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HomeMy WebLinkAbout19.03.07 - Minutes, Emergency Services Advisory Council Emergency Services Advisory Council Washington County, Maryland Page 1 of 3 REGULAR MEETING Date: Thursday, March 7, 2019 Attending: R. David Hays, Director, Emergency Services, Ex-Officio Bob Moncrief, President WCVFRA, Ex-Officio Kingsley Poole, Chairman, Citizen-at-Large Dick Hopkins, Co-Chairman, Association Dwayne Lunsford, Citizen-at-Large Ron Horn, Emergency Support Services, Citizen-at-Large Michael Hosier, Citizen-at-Large Gary Farrell, President, Funkstown FD, Association Bonnie Keltner, Administrative Assistant Absent: Brian Albert, Citizen-at-Large Guests: Mark Cleck, HFD Justin Malott, HFD Ward Fleger, Assistant Chief, Smithsburg EMS Randall Wagner, County Commissioner Jeb Eckstine, President, Community VFC of Fairplay Dave Chisholm, Asst. Dir. EMS Operations, DES Will Ball, Asst. Chief, Williamsport FD CALL TO ORDER: • Chairman Poole called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and introductions were made. Minutes: • MOTION: On a motion by Gary Farrell and seconded by Dick Hopkins, the ESAC members accepted the minutes of February 7, 2019 as presented. CARRIED Old Business: Fairplay Report • President Eckstine provided the council with an update on continuing progress of the Community Volunteer Fire Company of District 12. A discussion took place on EMT training. Washington County, Maryland Emergency Services Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, March 7, 2019 Page 2 of 3 New Business: DES Director’s Report – Director Dave Hays • Dir. Hays will meet with Chairman Poole to discuss by-law changes and forward them to the county attorney’s office for approval. • Dir. Hays met with Budget & Finance and made additional cuts in our budget. We were able to keep monies for items that are safety critical (medical supplies for EMS & personal protective equipment). • The County Commissioners gave us the authorization to apply for the SAFER grant for 29 firefighters. A lengthy discussion followed. WCVFRA Report – President Robert Moncrief • No report. Hagerstown Fire Department Report (HFD) – Mark Cleck, Battalion Chief • The apparatus committee traveled to the Spartan plant in Lansing, MI, for the final review inspection of the Spartan cab. • We have approval to hire a third deputy fire marshal. We will be testing for that position on March 14. We should have a selection made by March 18 for a promotion for an internal candidate. If the person we select needs to attend the police academy, they will start April 15. Report on Tuesday’s Presentation to BOCC – Chairman Poole • President Moncrief, Chairman Poole, and Dir. Hays went before the County Commissioners twice to discuss staffing (on February 26 & March 5). • County Commissioner Wagner spoke about how important public safety is to the citizenry. A discussion followed. VFIS Study (what’s next) – Chairman Poole • President Moncrief said the Association asked Dr. Jenaway to schedule a time to come to Hagerstown. Dr. Jenaway wants to give a presentation to the County Commissioners and the membership at the same time. So far, we have not been able to get Dr. Jenaway and the County Commissioners on the same schedule to meet. Dir. Hays suggested to go ahead and have Dr. Jenaway come to Hagerstown to meet with the Association and also the ESAC. Recording Secretary Appt. – Chairman Poole • After discussion by the Council, it was determined that the DES Administrative Asst. will continue to be the recording secretary for ESAC. Washington County, Maryland Emergency Services Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, March 7, 2019 Page 3 of 3 Future Meetings / Topics – Chairman Poole • Last Thursday night, Feb. 28, the voting members from ESAC met to have a work session. Chairman Poole and Dir. Hays suggested that one month will be the official ESAC meeting and the following month will be a work session for the elected members, Dir. Hays, President Moncrief or his designee, and the HFD Chief or his designee (if we need to discuss something that includes him) and any other person(s) so requested. Minutes will not be recorded at the work session. Dir. Hays will talk with the county attorney to make sure we can do this. • Ron Horn suggested that the ESAC meetings should include a different chief officer each month so they could address the council. It was mentioned that each chief officer has the opportunity to speak at the chiefs’ meeting each month.  MOTION: A motion was made by Gary Farrell and seconded by Dwayne Lunsford to have alternate monthly ESAC meetings. One month will be our regular meeting for members and guests and the next month will be a work session for members, Dir. Hays, President Moncrief or designee, the HFD Chief (if we need to discuss something that includes him) and any other person(s) if they are needed for discussion. CARRIED Remarks for the Good of the Council – Chairman Poole • On the subject of fire & EMS companies keeping track of their finances, Dir. Hays talked with the County Administrator and the county is looking more for a financial review in accounting assistance instead of an audit.  MOTION: A motion was made by Ron Horn and seconded by Gary Farrell to make a recommendation to the County Commissioners that a financial audit be performed on every fire & rescue company in Washington County including the Washington County Fire & Rescue Association. CARRIED • A discussion was held about LOSAP and the best way to find out how many points each person has. The topic of LOSAP will be our main discussion at the next work session. Adjournment • MOTION: With no other business brought forward, a motion was made by Dick Hopkins and seconded by Gary Farrell to adjourn the meeting at 8:55pm. CARRIED. Next regular meeting: • May 2, 2019 – Location TBD Respectfully submitted by, Bonnie Keltner, Administrative Assistant Washington County Div. of Emergency Services, Kingsley Poole, ESAC Chairman, & Richard Hopkins, ESAC Co-Chair