White River Township Fire Department

                                                Bi-Weekly Strategic Meeting

           

                                                Thursday, September 6, 2007

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Cassin

Chief Brown

 

 

 

Chief Thacker

Chief Slauter

Crystal Young

 

  

  1. Meeting called to order at 0805.
  2. Old Business
    1. None
  3. New Business
    1. Paramedic Staffing – Chief Slauter

                                                              i.      Personnel move should be Tim Smith with Mike Combs.  The move should be made as soon as possible, determined by Mike’s schedule with dispatch.

    1. New Engine 53 update – Chief Slauter

                                                              i.      The hose bed cover on the Engine has been installed.

                                                            ii.      Capt. Arkins wants to have the dedication ceremony on the 16th.

                                                          iii.      Chief Slauter wanted to know if the department should price out the back end of the other Engines. 

1.      Chief Cassin wants to be cautious because there have been big expenses as of late, such as the transmission and roof repair.

2.      Chief Slauter stated that Square One was a little cheaper but there was no exact cost.  He stated that it was approximately $1000.

3.      He also believes the stripping turned out well.

                                                           iv.      The dually and trailers till have the old stripping.  Joe is in the process of getting those changed.

                                                             v.      Chief Pell’s vehicle is almost ready.  The Battalion vehicle is still not finished but should be completed in October.  All of the equipment will be mounted by Waymier.

                                                           vi.      Chief Pell did not want a computer mount; his will be mounted to the sidewall of the vehicle.  No new mounts will need to be purchased.  All he will need is a remote head radio for his vehicle.

    1. Other New Business

                                                              i.      Chief Thacker

1.      FT interviews will take place next week.  The names should be available by November.

2.      PT process

a.      Nine names have been put on the list and it seems to be a pretty good group.

b.      Five of them should be coming in soon for a chief interview to fill three open shifts.

3.      Up coming training.

a.      Training on the new engine.

b.      NIMS at the end of the month.

                                                            ii.      Chief Brown

1.      At the end of next week he will start having shifts go through the nursing home.

2.      Center Grove Elementary wants to have a mock fire in school with the staff.

a.      Currently working through details.

b.      Smoke 4th and 5th grade hall

c.      He has been getting more inquiries about real life scenarios for the staff.

                                                          iii.      Chief Cassin

1.      There will be a walkthrough at new Station 51 at 9:30.

a.      Issues were identified yesterday and Jeff Coy was given a heads up.

b.      He hopes the Senefeld’s are going to be in attendance to get a date in mind.

c.      The building will not be accepted until it is DONE.

d.      The department is also waiting on an “as built” drawing to be provided by Senefeld.  Many modifications have been made and these drawings will show the changes. 

2.      Chief Pell will be making his first official appearance on Saturday during the September 11th tribute at 1:00pm.

                                                           iv.      Last week’s events with Bargersville.

1.      Chief Slauter asked in regards to last weeks events if WRTFD should exclude them.

a.      Maybe our new chief should sit down with Bargersville’s chief and discuss situations.

b.      Chief Slauter does not trust the leadership at Bargersville.  He believes they are dangerous and he does not feel comfortable with them.

2.      Currently they fill in at Station 51 as a call as needed basis, no auto aid.  They have also stopped calling us to go to the High School.

3.      The biggest concern is WR assisting Bargersville.

4.      New Whiteland is a possible option, they can get here quickly.  Decatur is another option.

5.      Chief Thacker stated that safety for our guys is biggest concern.  He believes Chief Wilson did what he needed to do but he shouldn’t have said what he said in front of the family.

6.      Chief stated that there were issues with the Kensington Fire and when we asked them to come here to fill in they didn’t they responded from their station.

7.      Chief Thacker stated that the department should work on the diplomatic issues between the chiefs.

8.      Chief Brown stated think of an appropriate manner to approach the issue.  We need to decide if there are rolls they could play and if not do it in a friendly was as to not be labeled.

9.      Chief Thacker stated that 202 sat on station throughout the whole incident.  No one at the incident thought to call them to assist.  A & B shift from 202 are the only shifts he may trust to assist.

10. Chief Slauter stated that what we decide could be kept internal and allows Chief Pell to talk to them once he has an idea of the situation.

a.      He wondered if 202 could come here and train with WR.  The response was they cannot because the Chief won’t allow them, they are not allowed off station.

b.      Greg Hurrle will be doing some saw training with them soon.

11. Chief Cassin told Chief Slauter to get with the Battalions and let them know for now not to use Bargersville for fill-in then get all chiefs in a room and decide how we can fix this.

a.      Chief Slauter stated that he will talk to the Battalions and have them talk to their Captains and stress that they need to keep it to themselves.

12. Chief Brown asked what WR does if they call for one.  Chief Slauter stated that they send several apparatus and he stresses crew cohesiveness and for the crews not to be afraid to say things aren’t going right and get out of the situation.

  1. Meeting called at 0910.