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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20.01.09 - Minutes, Emergency Services Advisory Council Emergency Services Advisory Council Washington County, Maryland Page 1 of 4 REGULAR MEETING Date: Thursday, January 9, 2020 Attending: R. David Hays, Director, Emergency Services, Ex-Officio Dale Fishack, President, WCVFRA, Ex-Officio Kingsley Poole, Chairman, Citizen-at-Large Dick Hopkins, Co-Chairman, Association Dwayne Lunsford, Citizen-at-Large Scott Buskirk, Citizen-at-Large Ron Horn, Citizen-at-Large Gary Farrell, President, Funkstown FD, Association Joe Kroboth, Citizen-at-Large Bonnie Keltner, Administrative Assistant Absent: Rick Blair, Treasurer, WCVFRA Guests: Jeff Cline, President, County Commissioner Randy Wagner, County Commissioner Steve Lohr, Chief, HFD Jon Hart, Asst. Dir., Fire Operations Oley Griffith, Emergency Management Specialist 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 approved the minutes of the November 7, 2019 meeting as presented. CARRIED Old Business: • No old business was presented. Washington County, Maryland Emergency Services Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, January 9, 2020 Page 2 of 4 New Business: DES Director’s Report – Director Dave Hays • Dir. Hays stated that nothing has changed on the regional staffing map that he had passed out to the members present except to show the City of Hagerstown area with assets that are dedicated and recognizing where our weak spots are. The map has been reflected to show Leitersburg Fire Department (Company 9) being the eastern station that has agreed to host the regional firefighters. • He told those present that he has addressed concerns that some of the south-county residents have because of moving a paramedic unit from Boonsboro Station 8 (Rohrersville) over to Sharpsburg. He said that DES has worked on a scenario that they (DES) are recommending to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration next Tuesday, January 21st. They have also evaluated the Hancock area of the map and the challenges it presents for coverage. The BOCC has an option to address its needs for emergency responses. • The Agenda Request Form (ARF) contains the bulk of the proposal, as presented at last month’s work session, still includes the volunteer incentives. The proposal that DES will submit, in tandem with the map, will be to authorize them to hire three (3) additional firefighters to be assigned at Sharpsburg VFC and keep the paramedic unit in Rohrersville, which has been there for about 10 years. The proposal also includes a preliminary attempt with Hancock VFC to allow DES to hire an additional three (3) firefighters as well, which would provide a 24-hour position there. DES would also provide part-time staffing at Hancock which will likely provide a second firefighter for 24-hour coverage. In addition, unassigned staffing will occur on some days due to Kelly relief coverage. This is the primary station that DES will assign those personnel. • MOTION: On a motion by Dick Hopkins and seconded by Ron Horn, the ESAC members agreed to support the allocation of personnel as proposed on the map that Director Hays presented including the concerns from Joe Kroboth. CARRIED • A discussion took place about the proposed SAFER grant and its likely submission later this year. • There was a Radio User Group meeting today. There are transmission/receiving interference issues; the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts seems to be an issue for our communications throughout. It appears that the wall on the 5th floor is now impeding our low-band transmissions / receptions. It is probable that it may interfere with our digital 450 band. There hasn’t been any documented loss of service issues at this time. Wireless Communications Director Mark Mades said his group was going to try to do a brief study to look at this problem. They are hoping to bring in an outside company to give a price for raising the antennas on top of 33 West Washington Street. Washington County, Maryland Emergency Services Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, January 9, 2020 Page 3 of 4 • Dir. Hays said that DES will make an official offer to the WCVFRA to co-locate to the DES facility located on Elliott Parkway. Jon Hart, Assistant Director, Fire Operations • Working on developing a plan for the emergency provider physical examinations and fit- testing program. They have designed a spreadsheet that is partially automated that will be able to provide notifications 30 & 60 days out for everyone who are due for their respirator physical and fit testing. In the near future, Mr. Hart hopes DES can sit down with the WCVFRA to get the information we need. He stated that he hoped the process can be worked out before the start of the new fiscal year. He also stated that they have spoken with Health@Work regarding what information they need and DES’s proposed notification process. WCVFRA Report – President Dale Fishack • President Fishack spoke about his background and recent election to the position of president. He has been a career fire chief, worked in a career / volunteer system, and was an HR director for five years. • He stated that he has a lot to sort out in the WCVFRA office. • Chairman Poole asked President Fishack if there is a way to obtain a list of all the responders and their level of activity. President Fishack said he would look into how to obtain this information. A lengthy discussion followed. Hagerstown Fire Department Report (HFD) – Chief Steve Lohr • Chief Lohr is pleased to support the regional plan that Director Hays presented, but he also supports Joe Kroboth’s position that at some point we should budget for a zero- deployment analysis. • Hagerstown just hired two new employees and Chief Lohr invites anyone from the ESAC group to stop by unannounced on any weekday and meet these new hires. Kingsley Poole, Chairman • The State Fire Marshal, Brian Geraci, will be at the February ESAC meeting to discuss his view of the statewide sprinkler mandate and its future. Washington County, Maryland Emergency Services Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, January 9, 2020 Page 4 of 4 Remarks for the Good of the Council • Joe Kroboth suggested that any meeting material, that would be for future meetings from President Fishack or anyone else on the council, should be emailed ahead of time so the council members have time to review the material. • Another suggestion that Mr. Kroboth made is to create an on-line Washington County Fire and Rescue firefighter registry. He believes personnel should be required to provide their name, address, company affiliation, training levels, etc., on such registry. Every year when the WCVFRA is printing out LOSAP forms, if their name is not on the registry, they will not receive a LOSAP form. • Mr. Kroboth also suggested that the ESAC should meet on a Saturday for an all-day strategic planning meeting. This meeting should determine where we are, where we want to be, and a potential road map to get there. Chairman Poole asked Joe to chair this meeting and he agreed. Adjournment • MOTION: With no other business brought forward, a motion was made by Ron Horn and seconded by Gary Farrell to adjourn the meeting at 9:25pm. CARRIED. Next regular meeting: • February 6, 2020 • Location: Water Quality Front Meeting Room 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 Respectfully submitted by, Bonnie Keltner, Administrative Assistant Washington County Div. of Emergency Services, Kingsley Poole, ESAC Chairman, & Richard Hopkins, ESAC Co-Chair