look at the goals for 1999 (attached).

 

11.  Discussion on leaving Aerial at station 52 if a mutual aid agreement is signed with PTFD.

 

12.  Chief Dutton stated that we need to devise a way to improve fireground accountability.  Something in writing to remind everyone what they need to be thinking of.

 

13.  Captain Slauter stated that there has been a problem lately with personnel ‘racing’ to the trucks and then trying to beat each other out of the station.  This is obviously a serious situation!  Engines, when they are on the run, must be the first out of the station.  It will be up to the night shift personnel (A-McKee, B-Arkins, C-Cassin) to make their personnel aware of this!

 

14.  Chief Brown stated that there will be an Investigators Meeting on 1/27/99 at 10am to review various items, including NFPA 921.

 

15.  Chief Dutton stated that the generator on the Tactical should be back in service soon.

 

16.  Chief Dutton stated that he has received a ‘change order’ on the contract for the Aerial.  He does not know where that committee stands, and in Chief Pell’s absence has turned it over to Lt. Marsh.

 

17.  Please be sure to get your evaluations in ON TIME!

 

18.  Lt. Abel inquired on the status of funding for special operations equipment for swift water rescue.  Chief Dutton stated that he did not think we would have access to the money by Spring but he would check with Eric Reedy.

 

19.  Extensive discussion on chauffeurs in the department.  Captain Thacker reminded everyone that if you see someone doing something wrong, WRITE IT UP!  Chief Dutton directed him to re-evaluate competency of current chauffeurs and adjust the ‘cleared’ list as needed.

 

20.  Captain Thacker asked Lt. Wymer to complete 24 hour training sheets on the new recruits and turn in to him ASAP.

 

21.  Captain Thacker suggested that fire and special ops trainings be scheduled Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with EMS trainings on Thursdays.  He will address this at the goal setting meeting on 2/13 and make a decision after that.  Please let him know your thoughts on this.

 

22.  Lt. Sherfick stated that they are currently working on improving how pre plans are completed.  However, they are only getting about 25% turned back in.  Watch for more changes coming soon. 

 

23.  Chief Dutton gave Lt. Wymer permission to choose a Reserve Firefighter of the Year who will receive a certificate at the awards banquet.  He asked if he could present it and Chief Dutton directed him to contact Chief Pell regarding this.

 

24.  No further new business and meeting adjourned.