Board of Fire Engineers

Officers Meeting

August 1, 2011

6:00 PM

 

OFFICER ATTENDANCE:  Toby Tyler, John Rose, Milt Blood, Dana Franzek,

Mike Blood, Mike Doherty, Jonathan Caten, Kurtis Triehy

 

INTERVIEW:  Rescheduled to August 22, 2011

 

MINUTES:  Milt moved to approve the Officers Meeting minutes of June 6, 2011.  Seconded by John

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

John moved to approve the Officers Meeting minutes of July 5, 2011. 

Seconded by Toby

In Favor:  John and Toby

Abstention:  Milt

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

Worcester will be hosting Mass Remembers – Voices of Hope, an event to honor those lost on September 11th, on September 11th at 2:00 p.m. at Institute Park.

 

Groton’s Muster will be on September 5th and the parade begins at 10:00 am.  No alcohol is allowed.

 

TRAINING:

A Point of Entry class, required for all EMT’s, will be held on Monday at 7:00 p.m.

 

During the General Meeting, Milt will ask for volunteers to be on the Training Committee.

 

BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS

Chief Toby Tyler - The grant opening will be in August and he is looking at EMS turnout gear, a boat, portable jaws to replace the ones on Rescue and a cascade system for Park Street.  Dana asked about a Gator and was advised they would also have to add training expenses.  He asked if grants are available to expand the Park Street station. 

 

Toby said there are grants available but we would need to have blueprints “ready to go”.  Dana said he will look into this.  Since the ladder is the next truck to be replaced, Toby would like to see the Jersey Street station expanded.

 

He will be away August 11th through August 15th and August 18th through August 21st.

 

Ayer has a 300 gallon foam trailer and he would like to add them to the run card.  The run card was reviewed and Ayer was added after Nashua.

 

Kathy Santos is available to take a group picture on September 6th at 7:00 p.m. at Jersey Street.

 

He received an $1100 bill from Nashua Fire for a smoke machine and asked if this was paid from the Firefighter 1 and 2 training.   Mike D. said Derek will know if it has been paid.

 

Jim Casserly is looking for dual membership but the Department bylaws say an individual can only be on one company.

 

Deputy Chief Rose – He would like a note sent to the Groton Police Chief and the EMS Lieutenant, thanking them for their assistant at the accident with our ambulance.

 

Deputy Chief Milt Blood – With respect to Ben’s request to allow shorts to be worn, Milt said he has spoken with several departments and ambulance providers and found the responses to be 50/50.   Toby said he is opposed to any department personnel wearing shorts to a call because of exposure risks.  Following an exposure, the department is responsible for a minimum of 4 follow-up doctor visits.

 

Milt moved they leave the SOG as it stands and all fire personnel shall not wear shorts when responding to a call.  Seconded by Toby

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

He asked John to head the Training Committee as he would like to oversee the buildings and grounds.  Toby advised solar panels will be installed at Park Street and behind Rescue 2 at Jersey Street and these will require fencing.

 

ENGINE COMPANY:  

Dana asked whether the money has been approved for the new radios and equipment for the officers due to the restructuring.  Toby said this has to come from the Finance Committee/Board of Selectmen since it was not budgeted and he will speak with John Moak.

 

He asked if the new car numbers are going to stay the same since there are currently only four Engineers.  Toby said the numbers will stay as they are since they would have to be changed again if the Selectmen put on another Engineer in the future.

 

He still has not heard back from the Toyota dealer about doing training on a hybrid car but will stay on top of it.

 

He was given the okay to clean up Park Street.  Nothing will be thrown away until Toby gives his okay.

 

He asked if they can put the same style decals on the other trucks that are on Engine 5.  Toby advised there is no money in the budget to change them.  Dana will see if the companies are interested in paying for them.

 

He asked why the ambulance did not go to Chuck’s to be repaired.  Toby said the ambulance was gone from Highway when he got there at 7:10 am as Peter said it had to leave.  Milt felt this is a decision the Assistant Chief should have discussed with the Chief and what happened is not what he envisioned.  Since the ambulance was all ready taken apart at Clark’s, Chuck did not want to touch it. 

 

The CO activations at Conway Chevrolet were caused by the water heater.

He asked about the recount results and was told they were the same.  He asked what happens with the ambulance.  Toby said it will have to be taken off the road if it does not pass the state inspection.  He is getting a price to see how much it will cost to repair it.

 

Dana feels Engine 5 is ready to go mutual aid.

 

Toby moved Engine 6 respond to Groton, Dunstable and Nashua for mutual aid and Engine 5 respond to Townsend, Brookline and Hollis, effective August 2, 2011.  Seconded by John

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

He asked if car numbers will be changing.  Since the 5th Engineers’ position has not been filled by the Selectmen at this time, Toby would like to keep the numbers as they are.

 

HOOK & LADDER COMPANY:  

Mike asked if the gear damaged at the Groton fire on June 1st can be cleaned.  Bergeron is confident they can remove the odor and anyone needing their gear cleaned will be asked to drop it off at Park Street.

 

COMBINATION COMPANY: 

Mike advised they would like to keep Bryan Harrington on probation for another six months since he has been on military leave.   Mike was asked to give the Chief a copy of the letter they send to Bryan.

 

He would like the firefighters working the mill detail to be sure the truck is clean at the end of the day.

 

He was given permission to have Burton weld the brackets onto Engine 5 rather than drilling into the wall.

 

Jonathan asked if training foam can be purchased.  Dana advised Engine 5 has a little extra Class A that can be used since only a small amount is needed.  Milt said they should do an in-depth training on foam and this will be brought to the attention of the new training committee.

 

 

 

Jonathan asked if there are any new approved applicants.  He was advised the Engineers will be conducting an interview at their August 22nd   meeting.   Kurtis will see how much it costs to run a notice in the Free Press advising the Department is looking for applicants.  An announcement should be running on the cable channel.

 

EMS COMPANY REPORT:  

Kurtis reminded the officers they need to complete the back on the attendance sheets for the NFIRS.

 

The 2 new power cots and monitors will be in service next week and both ambulances will be staffed at the Medic level.

 

Toby reported P5 will be on light duty tomorrow due to a knee injury.


STATUS OF EQUIPMENT:   

Mike B. will have someone take the ladder truck to Ricky’s for an inspection sticker.

 

The ladder was tested today and passed.

 

The chargers and radio batteries should be in next week.

 

Toby asked for a list of firefighters needing name badges for their coat.

 

The stripe on Engine 5 will be replaced next week.  It appears Jeff had a bad batch of tape.

 

John and Milt need office keys.

 

The SCBA tanks at Highway will be moved to Station 3.

 

The new forestry hose is in.

 

Toby is waiting for the bunker straps to come int.

 

APPLICATIONS: 

None

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Stephanie needs to resign from the EMS Company before she can be put on Combination Company.

 

Toby reminded Mike he needs a copy of Matt Blood’s resignation letter.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The cost of a second drug box is $236.91, the pelican case is $20.60 and the medication is $872.11 (total $1129.62).  Toby would like to use $1000 from the ALS account and the balance from the EMS supply account to purchase these items.

 

Toby moved to spend $1129.62 to purchase the second drug box, pelican case and medication.  Seconded by John

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

The Engineers will meet on August 22nd at 3:30 pm.  A candidate will be interviewed.

 

Due to Labor Day falling on September 5th, the Officers Meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6th.

 

MISCELLANEOUS:

With changes coming to the line item accounts, we have been unable to roll the budget numbers for FY12.  Firefighters will receive their attendance sheets in September for July and August.

 

It was agreed any extra gear should be kept all in one place at Jersey Street.  Toby, Ben and Kurtis are the only ones who have a key.

 

The Engineers discussed a written complaint Toby received about a firefighter using excessive speed on Oak Hill Street when responding to a call.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.