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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_12/16/1992_Fire-Rescue Task Force e VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469 -0273 • (407) 575 -6200 3 Fax: (407) 575-6203 o � 4 v f�cH cou", T E Q U E S T A F I R E- R E S C U E T A S K F O R C E M E E T I N G M I N U T E S D E C E M B E R 1 6, 1 9 9 2 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Fire - Rescue Task Force held a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, December 16, 1992 in the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chairman Wade Griest: Task Force members in attendance were: Chairman Griest; Vice Chairman Robert Mortimer; Councilmember Ron Mackail; Dr. Stanley Jacobs; Hal Hutchinson; Mervin Crockett and Sandy Linnan. Boardmember Thomas Rodth was not in attendance. Boardmember Alec Cameron was not in attendance at roll call. Mayor Earl L. Collings was also in attendance. Staff members present were: Village Manager Thomas Bradford; Village Clerk, Joann Manganiello; and Police Chief Carl Roderick. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman Griest asked that the decision regarding the Wackenhut proposal be discussed; Boardmember Hutchinson asked to make comments; Boardmember Jacobs asked to make comments; Councilmember Mackail asked to make comments; and Vice Chairman Mortimer asked to make comments - all before Item VI on the Agenda. The Agenda as approved as amended. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) Fire /Rescue Task Force - December 2 1992 Councilmember Mackail moved to approve the December 2, 1992 Fire /Rescue Task Force Minutes as submitted. Boardmember Hutchinson seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer for Ron Mackail - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for Mervin Crockett - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Recycled Paper Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 2 - - - - -- B) Fire /Rescue Task Force - December 9, 1992 Boardmember Hutchinson moved to approve the December 9, 1992 Fire /Rescue Task Force Minutes as submitted. Councilmember Mackail seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Ron Mackail - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for Mervin Crockett - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. IV. DISCUSSION WITH FIRE CHIEF JIM BOONE, TOWN OF LAKE PARR, REGARDING THE MERITS OF A SMALL -TOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT Chief Boone gave a brief outline regarding the way the Lake Park Fire Department functions. Lake Park, consisting of approximately 7400 permanent residents, established a fire department in 1926 as a full volunteer department, remaining that way for many years. Approximately 1975, full time firefighters were hired, initially starting with a fire chief, expanding to three firefighters in 1980, covering only daylight shifts. Lake Park is a Class 4 ISO rating. In 1989 manpower was expanded, moving to 24 -hour shifts (three shifts, two people each) and a 52 -hour work week. In so doing, a firefighter has an extra shift off every six weeks. Each Sunday, only one firefighter is on duty. Lake Park presently has a 20 -man volunteer force which is more available on Sunday than on any other day of the week. There are seven State Certified paid firefighters (five of whom are Certified EMTs) , including the Chief. The Chief's assistant, along with all six firefighters and the Chief, are State Certified Fire Inspectors. Last year Lake Park performed 909 fire inspections and had 151 fire calls, averaging nine people per alarm. In September, 1992, Inner City Ambulance Service ceased operation, forcing Lake Park to run BLS within Lake Park. Bethesda Ambulance presently has personnel in the Lake Park Fire House on a temporary basis, which may turn out to be a permanent situation. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 3 ----------------- - - - - -- The current Lake Park Budget is $408,952 (actual fire operating expenses this year limited to $64,323) ; current firefighter base pay scale is $24,470 ($31,500 with benefits) . Six of the volunteers are State Certified Firefighters and eight who are Certified EMTs, a great benefit to a small town. There is a volunteer incentive pay (approximately $13,200 per annum): If a volunteer firefighter meets a certain criteria (50% of all scheduled training and appears at 33% of all fire alarms, averaged over a six -month period) he will receive $110 per month. Lake Park Fire Station has two Class A Pumpers, one Mini- Pumper, a support vehicle designed to transport ten personnel if volunteers appear in groups. It was Chief Boone's suggestion that hiring firefighters from a competitive exam, as is done by most fire departments, would be a good place for Tequesta to start with personnel. Boardmember Cameron arrived at 4:20 p.m. Boardmember Crockett asked if major equipment purchases is part of the $400,000, and to re- explain Lake Park's ambulance service arrangement. Chief Boone answered affirmatively, stating that Lake Park is now in the last year of paying off the newest engine purchased on a five -year plan. Regarding ambulance service, the PBC EMS Division had put together a plan with North County Ambulance (NCA), Bethesda Ambulance and Atlantic Ambulance to pinch -hit together. The individual user pays for that service. Lake Park Fire Department does no ALS. 1991 BLS figures show a 9.2 minute response time in Lake Park, with the most recent month of 1992 averaging 3.1 minutes, reducing response time under the present system by 66 %. Boardmember Hutchinson asked how long it takes an adequate number of firefighters in Lake Park to address a fire. Chief Boone answered that the first unit is on the scene at 3 minutes or less, reminding that Lake Park consists of 2.7 square miles. Volunteers come from their homes to the Lake Park Fire Station to man a unit, then respond to the fire call. Some officers carry their own gear and respond directly to the scene. Each fire call last year averaged nine firefighters at the scene, responding within 7 -8 minutes. Boardmember Hutchinson asked how a situation would be handled if a second call comes in while attending to a previous fire call. Chief Boone stated that Lake Park either sends a unit from the existing scene to the second call, or calls upon NAMAC for backup. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 4 ----------------- - - - - -- Village Manager Bradford asked if the reason Lake Park can adequately provide fire rescue services is because of NAMAC - if Lake Park was a stand -alone city, would Chief Boone be uncomfortable with its level of manpower. Chief Boone stated he would not be uncomfortable with the level of manpower with a singular call, but would be if the scenario of a second call came in at the same time. Boardmember Linnan asked how Lake Park could get an ISO rating of 4 with only 8 people, and the Tequesta Fire Rescue Report states 13 people to maintain an ISO rating of 4. Chief Boone answered that the volunteer staff qualifies them, and that Lake Park was given an extra 500 points for having its own Fire Prevention Bureau. Councilmember Mackail inquired regarding retirement for Lake Park full -time firefighters. Chief Boone answered that their retirement plan is under independent municipal retirement. Village Manager Bradford asked how Lake Park and Bethesda Ambulance coordinate activities? Chief Boone stated that Bethesda paramedics accompany firefighters on a call but do not actively take part in firefighting. Councilmember Mackail asked Chief Boone how he would design an ideal firefighting department. Chief Boone stated he would have a minimum of four men per shift (in order to be guaranteed three would be on duty) , and a Deputy Chief or some sort of an administrative assistant. Village Manager Bradford asked if there was a designated training officer. Chief Boone answered that Lake Park holds officers meetings once per month, with training put together in quarters by all of the officers of the department. Training takes place every Tuesday night throughout the year. Various training nights are assigned to various training officers. V. CONSIDERATION OF NORTH COUNTY AMBULANCE RESPONSE TO TASK FORCE REQUEST FOR FORMAL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT PRICE FOR FUTURE YEARS. Peter Allen, of North County Ambulance handed to each Board member a draft copy of the contract between NCA and Tequesta, which covered 1) provision of NCA; 2) compensation; 3) insurance billing - not billing the resident; 4) how payments are made; 5) what personnel will provide; 6) licensing and permitting; 7) ways for the Village to monitor service; 8) insurance requirements; 9) default of contract. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 5 ----------------------- Councilmember Mackail pointed out that NCA agrees to provide a contract to Tequesta for the first year in the amount of $146,264.50, with any increase in fees for subsequent years not to exceed the medical consumer price index, which historically has increased 6 -8% over the past 5 -6 years. Mr. Allen responded that this would give Tequesta the assurance that costs would not get out of control. Chairman Griest asked what other areas NCA would service from it's Tequesta location. Mr. Allen answered: one ambulance would be dedicated only to the Village of Tequesta; additional ambulances would service South Martin County, Jupiter to Donald Ross Road and west to Beeline Highway, as well as Palm Beach Gardens. With a total of 50 employees, half of those work out of the Tequesta location. Village Manager Bradford reminded the Board that a Tequesta firefighter would be cross - trained as an EMT. He pointed out to Peter Allen that the NCA contract does not say specifically that two paramedics will be on duty. Also, regarding Article III of the contract, if it is assumed that the commencement date of the contract is October 1, and NCA gives Tequesta the revised number based on the consumer index on September 1, that would not allow the Village enough time to advertise for the Budgetary Public Hearings as required. It would be better if the information was received by August 1, or even July 1. Mr. Allen stated that would be no problem, as well as there being no problem with adding personnel (two paramedics) to Article V. Boardmember Hutchinson asked if there were ever dual calls in the Village. Mr. Allen explained there had been none in the past one and a half years. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16 1992 Page 6 ----------------- - - - - -- Chairman Griest stated that a vote needed to be taken regarding the Board's position on the Wackenhut proposal. Boardmember Crockett moved that the Wackenhut proposal not be considered and that a letter be written to Wackenhut thanking them for their response. Boardmember Cameron seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Ron Mackail - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for Mervin Crockett - for Alec Cameron - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. VI. CONSIDERATION (TENTATIVE) OF FIRE /RESCUE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION TO THE VILLAGE COUNCIL AS TO THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR FIRE /RESCUE SERVICES IN TEQUESTA. Chairman Griest reminded the Board of Resolution 28 -92/92 and the ten options list given by the Village Council. Boardmember Crockett felt there were only two practical solutions: 1) opt back in to PBC F /R, keeping the cost within the Tequesta millage rate; 2) set up a Tequesta fire department, contracting for rescue services with NCA, and contracting with Jupiter Inlet Colony to provide them with fire rescue service. Boardmember Crockett moved to adopt the Bradford Report specifically to set up a fire department in the Village of Tequesta, contracting rescue services with North County Ambulance, and contracting with Jupiter Inlet Colony to provide that community with fire rescue services. There was no second to the motion. Boardmember Jacobs felt a Tequesta independent combined fire department, contracting with North County Ambulance for ALS support, and contracting with Jupiter Inlet Colony to provide them with fire rescue service was the best alternative. Boardmember Hutchinson recommended that the Village Council opt back in to and continue services with PBC F /R, or that Council opt back in to and continue with PBC F/R and join MSTU. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 7 ----------------------- Boardmember Cameron preferred the development of an independent Tequesta fire department, contracting with North County Ambulance for rescue service. Boardmember Linnan felt Tequesta should stay in the Palm Beach County Fire /Rescue system, with North County Ambulance, leaving everything as it is today. But since NCA is now part of Jupiter Hospital and Boardmember Linnan is an employee of Jupiter Hospital, she felt she could not vote on the NCA portion of any motion. Boardmember Linnan left the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Boardmember Mortimer preferred the creation of an independent Tequesta fire department, with EMS in- house, leaving a second option to stay with PBC F /R, but with separate MSTU. Councilmember Mackail preferred the creation of an independent Tequesta fire department, and remained undecided regarding North County Ambulance. Boardmember Rodth, though not in attendance at this meeting, wrote a letter to the Board stating his position, which was for an independent Tequesta fire department, contracting with NCA for rescue services, and contracting with Jupiter Inlet Colony to provide that community with fire /rescue services. Chairman Griest felt Option 8 was the best alternative, voting for an independent Tequesta fire department, contracting with NCA for rescue services, while still considering Option 9. Village Manager Bradford reminded the Task Force that they must: 1) make a recommendation to Council regarding the best alternative for delivery of fire /rescue services in the Village; 2) determine the best alternative for an independent Tequesta fire department; and 3) issue a written report to the Village Council defining their recommendation. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 8 ----------------------- Boardmember Crockett amended his previous motion and moved for the adoption of the Bradford Report, specifically to set up a fire department in the Village of Tequesta, contracting rescue services with North County Ambulance, and contracting with Jupiter Inlet Colony to provide that community with fire rescue services and to provide that a staff of four firefighters be considered, rather than the three in the Tequesta Fire Rescue Report. Boardmember Jacobs seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Ron Mackail - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Hal Hutchinson - against Mervin Crockett - for Alec Cameron - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Mr. Bradford gave a synopsis of the motion as he understood it, stating that the Task Force had stated that the best alternative for the delivery of fire /rescue services is a Tequesta department, with consideration of four firefighters per shift, and contracting EMS with North County Ambulance, and that that is also the best scenario for an independent Tequesta fire department. The Board concurred. VII. ANY OTHER MATTERS o Chairman Griest thanked: 1) all members of the Task Force for their extra effort and hard work in the best interest of the Village of Tequesta; 2) Village Manager Bradford for all of his hard work in guiding the Task Force through their surveys; 3) Joann Manganiello for her support; and 4) Councilmember Mackail for acting as liaison between the Task Force and the Village Council. Village Manager Bradford expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to have worked with and becoming better acquainted with members of the Task Force. Fire Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes December 16, 1992 Page 9 ----------------- - - - - -- VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no other matters before the Board, Boardmember Cameron moved that the meeting be adjourned. Boardmember Crockett seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Ron Mackail - for Mery Crockett - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Alec Cameron - for Hal Hutchinson - for the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary Date Approved: /, ATTEST: Jo nn Manganie o Village Clerk