White River Township Fire Department

                                                Senior Staff Meeting

           

                                                Thursday, January 19, 2006

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Tibbetts

Chief Cassin

Chief Slauter

Chief Wilson

Chief Brown

Chief Thacker

Chief Engmark

Lt. Hart

Capt. Arkins
Capt. Settles
Kim Clawson

 

 

Meeting called to order at 0814.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that Chad Witham is going through the PERF process at this time.  Mark Hart will be moving to Captain.  Mark Williams will be replacing Lt. Hart.  Discussion on allowing Eric Funkhouser to move there instead.  Chief Tibbetts felt that it was a Paramedic-preferred position.  After discussion, it was agreed that it was not a Paramedic-preferred position and that we should stick with our current policy and allow Funkhouser to move there.  Engine 53 is a Paramedic-preferred position.  Chief Tibbetts will talk with Chief Slauter with this when he returns on Tuesday.

 

  1. Chief Brown announced that we will begin work on another ISO rating evaluation soon.  The accreditation will take at least 2-3 years and we might be able to save our taxpayers money on their insurance policy if we try to get a better ISO rating in the mean time.  He stated that he will be sending out a checklist to the Captains of the equipment needed on each piece of apparatus.  Captain Settles requested that this be emailed.  Chief Tibbetts stated that he wanted everyone’s full cooperation in this process.  Chief Brown agreed with Captain Arkins that any full evaluation would be postponed until all apparatus have returned and are back in regular service.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that there has been too much of “people doing things on their own” and that the head of the division needs to know about any matters concerning that division.

 

  1. Discussion on allowing department heads to attend senior staff meetings from now on.  Chief Tibbetts agreed, but stated they would be excluded from confidential issues.  In addition to the Chief officers, the new attendance roster for senior staff meetings will now include:  Joe Settles (Special Ops), Mark Hart (EMS), and Greg Hurrle (Maint.).

 

  1. Fire Protection District Board:

-          It was agreed that our presentations to the Board at their monthly meetings need to improve.

-          Chief Tibbetts stated that some of the members were upset about our year end purchases.  They were concerned that we had money left over, we were “just trying to spend it to be spending it” and that there might not be a true need for some of the items.

-          Chief Tibbetts stated that, effective immediately, money will be spent throughout the year instead of waiting until the end of the year.  Purchases will be presented to the Board for discussion at least 2-3 months before we wish to make the purchase (ie: Discuss in November for a January/February purchase).

-          Chief Tibbetts stated that the Board told him that they felt like Chief Tibbetts approves all expenditures, regardless of what it is.

 

  1. EMS:

-          Rural Metro crews have recently refused to take an SOR over the phone (ie: from the parent of a minor).  Mark is investigating.

-          Still working on implementing the Bluetooth technology.

-          Protocol changes will include:  Phenergen, ACLS changes, Fentinol, and adult i/o’s.

 

  1. February 3 is the Awards Banquet.  Staff cars will be taking the on duty crews to the banquet and apparatus will remain in the district.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts reminded everyone to keep lines of communication open.