White River Township Fire Department

                                                Bi-Weekly Strategic Meeting

           

                                                Wednesday, June 11, 2008

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Pell

Chief Brown

Chief Thacker

 

 

Chief Cassin

Chief Slauter

Crystal Young

 

  

  1. Meeting called to order at 0805.

 

  1. New Business
    1. Cell Phone Service

                                                              i.      Chief Engmark has been shopping for cell phone service spurred on by the problems with Sprint.

                                                            ii.      Sprint has already gone through 3 Government reps since Stephanie left and the personal service isn’t there.

1.      Chief Engmark spoke to them about the contract and they have not been returning his calls.

                                                          iii.      There have been service issues with Sprint since they veered away from Nextel.

                                                           iv.      Chief Engmark has received quotes from different companies.

1.      Christy Carter is Verizon

2.      Stephanie is with AT&T now.

a.      She came up with the best deal of $1200 package.

3.      Verizon was $1700.

4.      Sprint was $1600.

a.      The Government rep was supposed to evaluate the bill but has not gotten back to Chief Engmark.

                                                             v.      Battalions and up would get PDA’s and Captains down would get handset phones.

1.      Chief Slauter asked how durable the phones are.

a.      The new I-Phone is now a better deal.

b.      Chief Pell stated that he knows that it is an individual choice as to need or want in the phone choice.

c.      Chief Slauter likes a more durable phone and asked if everyone would keep their current phone number.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Everyone would keep their number and they would come in and give out the phones in one day.

2.      Chief Brown asked if there is direct connect with AT&T.

a.      AT&T does not have direct connect and Verizon does but the service is horrible.

3.      There will be an up front cost depending on the phones.

a.      Do the Station Captains need a PDA?  Chief Pell stated that the State Board of Accounts audits those costs closely so the department should be careful.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Maybe division heads could use them.  Capt. Settles may need a PDA. (Division heads will be offered a PDA)

b.      Chief Slauter asked if it would be a tracking nightmare.

c.      A deduction could be taken if anyone wants an upgrade. (the difference between what the department would provide and the upgrade wanted)

4.      A program will be set up on the server that will sync with Outlook.

a.      MS Exchange would take care of that once we host our own mail server.

                                                           vi.      Chief Engmark has been testing all service phones and AT&T has been working the best.

                                                         vii.      There will be approximately $500 in monthly savings.  (Everything will come out of one big pool of minutes) Also calls will be free phone to phone.

                                                       viii.      Chief Engmark also stated that it will be a WSCA contract so being a government entity the department is not bound and can back out if it is not working.

                                                           ix.      Any service problems will go through Stephanie.  Phones will not come in until the I-Phone release July 11.  She will put a hold on the number of I-Phones needed.

1.      The department could sign a contract by the end of the month and take delivery of the phone later.

2.      Chief Pell stated that Chief Brown will have the new channel.

a.      Chief Brown stated that he works with the county a lot through direct connect but he will just program the numbers into the phone.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Updates

                                                              i.      Disaster plan should be wrapped up in a few days and some of it has already been put to the test.

                                                            ii.      Budget – Chief Pell has been putting all the Salary Survey and Insurance Survey information together for Jim Dodson.

1.      Steve Dyson and Chief Thacker have been working together on the budget.

1.      The OT budget is back up and they are trying to work on that.

2.      Steve Dyson has worked the numbers and has sent an e-mail to the board regarding the 3% increase.

a.      Across the board career firefighters would receive 1.7% while the PT guys will walk home with the entire 3%.  Along with the disparity among the ranks.

b.      He suggested that they fund insurance at an original rate and career would take home more.

c.      He is helping to explain to the board how the numbers are going to work.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Both with the OT Budget and the unintended result of the insurance increase.

                                                          iii.      EMS Director – Chief Engmark was the only one to put in for the position.

1.      He does not technically have the qualifications.  The department could take the requirement and say the applicant can have 6 or 12 months to get the requirements.

a.      Specify the requirements then there are some that could be done after given the position.  (required and preferred requirements)

b.      Chief Slauter stated that the staff should be willing to take someone out of the position if they don’t get the qualifications.

c.      Chief Brown also believes that there may be someone that does not have all the qualifications but would be best for the job.  The preferred language helps to get the best person in that job.

d.      Chief Thacker asked if the preferred only option would only exist in the appointed only positions and not for merit positions.

e.      At this point the department couldn’t hire someone for the position because there isn’t anyone with the requirements.  Chief Slauter believes that 12 months is too long and that 6 months would be better.

f.        Chief Thacker stated that the Primary Instructor is the hardest to get and Chief Engmark is getting into the program right now.  Fire Officer III is also offered a couple of times a year.

g.      Everyone has known what the qualifications are and has had a year and a half to get them.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Chief Thacker agrees in the 6 month time length.

2.      Every position that is not a permanent merit position will be looked at.

3.      The question is that if a position comes open is there going to be anyone there to fill the position.

a.      Chief Cassin stated that whoever becomes the Training Chief will be in this room and he believes that anyone in here should have an Associates degree, some kind of formal education.

b.      Chief Slauter agrees with Chief Cassin in that we need good educated people making sound decisions.

c.      Chief Pell does not want to focus just on paper but also who is the best person for the job.  Keep the requirements but give time (six months) to get the certifications.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Chief Slauter stated that since we let Charlie get his requirements after we should also allow Chief Engmark to do the same.

4.      Chief Pell believes the qualifications are appropriate but extra time should only be allowed for appointments only.

a.      Six months to get certification from time of appointment.

b.      Increase the pool and get best person.

c.      If the person does not get the certification by that time they are out of the position.

d.      If the pool is not there the department should go outside to fill the position.

5.      Chief Pell will re-post the position with the six month time span.

                                                           iv.      Station 53 Sewer

1.      The contract has been signed and sent to the contractor.

2.      When he is done the department will pay. (TPI – they have done work for the city of Carmel and did come recommended)

3.      Chief Pell is waiting for the dates of the project.

                                                             v.      Runyon Rd Station

1.      Chief Pell has shown the building two more times and believes they are interested.

                                                           vi.      Rescue 51

1.      Chief Pell has received an e-mail back and will move forward with the project.

2.      At this point we are waiting on the trailer.

                                                         vii.      Station 54 Property

1.      There has been a meeting with St. Francis and they are willing to sell us property at approximately $70,000 and acre.  (the lot will be an acre and a half)

2.      They do want an appraised value so it may go up to $150,000 for the property.

3.      Chief Pell wanted to thank Chief Brown for making that connection.

                                                       viii.      SAFER Grant

1.      The board has approved going forward with the grant process again.

2.      At this point Chief Pell and Crystal will be working on this one.

3.      Chief Pell was given the advice to follow the instructions letter by letter.

a.      He wants to show how the department follows 1710 before and after.

                                                                                                                                      i.      The grant was written that we always have four guys on an Engine and he believes that really hurt our chances.

                                                                                                                                    ii.      He wants to bring up House Bill 1001 and show the OT budget and that the department often falls below four guys on an Engine.

                                                                                                                                  iii.      We will show that we are trying to comply but stress the OT budget, etc.

 

  1. Other New Business
    1. Flood Incident Update

                                                              i.      Chief Pell has sent out an e-mail letting everyone know that they have done a spectacular job from top to bottom.  He will also post the e-mail at the stations.

1.      Chief Pell will also need to stress the long term recovery in the community and the department.

2.      Tetanus shots will be available for on and off duty personnel.  Hepatitis A is also recommended.

a.      Chief Thacker has checked with Med Check, they have the shots for $30.  Everyone involved in the incident should be on a list.  This is time sensitive and everyone needs to get them now.  The Hepatitis A is more important than the tetanus.

                                                            ii.      The department should designate Station 51 as the EOC due to the basement.

1.      It will need a repeater, extra terminals in the basement.

2.      Everyone should look for a grant or ask for $50,000 out of the Rainy Day Fund to set up the EOC.

                                                          iii.      Some type of phone service will have to be set up in the basement.

1.      Antenna in EOC for cell phones.  LAPC or County EOC.

2.      Station 52 said that it was not communicated that we were dispatching out of Station 51.

a.      A windshield survey of the district should be conducted earlier.

                                                           iv.      Station 52 is back on-line.

1.      The life expectancy on the generator is in question.  Lt. Smith needs to look at replacing because it is becoming harder to find parts for a 16 year old generator.

2.      Also additional lightening protection will need to be looked into.

a.      The ground for the original building was not sufficient.

b.      The station may need a super duty ground rod separate from the generator.

                                                             v.      Tuesday the 17th will be a tetanus clinic from 10-12 at Station 53.  We should save the free shots for those who really need it.

                                                           vi.      At this point there is nothing anyone can do for the contamination due to the fact that it is too wide of an area to control.

1.      We could throw briquettes in standing water for mosquitoes.

                                                         vii.      If someone calls or comes in to the office they need to be given the same message.

1.      Jackie is fielding calls from Stephanie and people coming in.  She also has a spreadsheet on all the information in the Reception File.

2.      The department should provide a link on the web page for flood information, where dumpsters are and where paperwork is located.

a.      We should put waterproof flyer boxes outside for the forms to make them available for people after hours.

    1. Non-Storm

                                                              i.      Seven cadets have completed FF I & II and EMT training.

1.      They needed to be fitted with gear then orientated and they will be ready to go to the street.

2.      Chief Slauter believes that occasionally you have to say no to someone but knows the cadets are glad for the position.

a.      Two PT guys have gone on a leave of absence (Boots & Daugherty) and B-shift has a day and night open and C-Shift has a day opening.

b.      Should orientation for the cadets take place in the next couple of weeks or wait till August.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Chief Slauter believes we should drag our feet on orientation and let things shake out.

                                                            ii.      A C-Shift night opening at Station 52 was posted and Chris Pelley was the only one to bid the position.  Since he is a cadet still in his trial period Chief Slauter will informally give him a trial and schedule him in that position.

1.      His only concern is that he may not receive a lot of one on one mentoring but they will give it a try.

 

  1. Meeting called at 0943.