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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_10/28/1992_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 � 4 v �4CH COUHty 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 O C T O B E R 2 8, 1 9 9 2 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Fire - Rescue Task Force held a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 1992 in the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p . m. by Chairman Wade Griest. Task Force members in attendance were: Chairman Wade Griest, Vice Chairman Robert Mortimer, Councilmember Ron T. Mackail, Mervin Crockett, Thomas J. Rodth, Alec Cameron, Dr. Stanley Jacobs, Hal Hutchinson and Sandy Linnan. Mayor Earl L. Collings was also in attendance. Staff members present were: Village Manager, Thomas G. Bradford; Joann Manganiello, Village Clerk; Police Chief Carl Roderick and Lt. Steve Allison; Finance Director, Bill Kascavelis, and Deputy Building Official, Steven Kennedy. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Collings asked to be added to the Agenda to make a comment after the presentation of Item III, APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Boardmember Rodth moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Boardmember Crockett seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Ron T. Mackail - for Thomas Rodth - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Alec Cameron - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Recycled Paper Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes October 28, 1992 Page 2 --------------- - - - - -- III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (October 21, 1992) Boardmember Jacobs stated that the attachment to the Minutes of his presentation should have added at the bottom of the second page: "Backup Mutual Aid Martin County Cost - 0; Backup with NAMAC, Palm Beach Gardens, etc. - 0. Page three, add item 7. which would read: "County Fire /Rescue costs would be up 10.5% to 2.39 mills this coming year. Boardmember Cameron moved to approve the Fire - Rescue Task Force Minutes of October 21, 1992 as amended. Boardmember Rodth seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Ron T. Mackail - for Thomas Rodth - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Alec Cameron - for Hal Hutchinson - for sandy Linnan - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. COMMENTS - MAYOR EARL L. COLLINGS 1. Mayor Collings pointed out that he may be an ex- officio member of all Village meetings, per Roberts Rules of Order; 2. According to Roberts Rules of Order, a point of order should only be raised by the working committee; 3. Mayor Collings pointed out that Tequesta's overall General Government costs are up 6.7 %; Fire costs are up 40% (a significant increase) and will probably go up further because of some delayed capital investments. Any government which sees movement like this in its Budget is irresponsible if they do nothing about that significant increase. Therefore, the Village has opted out of Palm Beach County Fire /Rescue (PBC F /R), and has created a Task Force to review the possibility of either having an outside service supplier to fill this need or to create its own independent fire rescue department. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes October 28, 1992 Page 3 --------------------- Boardmember Rodth pointed out that Jupiter Inlet Colony fire /rescue costs, as well, have escalated from $49,000 in 1984 to $175,000 for 1993. and has chosen also to opt out of PBC F /R. IV. REVIEW OF COST ESTIMATES FOR THE PROVISION OF A TEQUESTA FIRE - RESCUE DEPARTMENT. Village Manager Bradford presented The Tequesta Fire /Rescue Report which he prepared showing that: it is possible for Tequesta to have its own Fire /Rescue Department, money can be saved, and it can be a Department of which the citizens can be proud and will fit the bill in terms of quality and level of service. Acknowledgement and appreciation in compiling the data for the Report was given to: Peter Allen, North County Ambulance, providing data concerning Emergency Medical Services; Bill Kascavelis, providing data concerning financial matters, cost estimates, and Budgetary impacts; Steven Kennedy, Deputy Building Official, responsible for fire prevention, State Requirements for training, fire inspection and plan review activities and data; Chief Carl Roderick, for making contact with different fire departments, and providing information regarding apparatus needed for the department; Fire Chief Ken Elmore, Town of Palm Beach and Fire Chief Ed Arrants, City of Palm Beach Gardens, for being interviewed relative to proposed Tequesta operations. Mr. Bradford paraphrased the written Report presented to the Task Force (Exhibit "A ", attached) covering: o Administration o Organizational Structure, including Work Schedule o Auxiliary Personnel o Mutual Aid o Hazardous Materials o Dive Team o Training and Education o Fire Station o Fire Apparatus, Vehicles and Equipment o Insurance Service Office (ISO) o Fire Code Enforcement o Fire Marshall o Fire and Arson Investigation o Emergency Medical Services - Tequesta F/R In -House 0 Emergency Medical Services - North County Ambulance (contract EMS) Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes October 28, 1992 Page 4 --------------------- Mr. Bradford, in concluding the Report, pointed out clearly that a savings from $152,710 to $340,125 between the two communities, depending upon the EMS option chosen when Palm Beach County projected Fiscay Year 1 94 costs are compared. The Village Budget presently has in its Undesignated Fund a total of $1M which could be used to cover startup costs. Mr. Bradford pointed out further that yesterday, October 27, Palm Beach County reviewed the possibility of Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) methodology and assured the Task Force that it would learn, through a preliminary analysis, that Tequesta, contracted with North County Ambulance, may have savings, even if the County implements the ERU concept. Councilmember Mackail left the meeting at 5:45 p.m. The Board congratulated Mr. Bradford for a thorough, precise, and well - presented Report, and discussed whether Requests For Proposals should be sent out to outside service providers. Mr. Bradford informed the Board that before doing so, they should determine the level of service they felt was necessary for Tequesta, so that proposals might contain solid information. The Board suggested that a parallel study be done of what Tequesta's projected costs would be under its own fire /rescue department, with and without North County Ambulance, and also with staying with PBC. Boardmember Jacobs moved that RFP's be sent out to outside providers for bids. Boardmember Rodth seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Thomas Rodth - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Alec Cameron - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes October 28, 1992 Page 5 --------------------- V. ANY OTHER MATTERS Chairman Griest asked the Board if more frequent meetings were desired. It was determined that until more comparative information is received, more frequent meetings would not be necessary. VI. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Carlton Stoddard stated that he endorsed the idea of a volunteer firefighting force, since he can attest from personal experience that such a set -up can thrive. Volunteers can be well - trained, and very close to professional. Michael Mayo, representing and fire protection advisor to Entire Properties, Inc. in Tequesta, as well as being a 17- year employee of and a Lt. with PBC F /R, felt volunteers should not be used for daily firefighting purposes. He complimented Mr. Bradford on his excellent and thorough Report and stated that though it does appear that an independent fire /rescue department is feasible for Tequesta, he felt they would have the same problems contracting with Martin County as they presently have with PBC. He felt also that, according to the Report, Tequesta would be operating below minimum fire standards. He felt the plan was basically a good one, but had some inadequacies. John Bartlett, Lieutenant with PBC F /R, asked for what purpose auxiliary firefighters would be utilized. Mr. Bradford stated they would be used for that unusual situation and /or however desired by the Fire Chief. Overtime, sick leave and holidays would be covered by full time firefighters on an overtime basis. Mr. Bartlett asked, also, if it is planned for the Tequesta Fire /Rescue Department to do hospital transports. Mr. Bradford answered that, though that is possible, it would remain exactly as it is today. Dorothy Campbell asked who makes the decision whether Tequesta will stay with assessed valuation or chose ERU. Mr. Bradford stated that if the Village of Tequesta stays with PBC F /R, the decision will be made by County Commissioners. If Tequesta provides its own in -house fire /rescue service, the decision will be the responsibility of the Village Council. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes October 28, 1992 Page 6 --------------- - - - - -- VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no other matters before the Board, Boardmember Cameron moved that the meeting be adjourned. Boardmember Hutchinson seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Thomas Rodth - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Alec Cameron - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary Date Approved: ATTEST: J ann ManganielJo Village Clerk