White River Township Fire Department

                                                Senior Staff Meeting

           

                                                Thursday, November 9, 2006

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Tibbetts

Chief Brown

Capt. Hart

 

Chief Cassin

Chief Thacker

Capt. Arkins

 

Chief Slauter

Chief Engmark

Capt. Settles

 

Chief Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Meeting called to order at 0805.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Trailer Towing Issue – Lt. Hurrle

                                                              i.      Lt. Hurrle recommended the department purchase a F550.  He was asked to a comparison on all options showing the F550 to be the best option.

                                                            ii.      The current snow plow will need new fittings to attach to the new truck.  He asked if this was something the department wanted to do.  Chief Thacker thought the department was looking into either using on duty personnel with a plow to do the job or to hire someone to do the job.

                                                          iii.      Going with the Freightliner would mean that Stoops would need to do the oil changes and basic maintenance on the vehicle while the Ford would be much easier to maintain.  Chief Cassin would like for Lt. Hurrle to include service issues on the grid he will present to the District Board.

                                                           iv.      Chief Thacker asked if a used F550 could be obtained.  Lt. Hurrle was only able to find one on the internet.  Chief Brown believes there are still some ‘05s on the lot at the dealer.  They are new but the department would receive a better price on one of those since they have not been sold and the ’07 model year is being released soon.

                                                             v.      Lt. Hurrle will research all options to convey to the District Board and would like to know which bed would be preferred.  Chief Cassin states that the flat bed has no value so it will still be available for the department to use but keeping the flat bed and adding utility boxes to the truck would work.  No one has any strong opinion except no dump bed.

                                                           vi.      Chief Cassin just reminds Lt. Hurrle that when he is presenting the options to the District Board to reiterate the problem and why there is a necessity for a new truck.  Since the department will most likely use the dually as a trade-in he will re-arrange the Cum Fund to show the replacement and new funding.

                                                              i.      Lt. Hurrle asked if the base price or the completed price should be given to the Board.  Chief Cassin told him to quote the completed truck (the towing package, graphics, lights and bed cost minus the trade in with and without the snow plow).

                                                            ii.      Chief Tibbetts asked Lt. Hurrle what the charge would be to plow all three lots.  Lt. Hurrle responded with salt (at $15 a bag) would run $500-600 for two inches and increasing for amounts six inches and above.  The cost would be between $4,000-5,000 per year with average show fall.  Chief Thacker believes it would be better to do it ourselves.  Chief Tibbetts asked Lt. Hurrle to get the cost for re-fit on the one the department has and a price with a new one incase it is left on the dually when traded in.

 

  1. New Business
    1. Office Civilian Staff Uniforms – Chief Cassin

                                                              i.      The office staff has stated an interest in wearing uniforms.  Other departments have their staff wear uniforms and both Jackie and Crystal have stated that they would like to wear uniforms. 

                                                            ii.      Believing everyone would agree to the plan Lt. Cox was contacted and clothing has been agreed upon.  A polo shirt with kaki pants has been chosen.  Lt. Cox will purchase a shirt and embroider a sample for the staff to take a look at.  Everyone was in agreement and on board with the change.

    1. Leadership Class Summary – Chief Thacker

                                                              i.      Chief Thacker has received a lot of feedback from the class.  Many enjoyed the class and found it helpful and informative.

                                                            ii.      He would like suggestions for continuing with the lessons learned in the class and improving the leadership throughout the department.

                                                          iii.      Chief Thacker believes there should be an increase in communications throughout the department.  One suggestion he had was to send out a monthly newsletter.  Many e-mails are sent discussing operations but most are not read by the staff and when they are it is sometimes too late.  Other ways to get information out is the key.  Each department should get something out once a month along with advance notice in training classes and a letter from the Fire Chief.  Anyone with information that would need to get to the department could be posted in the newsletter.  The articles could be sent to Crystal who would then format them and get them out.  Updating the Strategic Plan and Senior Staff Retreats are more suggestions.

                                                           iv.      Chief Thacker believes a retreat for the Senior Staff and Division Heads would be very productive.  By leaving the area and getting away from the calls and disturbances, issues could be discussed entirely instead in 10-20 min. intervals.  The retreat would start on a Friday and completed on a Saturday.  Many topics could be discussed in full.  The Mission Statement is a great topic for discussion, does it still cover the department’s goals or does it need to be updated.  A code of ethics could be established and the time used to get everyone on the same page.

                                                             v.      The department should get the most out of the leadership class and build on what was learned instead of going back to the status quo.

                                                           vi.      Chief Engmark likes the idea of the retreat along with several others.

                                                         vii.      Chief Cassin agrees with Chief Thacker about the Strategic Plan being a dynamic document that needs to be updated.

                                                       viii.      Capt. Settles suggested an officer academy once a week for 3-4 hours with open ended topics and would like to make it mandatory.  Chief Thacker agrees and would like to do it one day a week for 4 weeks working on tactics then incident command.  He believes that it would be a good idea to make it mandatory, little more than half of the officer staff attended the leadership class.

                                                           ix.      Chief Thacker would like to do a Senior Staff Officer Retreat before the end of the year on December 8th and 9th.  Check calendars and see if these dates are acceptable.  People get cut short in the staff meetings, along with phone calls and runs topics do not receive full attention.  His suggestion would be to stay at the Nashville Inn in Brown County.  Many issues come up from time to time but do not get discussed often enough.  Maybe a full day should also be taken in the middle of the year before the budget is ironed out and submitted to the board.

                                                             x.      The department also needs to get prevention involved with everyone.  It should be a topic for the officers’ academy to explain the ordinance and other policies so everyone can understand and be involved.

    1. Smoking cessation – laser technique  - Chief Thacker

                                                              i.      This program would help the department to buy into the employees.  Many of the firefighters have tried several methods to stop smoking and have been unable to.  This program has a success rate of 88-95%.  Mike Rude has had this procedure and currently has no desire to smoke.  Lawrence Fire Department pays part of the procedure and has the firefighter sign a contract that if smoking starts back up they are to reimburse the department for the cost incurred. 

                                                            ii.      The benefits of supporting the program would be in the decrease in insurance costs.

                                                          iii.      People from acu-laser are prepared to come in and talk to anyone who might be interested in the procedure.  Once the department is surveyed and the interested parties are available an appointment will be set up for them to come in.

                                                           iv.      Lt. Hurrle had five smokers and a couple of chewers on his shift.  At this time all of them have quit, Mike Rude is helping everyone with support.

                                                             v.      Chief Tibbetts stated that he tried everything to stop.  You have to want to quit.  Within 72 hours your body looses the desire to have tobacco, the problem is psychological.  At this time Mike Rude cannot even stand the smell of smoke.  Chief Thacker will talk to acu-laser or another provider to set up an appointment time.

    1. 40 Hour Work Week – Chief Cassin

                                                              i.      There was a miscommunication as to what it was.  There is currently no reference to how it is enacted and who enacts it.  The policy will need to be put in writing and inserted into the policy manual.  There is potential for a cost impact when enacted.  There may be a need to backfill and overtime may be involved.  The cost to training is $500 per Eng adding to almost $1600 for all three shifts.

                                                            ii.      The forty hour work week has only been instated 2-3 times in the last year and generally no more than 3-4 times per year.

                                                          iii.      The fire chief should be the one that authorizes the 40 hour work week as long as the employee would be okay with that.  If it is the employees short week a half day picked up would make up for the time lost.

                                                           iv.      The benefit to going to the 40 hour work week would be that you would be considered on duty and would be covered by workman’s comp.  If the employee were to stay on duty there would be a possibility they could be detailed out to training but could be pulled out if they were needed.

                                                             v.      If the training would fall during a long cycle, the employee could work the Sunday, take the rest of the week off then only loose eight hours of half time.  The only problem would be if the class was to involve travel that would have to take place on Sunday.

                                                           vi.      Lt. Hurrle stated that he was disappointed in a co-worker who commented that he would not take a class because he could stay behind and pick up overtime.  Capt. Settles commented that many officers did not take the ropes class because they knew they could pick up overtime.

                                                         vii.      Chief Thacker believes the only real problem is if the class falls in the long cycle.  He questions how many times does an individual even have a long cycle, four.  During the long cycle an employee could potentially loose up to $200 and $65 on a short cycle.  His proposal is for the difference be allowed to be reimbursed through the employees $1600 training fund if they so desire.  He believes that when using the minimum staffing only one spot is left for OT as long as everyone else scheduled shows up.  Only 35 out of 100 people have used their training money.

                                                       viii.      The individual who attended the ropes class cost the department $750 the employee may have lost $200.  They still have a net gain of $550.  At the most it would be $800 per person per year and that is only if every class they attend falls in the employee’s long cycle.

                                                           ix.      Chief Tibbetts recalls that only two people have been put on 40 hour work week this year.  The process has not been put in writing but is now becoming more prevalent and will need to be added to the policy manual.  By being able to be reimbursed through the employee’s training fund they would not loose the money.  This would be a good topic to discuss in the monthly newsletter.

                                                             x.      Chief Cassin believes he has enough to get something in writing.

                                                           xi.      Capt. Settles states that the guys don’t want things black and white they want discretion.  If the guys assume they are going to be detailed they won’t want to be pulled out of class because of an illness.  Also the ropes and structural classes are different from Firefighter I & II.  You are tired after class and that would make it difficult to work after.

                                                         xii.      B Shift is on their long week during Structural class so they will need to be brought in on the 9th to discuss with them how it is going to work.

    1. Capt. Settles asked about trades

                                                              i.      He wanted to know if the department had a problem with trades where one person may gain overtime.

                                                            ii.      Chief Tibbetts responded that the trade was between the individuals and does not affect the department.  Capt. Settles then wanted to know if a trade with non-equal individuals was an issue.  Chief Cassin stated that it is not a problem.  Capt. Settles then asked if he should encourage officers to trade with officers.  Chief Tibbetts replied yes but if they cannot it is okay.

    1. Scott Tichenor thanked everyone for allowing him to observe.
    2. Capt. Hart

                                                              i.      The new E-series have been installed.  They still need calibration; Capt. Settles tried to link it but was unable.

                                                            ii.      AEDs are on apparatus.  The last three (tanker, Engine 51, and new rescue) are on order.  The old ones are going to be sold, one has been spoken for so if anyone knows of anyone who would like to purchase one let him know.

                                                          iii.      Dr. Gainsman has dropped Franklin Twp. because of too many issues.  He will be going back to every month doing and audit and review.  He will rotate through the three shifts (one a month); this guarantees every shift four audit and reviews per year.

    1. Awards – Chief Thacker

                                                              i.      27th January, C-shift at Hickory Stick.  He will be meeting with them tomorrow.

                                                            ii.      Chief Thacker has looked into challenge coins ($3-4 each); only the employees would get the coins.  He has been looking at mugs or glasses with the patch or cross on it for everyone. ($2-2.50 each).  He believes it will take a couple of months to get everything into place.

                                                          iii.      Catering will be done by Hickory Stick because it would cost an extra $3 per person to get an outside caterer.

                                                           iv.      Capt. Hart states that we need to address who is getting awards.  Donations from the Community would be helpful, FF Credit Union will donate.  Someone needs to speak to Donley and Towers to see if they would sponsor the banquet.

    1. The fit tester was approved and has been ordered.  Need to get one person per shift to test (instruction on how to use the machine).  Everyone will need this done once a year.
    2. Capt. Hart comments that Station 52 is almost finished.  The striping has been done in the parking lot except for the back which he is going to call about.
    3. Chief Thacker states that Greenwood will be in their new station next week.

                                                              i.      Steve wants to be on line by January.  He also intends on having a Fire and EMS Communications Director by the first of the year.  Capt. Settles as if they use the CAD based system.  Chief Tibbetts said that they do but it is not extremely advanced but it is better than what we have.  If money could be kept in the E-911 budget it would be better.

                                                            ii.      Need at least one month to do change over.  Everyone’s radio will need to be changed over.  To this point there are only a couple of things they won’t budge on.  Chief Slauter will be meeting with them to discuss and will report back at the next Senior Staff Meeting.  The differences are minor and can be worked around.

    1. Chief Engmark

                                                              i.      Larry Christian has implemented another ambulance in the area.  This would make it three in the area.  This one will most likely be placed in Bargersville.

                                                            ii.      A run at 107 N SR 135 was a pulled fire alarm.  The only people there were an all Mexican cleaning crew that did not speak English.  He wondered if the department should send a couple of people per shift to learn Spanish.  He recommended an immersion camp (Camp Camby $1495 per person) that last for ten days to learn quickly.  It is geared toward police but if we contact they may be able to change for firefighters.  At this point there is only one officer in Johnson County who could translate.  Marion County has a language bank.  Chief Tibbetts recommended that Chief Engmark call IFD and ask what they have done or what they recommend.  Chief Engmark is going to look into the topic further.

                                                          iii.      Capt. Hart said that EMS has a translation form that they read from then they sign our form.

                                                           iv.      Another suggestion is for someone to learn sign language.

 

  1. Meeting called at 1006.