Officers’ Meeting

February 28, 2011

 

 

APPLICATIONS:

The Board of Fire Engineers interviewed one applicant.  Due to the applicant leaving for college in August, the application was denied.

 

OFFICER ATTENDANCE:  Toby Tyler, Jonathan Kinney, Peter Shattuck,

Paul McBrearty, Dana Franzek, John Rose

 

MINUTES:

Peter moved to approve the Engineers’ Executive Session Meeting Minutes of

February 14, 2011.  Seconded by Jonathan

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

Jonathan moved to approve the Engineers’ Meeting Minutes of February 14, 2011.

Seconded by Toby

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

Peter moved to approve the Officers’ Meeting Minutes of January 31, 2011 as amended.  Seconded by Jonathan

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

Toby read the following correspondence:

A letter from Mrs. Green thanking the Department for bringing Santa to the library.

A thank you from the Walsh family for the flowers sent in memory of David Walsh.

A thank you from the Groton Fire Chief for our mutual aid response

A thank you from the Townsend Fire Chief for our mutual aid response.

 

TRAINING:

Jonathan reported he has 8 signed up for the Firefighter I and II training and needs a final number tomorrow night so he can open the class to Groton and Dunstable.  This is a 180 hour course and students must attend 90% of the classes.  He reviewed various aspects of the training as well as the dress code.  It was agreed to provide a clothing allowance for pants and shirts if there is remaining grant money.  It was agreed the chiefs from each Department will be invited to attend the first class on March 29th.

 

The training for March was reviewed:

March 8th – Ice Rescue Drill – all Companies 

Jonathan would like two firefighters from each company to help set up.

 

March 15th - Aerial Ladder lecture

 

March 22nd - Training on Engine 5.

 

March 29th – Firefighter I and Firefighter II classes begin

 

Jonathan advised there will be a full day of auto extrication training on June 11th and he would like to have a Toyota Prius and a technician there.  Dana will contact a Toyota dealer.

 

BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS

Chief Toby Tyler – Milt and John Caris went to pick up Engine 5 and Milt reported everything looks good.  They will arrive in Pepperell this afternoon.  It will take about a week for the truck to be lettered by Sites and Signs.

 

Stephanie Bergeron has been suspended, effective today, since she has not turned in her Conflict of Interest statement by the due date.

 

He sent out information about the March Hazmat/WMD/CT Operations level classes at the MFA. 

 

He will speak to Deb Spratt about removing the Christmas tree that is on the front stairs of the library.

 

Toby received quotes for the imaging camera batteries from Fire Tech and Safety ($150 each) but found them for $44.94 (plus shipping) from the Battery Tech Store. 


Peter moved they purchase 2 batteries from the Battery Tech Store. 

Seconded by Jonathan

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

Toby reminded the Engineers they have a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and FinCom on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.  Their meeting with the FinCom is scheduled for March 10th.

 

The FinCom is considering the purchase of a new ambulance since A1 has two stress cracks and will not pass inspection next year.

 

The change to a Strong Chief will be coming up at the May town meeting.

 

Jonathan was advised that Mr. Fetterolf would like a CPR class for his boy scouts.

 

Deputy Chief Shattuck – Peter reported Mark Bozicas would like to be added to the list of people who pump water from basements.

 

Peter would like to seriously consider having a Fire Department Chaplain.  He has spoken with Father Ring, who is Groton’s Chaplain, and Father Ring would be excited to be Pepperell’s Chaplain.  It was agreed this is a great idea and Peter will pursue it.  Concerns were expressed about whether Protestants would be comfortable talking with a priest.  It is believed a Chaplain would encompass all religions.  Peter said there would be minor expense to supply a helmet and robe.

 

Peter sees a potential problem with firefighters having personal portable radios as the identifiers are not known in dispatch.   He questioned if there is a liability since they are using Pepperell’s frequency. 

The Captains will identify their firefighters who have personal radios.  Toby will see if Frank can put in an identifier if it is a newer model radio.  Toby advised the older portable radios Jean and Ben use cannot be identified.

 

Deputy Chief Kinney - Jonathan gave Toby a $500 check from the Family Tree Daycare.  He and Jayne do their CPR and first aid training every year and the check will be used for EMS training.

 

ENGINE COMPANY:   Dana asked about the pull box keys and received one from Toby.

 

He asked how the plans are going for becoming a paramedic service.  Toby advised the ambulance had the inspection last Tuesday.  The original agreement with Townsend has the former selectmen’s signature so an updated agreement, with the new selectmen’s signature, is needed.  Townsend meets with their selectmen on March 8th and we meet with our selectmen on March 15th.  We also need a signature from the hospital and we should be all set by March 16th.  Toby said it is exciting as this has been a long time coming.

 

Dana asked if Engine 5 can be stocked while it is at Sites and Signs as this will save time.  Peter said there should be enough room in the bay to do so.

 

HOOK & LADDER COMPANY:  Paul reported he has a report from this month’s Harbor Street call.  This call came in as an unknown chimney problem and then a call came in for a possible structure fire on South Road.  Dana said he told Engine 5 to leave for the South Road call but the tools and crew were left at Harbor St.  In hindsight, Dana said he should have stayed with the ladder truck until the job at Harbor Street was finished.  Paul advised everyone has been spoken to and this will not happen again.  It was stated they had taken care of the chimney situation.

 

Peter said when a Company is committed to a call, someone else has to step in and that is why we have mutual aid.  He reminded the officers that it is important to take care of the people who call first and to not be afraid to use other resources.  When firefighters left in a personal vehicle to go to the South Road call, Toby said they had no idea where anyone was and they were no longer working as a team.  Following further discussion, it was agreed this was a learning experience.  Paul reported he did go back to speak with the homeowner at Harbor Street and she was happy with the Department’s response.

 

Dana reminded everyone that should they be on their way to a mutual aid call and pass an accident/brush fire etc, they are obligated to stop.

 

COMBINATION COMPANY:  John said he has noticed an improvement with the dispatching of calls.

 

EMS COMPANY REPORT:  No report

 

STATUS OF EQUIPMENT: 

The windshield wiper arm on Car 1 is going further than it should and hit the other wiper.  Peter said this could be caused by a number of things and Ray can look at it.

 

Car 1 needs tires and Toby found the best price at Maynard and Lesieur.

 

Peter moved to have Maynard and Lesieur put new tires on Car 1. 

Seconded by Jonathan

SO VOTED IN FAVOR UNANIMOUSLY

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Engineers signed two EMS SOG’s that had typo’s corrected.

 

Since there was not enough help at last month’s CPR training, the gear check will be done at the company level during March.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Matt Maciel and Dan Murphy were changed to B firefighters for this pay period.  Since they were in the EMT class, it was agreed they should be changed back to Class A.

 

F113 has not returned his gear so his check his being held.  John asked if F113 can

re-apply and was told yes.

 

Paul asked if a firefighter can cast a vote by phone for tomorrow’s meeting.  Paul was advised the handbook states only those present may vote.  It was noted subs cannot vote. 

 

MISCELLANEOUS:

The Engineers discussed a personnel matter. 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.