White River Township Fire Department

                                                Bi-Weekly Strategic Meeting

           

                                                Thursday, June 7, 2007

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Cassin

Chief Brown

 

 

 

Chief Thacker

Chief Slauter

Crystal Young

 

  

  1. Meeting called to order at 0805.
  2. Old Business
    1. Promotional List Policy

                                                              i.      Chief Cassin stated that he has updated the policy and sent out an e-mail.

                                                            ii.      The policy is under the Hiring Policy in the Department Policy Manual.

                                                          iii.      Everyone stated that they have not received the e-mail.

1.      Chief Cassin will check on that and send it out if he has not.

                                                           iv.      Chief Slauter brought up the topic of the residency requirements.

1.      He researched the topic and stated that there was nothing listed and also checked with the safety board and there was nothing specifically listed there.

2.      This is a concern because a couple of guys have approached the union to expand something that does not exist.

3.      Chief Slauter and Chief Thacker both stated that the department does not rely on home response and with several people living in the district there would not be a problem getting the personnel for any response.  Fishers have recently changed theirs to two counties away.

4.      Chief Cassin agrees that it is unfair and that there are some locations in non-adjoining counties that are closer than locations in adjoining counties.

  1. New Business
    1. NIMS 300 and 400

                                                              i.      300 – 3 day class, 400 – 2 day class.  Both cover a deep amount of material.

                                                            ii.      Chief Thacker believes the department should require company officers and above to have both.

1.      Should both classes be mandated?

a.      Suggestion is that the 300 class be given have a couple days break then take up the 400 class.

b.      One belief is that everyone takes the 300 and the Captains and Chiefs take the 400 class.

                                                                                                                                      i.      400 is advance incident command.

                                                          iii.      Chief Thacker did the NIMS for the top brass for the Sheriffs Dept.  Sheriff and the Incident Commander will use regular language and the Sheriff will use their language with officers.

1.      Greenwood and some Utility companies will know the language.

                                                           iv.      The 300 and 400 are just coming out.  The classes can also be taught by Papas and Weimer.

                                                             v.      Chief Slauter believes the department should go with the classes because if anyone from state or federal level comes down we would need to be able to communicate with them.

                                                           vi.      Chief Thacker also stated that it is being connected with grant money.  The department gets more is so much of the department is 300 & 400.

                                                         vii.      It was decided that all company officers and up will be mandated to take 300.  The class would then be offered to anyone else interested.  The 400 class would then be mandated to Captains and Chiefs.

    1. Personnel Evaluations

                                                              i.      Most are doing a good job.

                                                            ii.      Chief Thacker believes the department should look into tying an incentive to the evaluation.  He thinks they would become more meaningful if there was some kind of incentive to training and hard work.

                                                          iii.      Chief Slauter stated that it should go hand in hand with the promotion process.

1.      Chief Cassin stated that there could be a point system to reward good evaluations.

    1. Permanent and Temporary Shift Trades

                                                              i.      A letter to revise shift trade policy was given to Chief Cassin by the union.

                                                            ii.      There were a couple of suggestions for the policy.

1.      If there is a trade between the Battalion Chief and Captain or LT and Eng, there should be no ride-out paid.

2.      Permanent trades between equal ranks (lateral moves) can be made as long as there is an agreement between those making the trade and an okay by the Chiefs.

                                                          iii.      Chief Cassin gave the letter to Chief Slauter to clean up and post in policy.

  1. Other Business
    1. Chief Slauter stated that as of June 23 Woehlecke will officially be the C-Shift Float.
    2. Chief Thacker stated that the department has a few cadets that are in good standing and have now completed school.

                                                              i.      Chief Thacker will set up an agility test and once they have passed that they will need to sign up on the book for six months before being able to be assigned to a shift.

    1. Chief Thacker also stated that there is a new Conservation Officer for Johnson County.  He lives down Mullinix and has stopped in at headquarters a couple of times.  He is willing to assist the department with any issues.
  1. Meeting called at 0843.