White River Township Fire Department

                                                Bi-Weekly Strategic Meeting

           

                                                Wednesday, March 29, 2007

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Cassin

Chief Brown

 

 

 

Chief Thacker

Captain Hart

Crystal Young

 

  

  1. Meeting called to order at 0808.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Future Funding Plan Update

                                                              i.      Chief Thacker and Capt. Hart have spoken to Tom Hanify.  He has spoken to Brian Bosma who stated that in the next session there are two options:

1.      Emergency loans for fire districts

2.      Max tax increase which becomes available when there is growth, annex or special problem.

                                                            ii.      More will be known after the legislative break.

    1. District Board Presentation Update

                                                              i.      Chief Thacker stated that Chief Slauter is taking care of the Ambulance part.

                                                            ii.      Is the issue of future funding going to be brought up to the board or will it be discussed once the issue of legislative changes comes up.

                                                          iii.      Tom said that the Perry Twp deal is done and will be completed by Jan. 2009 (within 12 months)

    1. Battalion Vehicle Consolidation

                                                              i.      Chief Cassin has laid out the possibilities (see him if you would like to see them)

                                                            ii.      The plan will drop from 10 staff cars to 9. (One Battalion from 3, one extra will be used by the increase in the staff position)  Dropping one entire vehicle long term is a plus.

                                                          iii.      The vehicle in question is an Expedition XL.  Bargersville has purchased three of them; Chief Cassin and Engmark took a look at them in the last couple of days and believes it will work out well.

 

  1. New Business
    1. Near-miss Report

                                                              i.      Chief Slauter has pointed out this issue with accreditation.

                                                            ii.      Need to develop a policy and do the training.

                                                          iii.      Implementation – There is already an existing from that is filled out and sent to a national database.  (firefighternearmiss.com)  They compile the information and train for any re-occurrences.

    1. Department Suggestion / New Idea Policy

                                                              i.      A policy or location needs to be drawn up for individuals with suggestions.  (like Witham and his idea with the mailboxes)

                                                            ii.      Someone needs to come up with a place for ideas – maybe e-mail the fire chief or Crystal who could then bring them to the BWS meetings.

                                                          iii.      We need a place where someone could bring up their ideas anonymously if they want without feeling degraded or anxious about bringing it up to a chief directly.

    1. Mission Statement

                                                              i.      Put it on the agenda for the next Union meeting to make sure in is okay with everyone.  (It can be found on the front page of the bi-weekly newsletter)

    1. Smoking on Scenes

                                                              i.      The current policy is out dated.  The policy needs to be spelled out more.

                                                            ii.      Chief Brown recently investigated a fire out of the district.  Several cigarette butts were all over the scene.  Each one had to be investigated to find out who it belonged to.

                                                          iii.      A bunch of guys standing by the engine smoking may not be an image we want.

1.      Capt. Hart stated that they are tucked away at the building they shouldn’t be out in front of the engine during a run.

2.      Chief Thacker stated that there is no smoking on scene without permission.

3.      Chief Brown inquired about department events like the Strawberry Festival.

                                                           iv.      Chief Cassin stated that the grand plan should be smoke free (tobacco free) and asked if Capt Hart could bring it up at the next Union meeting and see what the guys would be interested in doing to meet this goal.

1.      Chief Thacker stated maybe even pay for assistance programs.  He also stated that it could be brought up with an overall physical fitness program.

a.      Tobacco Free

b.      Mandatory physical fitness training

c.      Incumbent fitness training

2.      This goal will hopefully help with health care costs by keeping them down or at the least even.

a.      In less than 10 years we will be paying more in health care than the entire FT staff.

3.      One way would be to get the influencers together.  (Capt Hart will speak with Nick Alford and someone needs to talk to Tony Slusher.

    1. Escort Details

                                                              i.      The department did to the escort for CG but this is a liability for the department.

                                                            ii.      Chief Cassin has a problem with the people running the red light or speeding to catch up with the group.

                                                          iii.      Options

1.      Quit doing it altogether

2.      Just do it in front of the school.

                                                           iv.      It is a policy we need to think about.  Chief Cassin is not comfortable opening the department up to the liability.

                                                             v.      Chief Brown suggested that we just do SR 37.  Maybe have the Battalion sit at the intersections.

1.      This is a big deal for the school and believes that we should come up with some policy to do some escorts.

2.      Chief Thacker agrees that it is a big deal for the school and that maybe we should just do it on Olive Branch.

    1. Hiring Time Line for PT and FT

                                                              i.      Time line for PT process.

1.      Ad will run in Star and Daily Journal this weekend

2.      Applications will be picked up Mon April 9-20.

3.      Applications are due April 20th

4.      April 27-28 – Physical ability and exam

5.      May 3-4 – Oral interview

6.      May 14-15 – Fire Chief Interview.

7.      May 23-24 – Orientation

8.      June 5 – Begin shift

9.      We should know more by the end of April on how many people will be needed for the book.

                                                            ii.      Time line for FT process

 

May 5-13

Ad in Star, Daily Journal & web site

May 14-25

Apps available ($25)

May 25

Apps due by 4:00 pm

June 6

CPAT practice (Pike Twp or Wayne Twp)

August 4

CPAT test (Pike Twp Fire HQ)

August 11

Written exam at CGMS @ 0900

August 13-24

Written notification sent to candidates

August 27-31

Candidates call to schedule oral interview

Sept. 5-7

Oral interview at HQ

October 2

Candidate selection list presented to FPDB

October 3

Written notification sent to candidates

TBA

PERF psych and health physicals

TBA

Final candidate packets to State PERF board

TBA

Final candidates two weeks at current employ

TBA

Start shift

 

1.      Chief Tibbetts signed the department up to accept cards within the past 12 months.

2.      June 6th is the valid date, if the candidate is not valid they will need to contact ESCC and get into this test period.  They will have eight weeks to practice for the CPAT exam and to take the test.

3.      Woehlecke will be brought to the board before the FT time line will be discussed.

4.      There will be training on SR 135 and Chief Cassin would like to have some pictures.

5.      Chief Brown will check with Schoolcraft and Coppenhaver to see if they will allow the department to burn.

 

  1. Meeting called at 0854.