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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-07-15 KFC Open Session Min Approved COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Committee : Kauai Fire Commission Meeting Date December 7, 2015 Location Mo' ikeha Building — Meeting Room 2A/B Start of Meeting: 2 : 00 p.m. End of Meeting: 3 : 05 p.m. Present Vice-Chair Bradley Maruyama; Members : Dan Brown, Michael Martinez, Thomas Nizo, Mari Yokoi Also present: Board & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Mercedes Omo, Administrator Jay Furfaro; Office of the County Attorney: Deputy County Attorney Teresa Tumbaga, First Deputy County Attorney Stephen Hall; Fire Department: Fire Chief Robert Westerman. Excused Commissioner Jimmy Miranda Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order At 2 : 00 p.m. , Vice Chair Maruyama called the meeting to order with five (5) members present constituting a quorum. Approval of Regular Open Session Minutes of September 9, 2015 . Commissioner Brown moved to approve the Minutes minutes of September 9, 2015 . Commissioner Nizo seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 : 0 Chief' s Reports 1 . Fire Commission Reports for the months 2 . KFD Fiscal Reports of August, 3 . Daily Flight Hours and Alarm Data September and 4. Final copy of the Kaua` i Fire Department' s 2016-2019 Strategic October Plan Chief Westerman provided an overview of his monthly reports . Ocean Safety Bureau Commissioner Brown asked how many lifeguard vacancies are there currently to which Chief Westerman replied all of the ocean safety positions are now filled. Fiscal Reports Chief Westerman explained that although the fiscal reports reflect a Kaua` i Fire Commission Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2015 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION percentage of shortfalls, it does not represent the final outcome of the budget because as it gets closer to the middle of the fiscal year, the Department will actually be in a good place. Equipment & Apparatus Status Commissioner Nizo asked if the new engines have arrived to which Chief Westerman replied the new engines have arrived and have been tested; all they' re waiting for are the hoses and ladders to arrive. October' s monthly report Chief Westerman stated that he attended a Salary Commission meeting to provide testimony relative to the value of a salary and how it would affect the ability of the fire captains plans in terms of moving up in rank. He stated that there is no incentive for them to want to move up in the ranks because of the disparity in salaries. With regard to the Salary Commission, Vice Chair Maruyama asked if the problem relating to the disparity in the salaries (which has been on-going for the past two years) was ever resolved to which Chief Westerman replied from what he understands, the Salary Commission did make a few proposals but at this point, he does not know what the outcome will be and that the Salary Commission is looking into the possibly of creating a tiered type of format for the salaries. Commissioner Brown asked how the salaries for the fire captains compare to what the battalion chiefs are currently making. He pointed out that one of the major drawbacks that keeps people from not wanting to take the deputy fire chief' s position has to do with the disparity in the salaries which will impact their retirement. Kaua` i Fire Commission Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2015 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chief Westerman stated that currently there are total of forty-two positions which includes the battalion chiefs, captains and fire fighter 3 ' s that make more money than the deputy fire chief In regard to the chiefs position, there are at least thirty (30) people in the department that he is aware of who makes more than he does. He voiced his concerns that the salary disparities will continue to get worse unless, the Salary Commission comes up with a resolution that will resolve the disparities ; but to what level the Salary Commission is pushing for, he does not know. In reference to the Fire Department' s 2016-2019 Strategic Plan, Chief Westerman stated that all of the goals and strategic initiatives have been converted, assigned and placed on an excel spreadsheet to make it easier for the supervisors to update the information on each of the different areas they are responsible for. For the record, Vice Chair Maruyama read the Department' s mission statement as follows : "To preserve and protect life, property and the environment of the Kauai County from all hazards and emergencies". With no further questions, Vice Chair Maruyama called for a motion to Commissioner Brown moved to receive all of the receive the Chiefs monthly reports . Chiefs monthly reports. Commissioner Nizo seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 : 0. Business General discussion on the Fire Department' s stance as it relates to Bill No. KFC 2015-10 2589 — Recovery of Rescue Expenses . (On-going) Vice Chair Maruyama asked if there were any new updates on the issue to which Frist Deputy County Attorney Hall stated that currently the issue is at a standstill but if there are more discussions on the matter, he will readdress the issue. Kaua` i Fire Commission Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2015 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION With no further comments, Vice Chair Maruyama moved onto the next agenda item. KFC 2015-14 General discussion on the Fire Department' s FY 2017 Budget. Vice Chair Maruyama asked Chief Westerman if he had anything new to add, and if so, in what way can the commission help the department. Chief Westerman stated that they received notification from the Administration on how they want the department to handle the budget for the upcoming year. He explained that although it ' s on-going, the outcome of the collective bargaining negotiations between the labor union and the County regarding the wages for the Water Safety Officers will impact their budget. In reference to the department' s operational budget, the department can only put off things for so long and that their turnout gear, which is only good for ten ( 10) years, has cost the department a lot of money to repair over the years. And although they received a grant to purchase new turnout gear, they are hoping to move things through a couple year process instead of getting hit all at once. Additionally, Chief Westerman stated that the automated external defibrillators (AED) are getting old but with the high performance CPR, they were able to successfully load the software update on eighty (80) percent of the AED ' s . Overall, Chief Westerman stated that although the department is considering some position shifts in terms of changing the Deputy Chief' s position to an Executive Chief position, he does not see any major hurdles in terms of the budget for this year. With no further discussion, Vice Chair Maruyama moved onto the next agenda item. Kaua` i Fire Commission Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2015 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION KFC 2015-17 Discussion and decision-making on conducting a site visit (2 members at a time) to the Fire Stations to see how the facility operates on a daily basis . Commissioner Brown stated that he believes it' s very important for each Commissioner to understand just what a fireman' s job entails and what the Chief is in charge of He stated that based on the Chief' s monthly reports, the medicals calls far outweigh calls for fire prevention and by visiting the fire stations and talking to the personnel, the Commissioners will see exactly what the job entails and how they (firemen) take it to heart all of the medical training that they (firemen) have received. Chief Westerman stated that anyone who wishes to tour the fire stations to call him directly and he will take care of all of the arrangements . KFC 2015-18 Selection of Officers for 2016 . Vice Chair Maruyama opened the nomination for the position of the Chair. Commissioner Brown nominated Vice Chair Maruyama to the position of Commissioner Nizo moved to select Vice Chair Chair to which Commissioner Nizo seconded the nomination, hearing no Maruyama to the positon of Chair in 2016. opposition from commissioners, Vice Chair Maruyama accepted the Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. nomination and then called for a motion. Motion carried 5 : 0 Vice Chair Maruyama opened the nomination for the position of Vice Chair. Commissioner Brown moved to select Commissioner Nizo nominated himself for the position of Vice Chair for Commissioner Nizo to the position of Vice Chair 2016. Commissioner Brown second the nomination, hearing no opposition in 2016. Commissioner Martinez seconded the from the commissioners, Vice Chair Maruyama called for a motion. motion. Motion carried 5 : 0 Kaua` i Fire Commission Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2015 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Announcements Next meeting — January 4, 2016, at 2 : 00 p.m. in the Mo' ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/2B . Executive At 2 : 30 p.m., Vice Chair Maruyama cited the Hawai` i Revised Statutes to Session bring the meeting into Executive Session. ES-002 : Pursuant to the Hawai`i Revised Statutes § 92-4, § 92-5 (a) (2) and (4), the purpose of this Executive Session is to consider the Performance Evaluation for Fire Chief Robert Westerman where consideration of matters affecting privacy will be involved; provided that if the individual concerned requests an open meeting, an open meeting shall be held; and to consult with the Commission' s attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Commission' s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and /or liabilities as they may relate to this item: • Discussion on the FY 2014-2015 Performance Evaluation for Fire Chief Robert Westerman. (On-going) ES-003 : Pursuant to the Hawai `i Revised Statutes §92-4, §92-5 (a) (4), § 92-9 (a) (1 - 4) and (b), the purpose of this Executive Session is for the Commission to approve the Executive Session minutes of September 9, 2015 , and to consult with its attorney on issues pertaining to the Commission ' s and the County' s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and/or liabilities as they may relate to this item. Commissioner Nizo moved to enter into Vice Chair Maruyama called for a motion to enter into Executive Session. Executive Session. Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 : 0 At 2 :40 p.m. , the Commission entered into Executive Session. Kaua` i Fire Commission Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2015 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Return to Open At 3 : 05 p.m. , the Commissioners returned back into Open Session. Vice Commissioner Nizo moved to ratify the actions Session to ratify Chair Maruyama called for a motion to ratify the actions taken in Executive taken in Executive Session. Commissioner the actions taken Session. Yokoi seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 : 0 in Executive Session. ES-002 : Item on-going. ES-003 : Motion carried 5 : 0 to approve the Executive Session minutes of September 9, 2015 . Adjournment With no further business to conduct, Vice Chair Maruyama called for a Commissioner Yokoi moved to adjourn the motion to adjourn the meeting. meeting. Commissioner Nizo seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 : 0 At 3 : 05 p.m., the meeting adjourned. Submitted by: Reviewed and Approved by: Mercedes Omo, Staff Support Clerk Bradley Maruyama, Chair (X) Approved as circulated on February 1 , 2016 ( ) Approved as amended. See minutes of meeting.