White River Township Fire Department

            Senior Staff Meeting

           

            Thursday, December 30, 2004

 

 

                       

Present:       .

Chief Tibbetts

Chief Cassin

Chief Slauter

Chief Brown

Chief Thacker

Chief Wilson

Chief Engmark

Kim Clawson

 

 

 

  1. Now that we have full staffing, Chief Tibbetts doesn’t feel that Battalion responses are necessary, even if two apparatus go out of district.  He stated that he will notify the Battalion Chiefs when they need to respond.  Chief Slauter asked what would be done in a case where Chief Tibbetts wasn’t around to notify them but they still needed to respond.  Chief Slauter also asked if this wasn’t a type of micromanaging.  Chief Tibbetts stated that he wasn’t micromanaging because he wasn’t telling them every run to respond on – just mutual aid.  After further discussion it was agreed that the Battalion Chiefs will make the call when to respond and when not to and that if there were any problems then Chief Tibbetts would have a discussion with that individual.  Also, if the Lieutenant gets on the scene and needs you he is to call for you.  Everyone agreed with this system.

 

  1. Staff and Senior Staff meetings have not been set yet for 2005.  Everyone agreed with Chief Tibbetts that we should try to meet once per month.  If something arises, we can meet more frequently.  Therefore, senior staff and staff meetings will be moved to the 2nd Thursday of every month.  The “last” Thursday of the month can be “left open” in the event we need to meet again.  (Should occur infrequently and only in the case of multiple or intense projects like the hiring processes.)

 

  1. Kim distributed a finalized speakers list for the Awards Banquet.  Chief Thacker will get an address for Roger Johnson.

 

  1. Personnel issues:
    1. Ray Skipper is on leave.
    2. Erin Hensley is no longer employed with our agency, effective today.

                                                               i.      Chief Tibbetts described this morning’s meeting with him to be hostile.  Erin felt that he was not respected by the officers.  He also stated that he felt no one on the department respected Chief Tibbetts.  He further stated that the 4 of the 6 write ups in his file were either lies or incidents that were blown out of proportion.  He stated that he would be better of not working here anyway.

    1. Matt Myers met with Chief Tibbetts last week and asked to be kept on the department.  Everyone agreed to day that this was not feasible as Matt has not been a contributing member.  Chief Tibbetts will contact him.
    2. Chief Tibbetts will contact Natalie Myer and let her know that she cannot be employed with us because she does not meet medical requirements for structural firefighting.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that he had another work comp issue to deal with yesterday.  Captain Settles’ claim has not yet been paid.  Chief Tibbetts stated that he will be bringing someone over from Jeff Stainfield’s office to look at our procedures as he feels there are several things we can improve on.  He also stated that the providers are not allowed to send work comp bills to an individual’s house nor on their credit report for non-payment.  He stated that that there is a $10,000 fine for this.

 

Work comp procedure:  Chief Thacker asked that if someone is injured that they be taken to Community South and he be notified so he can respond immediately.  If it is at night, please have the tones re-set as he may not hear his Nextel.

 

Chief Thacker will be leaving a copy of our needle stick protocol at Community South.

 

Chief Tibbetts will contact Mike Combs and let him know that he is no longer to respond with the Battalions on runs.  This is not part of the light duty description.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts reminded everyone that if staffing falls below 13 that they should try to get coverage from people who won’t be put into overtime.

 

  1. Chief Slauter discussed mutual aid issues with Bargersville and Perry Twp.  Also, any Green Township mutual aid issues must go through Chief Slauter.

 

  1. Staffing issues:
    1. Scott Wiegle is moving to the c-shift on January 16th.
    2. Trevor Wilson is taking Erin Hensley’s c-shift spot.

 

  1. Chief Engmark stated that he has been receiving numerous complaints regarding letters that were sent to employees about the pagers.  He asked how he should handle them.  Chief Tibbetts told him that complaints should come to him or Chief Cassin.

 

  1. Chief Slauter stated that Jennifer Redmon should be sent a letter asking for her resignation.  She was told verbally several time to contact Chief Tibbetts to let him know of her intentions and she has not done so yet.

 

  1. Chief Thacker reported that hiring processes for both full time and part time will commence after January 1.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts asked the Battalion Chiefs to find two personnel from each shift who will be willing to respond off duty for the TSU.  He stated to start with the full time people first, then go to part time if necessary.

 

  1. Discussion on the haz mat run at Bargersville Utilities earlier this week.  Chief Slauter stated that he wasn’t sure why no one showed up to perform rehab.  Kim stated that she was unsure of what the Auxiliary’s response protocols for haz mat incidents was so she did not respond.  No auxiliary pages were sent and tones were not set for them to respond.  She stated that the Auxiliary Officers have talked about contacting Chief Slauter to discuss all response issues now that we have the new TSU.  She went on to say that ANY TIME rehab is needed and no one from the auxiliary has been heard from, a call can be made to her or Marian and they can start the call tree that the auxiliary has in place.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that Mark IV Environmental on Bluff Road would be filing complaints against him and Chief Brown to local politicians.  The hydrant has been installed.  The owner is upset that he had to comply with certain water issues and McCarty Mulch did not.  Chief Slauter stated that if he receives any further complaints or inquiries from David Frizzell’s office he will forward them to Chief Tibbetts.

 

  1.  

Minutes submitted by Kim Clawson.