October 1, 2008

Gustavus Fire Board

10/01/08

07:04 PM

Board members present:  Mark Berry, Margaret Bortko, Gus Martinez, Wendy Bredow

Populus:  Mossy Mead, Ken Klawender

Minutes from April 28, 2008 approved

New Business:

Elect a new Chair:

Gus moved to postpone electing a new chair until a new member is appointed.  Seconded by Mark.  Motion passes unanimously.

Discussion: Wendy will continue acting as Chair until a new member is appointed.

Announcement will be posted for thirty days.

Action Item: Gus will advertise and post for a new board member.

FY 09 budget- The EMS fund is down to $250.00, an NCO will need to be completed in order to increase the funding.  $350.00 spent on fire supplies, $122.00 on office supplies.  One Grant for $1,400, $1000.00 has been spent.  ARFF income was $17,230.00. 

Capital Expense Budget-

Gus moves that Mossy be directed to look into a purchase of a white board.  Seconded by Mark.

Motion passes unanimously.

Mark makes a motion that a board member be directed to look into a cost for purchase for hard suction for engine 7.

Motion passes unanimously.

Action Item:  Wendy will research cost and present to City Council if needed for NCO.

Proposal for paid EMS Captain:

Wendy moves to appoint Margaret Bortko as EMS Captain.  Seconded by Mark.

Discussion:  Margaret wanted clarification on her role.  She was assured that her role would not be encumbered by budget and other roles that were done by the former EMS Captain.  She was assured by board that she would not.

Wendy motioned to table on a Paid EMS Captain.  Seconded by Mark.  Passed unanimously.

FY 09 training plan:

There will be a 40 hour EMS refresher first week of December.

Structural Fire Fighter class in the Spring of 2009.

Recruitment of New Fire Fighters:  Restructuring the drill schedule so that we can keep people interested.

Dispatch Volunteers:

Need to have a clear description of what is expected of a dispatcher.  Mark and Margaret will be working together to determine what is going to be needed.

Old Business at the next meeting.

New Fire Captain:  Current fire captain will be contacted by Mark to determine if he is still interested.

Mossy’s roles and responsibilities were defined.  Wendy commented that it is the board’s responsibility to report to the city.  Also, that currently Mossy’s job description does not provide for her to attend the meetings and take notes. 

Mossy will not be fulfilling those roles.  She will be asked to provide an office manager’s report to the Board at meetings. 

Mossy’ report:

AFSA conference was paid for by a grant.  Mossy made contacts with other firefighters and attended a FEMA grant writing workshop.

We will be looking at buying/replacing back up batteries for the 911 repeater and phone patch.  Mossy will be getting back to us on what the cost and need will be.

Disaster Planning meeting:

Brief introduction on epidemiological plans, Disaster preparedness plans etc.  Take home message is to review current plan and get a community education campaign.

Mark will put together a recruitment in the Fairweather Reporter for a Disaster Planner.

New equipment report:

PPV fan has arrived, Amkus tools (jaws of life) donated by Sitka Fire Department for cost of freight.

ARFF report for ’08 season and plans for ’09:

Two missed assignments this summer.  The FAA was notified and the Mayor was held accountable.  Mossy and the Mayor put together a check for the operation so that an operator will be in place for response.  The second time it happened it occurred while the check was being developed.

Season went well otherwise.  Suggestion was made to get more training on tools on the apparatus.  We need to begin looking at advertising for new members.  Four members was a good number to have on the squad.

FEMA grant:  No update

State VFA $1,400:  Will get an update from Kapryce on where the $1000.00 went.

Bio-Hazard waste:  Mossy will continue to work with Dean to see if the Park will dispose of Bio-Hazard waste for the Fire Department.

Pagers:  Mark will be purchasing at least one more pager.

Tong Fire Hall:  Mark presented an estimate on the doors and a 500 gallon fuel tank.  The projects total $16,233.50.

Office Managers question for flex schedule.  Motion to table for next meeting by Gus, seconded by Mark. Motion to table pass three to one.

Workmans Comp insurance for office manager, job description:  Motion to table for next meeting by Wendy, seconded by Margaret, motion passed unanimously.

GVFD membership:  Margaret will begin crafting guidelines for participation on the EMS squad.

Motion by Wendy to suspend the rules and continue meeting past 10:00 PM, Mark seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

Grant writer position proposal for Sandi Marchbanks:

Grant writer position proposal:  After much discussion it will be brought up as old business next meeting.

Update on vehicle maintenance:  $155.55 was spent on brakes and pacer pump were fixed. 

Fire Chief Report:

Reference draft letter to the board from Mark. 

Vox Populi:  None

Adjournment and schedule next meeting:

Tuesday November 11^th, 1:00 PM.

Adjournment at 10:45 PM.