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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[02] MinutesST JOSEPH FIRE DEPT. Fire Board Agenda Item 2 MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: May 6, 2009 Minutes -February 4, 2009 Draft Minutes REQUESTED ACTION: Approve the minutes for the February 4, 2009 Fire Board Meeting. February 4, 2009 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Fire Board for the City of St. Joseph and Townships of St. Joseph and St. Wendel met in regular session on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 6;00 PM in the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall. Members Present: Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, St. Joseph Representative Bob Loso, St. Joseph Townhship Representative Jeff Janssen, St. Wendel Representative Greg Salk. City Administrator Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Assistant Fire Chief Justin Honer. Minutes: Janssen made a motion to approve the minutes of August 6, 2008 as presented; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Financial Report: Weyrens presented the Board with the 4th Quarter Financial Report. She stated that while the information is through December 31, 2008 they are unaudited numbers and they will be adjusted as the annual audit is prepared. The Fire Fund ended with a Fund Balance of $ 486,626.44 with $ 422,468.47 designated for equipment or debt service relief. Taufen questioned if the City has received the annual contribution from St. Benedict to which Weyrens stated that as of December 31, 2008 they have not. The contribution is typically received in September or November of each year. Janssen clarified that the contribution is voluntary and there is no legal requirement for the College/Monastery to contribute. Weyrens stated that as most are aware, the Governor's budget proposal includes severe cuts to local government aid and St. Joseph relies on such aid for operation. In fact, 34% of the City General Fund is supported through Local Government Aid. Therefore, all Departments have been asked to review their budget, in particular the Capital Improvement Plan, and find ways to reduce the budget. Weyrens stated that while the City only contributes to 48% of the Fire Fund Budget, the Fire Board should be prepared to review the budget, submitting a revised budget. Loso made a motion to accept the 4th Quarter 2008 Financial Report as presented; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Miller Depot: Taufen reported that the Department toured the Miller Depot building and witnessed the Sprinkler Test. Janssen affirmed that the Fire Department received the building information plan that was requested at a previous meeting. Ooticoms: Taufen questioned the status of the installation of the Opticoms at the signals in the Fire District. Weyrens stated that the City Engineer has included the cost in the funds request for the proposed federal stimuli program. Janssen stated that while the Fire Board originally discussed the need for all lights to be equipped in the Fire District, he would encourage the City to move forward with the lights that are within the City Limits. Weyrens stated that the City Engineer is monitoring the stimulus funds for availability and he will continue to work with the Stearns County Engineer. Membership: Taufen reported that the two new hires have started effective January 15, 2009 and they are scheduled to begin Fire Fighter 1 in February. With the hiring of the two new members, the eligibility list that was established is exhausted. It is anticipated that one retirement will occur in 2009 creating an opening. Taufen questioned the Fire Board about establishing a new eligibility list and accepting applications. It was agreed that any openings would not occur until later in 2009, allowing the Fire Board to consider this matter at the next meeting. Janssen made a motion to suspend action on accepting applications for eligibility as there are no openings at this time. The matter will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Fire Board. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Kennedy School: The Fire Department has toured the new school checking for safety items to include access and extinguishers. February 4, 2009 Page 2 of 3 Personnel Policy: All Fire Fighters have received a copy of the Fire Department Personnel Policy and have signed and returned an acknowledge of receipt. During the implementation of the new Personnel Policy it was noted that 15 members do not have the required commercial driver's license. Therefore, those members affected have been given two years to meet the requirement. Weekend Help: Taufen reported that the Department has implemented a scheduling process whereby each officer, (Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Captains), has been placed on a rotating schedule where they are responsible to be available for a weekend. Before appointment of the Captains, they were informed of the requirement before they accepted the position. The new process seems to be working well and time will tell if the new method is effective. NEW BUSINESS Generator Maintenance: Taufen presented the Fire Board with a quote from Cummings NPower in the amount of $ 634 for planned maintenance on the Fire Department Generators. The City currently uses the same companies for their generators assuring that they are in operating condition. Loso questioned if the vendor would be willing to discount the fee since they already complete maintenance on City equipment. Taufen stated that it is his understanding that the price already reflects such but he will check with the vendor. Loso made a motion authoring the expenditure of up to $ 634 for planned generator maintenance on the two fire department generators. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. State Fire Convention: Taufen requested authorization to send two fire fighters to the State Fire Conference in Brainerd. Typically the Fire Board authorizes the attendance of two and the relief approves attendance for two as well. Loso made a motion authorizing reimbursement for expenses for two Fire Fighters attending the Fire Fighters conference in Brainerd. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Grant Approval: Taufen reported that the Department received a letter or rejection or the FEMA equipment grant. Since that time two firefighters have attended a grant writing workshop to help strengthen future grant applications. Taufen questioned the process for seeking grant funds. Weyrens stated that the City must approve all grant requests before submission and as the Fire Board is advisory to the Council, the Fire Board should take action prior to submission to the Council. Janssen made a motion authorizing the Fire Chief or his/her designee to seek grant funds for funding that would benefit the department. The Fire Chief or his/her designee must submit grant application to the City Council prior to submission. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. EMS Grant: The Fire Department has received funding for training equipment known as "Fred the Head". This equipment provides airway training opportunities. The grant will pay for half of the device up to $ 700.00. Taufen stated the equipment they purchased was $ 1,282, eligible for $ 641 of funding. Janssen questioned if the Department had the necessary supplies to assist with the training to which Taufen stated they do. Salk made a motion to accept the grants funds in the amount of $ 641 to be used for the purchase of "Fred the Head" at a total cost of $ 1,282.00. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Radio/Pagers: Taufen reported that the Fire Department will be responsible for paying a $ 20.00 radio fee for each 800 mhz radio. The fee is payable to Stearns County and was established to help construct the infrastructure and maintain the same. The fee is applicable throughout Stearns County and is the same for each department. Taufen reported that at the end of 2009, 24 of the Fire Department warranties will no longer have warranties. Without a warranty the pagers cannot be fixed. The only alternative is to purchase new radios at a cost of $ 459 per radio. Taufen stated that the radios are working and it is not a situation where we have equipment that does not work. However, the replacement of the pagers should be considered. February 4, 2009 Page 3 of 3 The Fire Board concurred that the pagers should be placed on a rotating schedule so that in the future the same problem does not arise, the need to replace all the radios. Loso made a motion to authorize the purchase of five new pagers at a cost not to exceed $ 2,500 and instruct the Fire Chief to prepare a pager replacement plan, staggering the warranty periods for all Fire Department Pagers. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Ad~iourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 7:10 PM; seconded by Janssen and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator