White River Township Fire Department

                                                Bi-Weekly Strategic Meeting

           

                                                Thursday, March 20, 2008

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Pell

Chief Brown

Chief Thacker

 

 

Chief Cassin

Chief Slauter

Crystal Young

 

  

  1. Meeting called to order at 0805.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Issue Updates from Chief Pell

                                                              i.      Storm Siren

1.      All the sirens have been tested and fixed.

2.      Chief Pell has left it in the schools court to transfer them to us but he will follow up.

a.      Chief Cassin stated that 2 of 3 have already been transferred.  The Government Center has temporarily been put on hold since the power comes from the building.  The issue will be fixed soon.

3.      No one is sure how frequently they need to be tested so Chief Pell will contact Tug for that information.

a.      Chief Slauter wanted to know if they set off the weather radio alert the same time as the sirens.

b.      We could also check with the maintenance company on how often they should be tested.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Chief Pell stated that he has not had much luck with ERS.  They have to be called out to do routine maintenance and when they do they come out and will tell you they need grounding and caulk to keep out the moisture but will not do it as routine maintenance and they will have to be called to come out again.

c.      The maintenance agreement is up in October so the department has time to shop around.

                                                            ii.      AFG

1.      Tim Baughman has no time to write the grant but told us that anyone that is 97 compliant would be low on the priority list.

2.      The department is going to write the grant for turnout gear instead.

a.      Lt. Cox has the original number but it did not include back up gear for the sign up people.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Need to include the Capt. down to the part-time people.

b.      Crystal is gathering information and will meet with Chief Slauter this afternoon.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Chief Slauter does not believe that it will be too difficult.  The key will be using the buzz words.

c.      Chief Pell spoke to Jim Dodson ahead of time.

                                                                                                                                      i.      His only question was if the department is going to go for the grant then in his mind we need to commit to replacements every four years and if we are not we shouldn’t go for the grant (all or nothing)

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Chief Pell does not see it that way, to him receiving money for the turnout gear is better than getting nothing.

d.      20% is okay.  Jim Dodson wanted Chief to compare like departments with like departments.  Three were compared, two had back-up while one didn’t so he agreed.

    1. Captain & Lieutenant Promotional Process (handout from Chief Thacker)

                                                              i.      Chief Thacker looked at the Policy Manual and the Promotional Lists.

1.      The last Captain was appointed by the board 12/04.

2.      In May everyone agreed to keep the lists good for three years.

a.      Capt. list expired 12/07 (one left on the list)

b.      Lt. list will expire 01/09 (three or four left on the list)

                                                            ii.      The handout covers the Safety Board Document and a process outline.

1.      The oral interview is conducted by those outside the department.

2.      Everyone would like there to be a management scenario.

                                                          iii.      The new section is the Fire Chief interview

1.      This will confirm all other information

2.      Solidify the whole process.

                                                           iv.      Is there a point system in the Chief interview?

1.      Chief Pell believes that everyone has earned their spot on the list and does not want to become the yes or no.  He would just like to meet everyone that is coming into the department to let them know first hand what is expected.

2.      Chief Pell would like a points system for this but not skewed enough to mix up the order to much.

3.      Chief Cassin stated that it could be looked at like a bonus question.

a.      Give a proportionate amount to maybe move a guy from one to maybe two or three but not much more than that.

                                                             v.      The % layout is:

1.      Written – 25%

2.      Oral – 20%

3.      Assessment – 50%

4.      Fire Chief Interview – 5%

5.      No points for experience or seniority

                                                           vi.      Qualifications came out of the policy manual

                                                         vii.      Study Materials

1.      This time Chief Thacker will use a book by James Smith.

2.      Policy Manual and SOG Manual

3.      New Company Officer Manual

                                                       viii.      The Chief Officer Book will be used for Capt. since they fill in for the Battalion

                                                           ix.      The Company Officer Book will be used for the Lt.

                                                             x.      Policy Manual

1.      Chief Pell would like to go through the manual and if it isn’t used we need to take it out or it needs to be enforced (ex. Naps)

2.      The issue is if the manual will be finished before everyone will need to use it to study.

3.      It would take 3-4 weeks to finalize all the policies.

a.      A copy could be burned to a CD or printed for the candidate to study so current policies could be changed.

                                                           xi.      Bloomington Fire School is at the end of May beginning of June, if the process was after that it would give some guys a chance to get the classes they need.

                                                         xii.      We need to prioritize the Capt. process; the Lt. list is still good.

                                                       xiii.      The requirements for the positions need to be updated.

1.      Capt. must be full-time with a permanent rank of Lt.

2.      Lt. must be minimum permanent rank of full-time FF

3.      Battalion Chief should be minimum permanent rank of Lt.

                                                       xiv.      The board will have to give permission to start the process of a new list.

1.      Once the department starts another process the existing list is over.

2.      No one believes that the Capt. position will be an issue and the process can wait until the Lt. can also be started.

                                                         xv.      Chief Pell will put in the Grapevine that there will be an upcoming process for Capt and Lt.

    1.  The Roofers will be at station 51 today.
    2. Capt. Settles is still working on the Rescue project.

                                                              i.      Brinley is still e-mailing Chief Slauter about the truck.

                                                            ii.      The estimate is $2800 to convert the current reels to the TSU

 

  1. New Business
    1. No new business

 

  1. Meeting called at 0955.