Minutes
Chairman John Boyd called the meeting to order
at 7:10 p.m.
Pledge to the flag was given.
Roll
Call: John Boyd; Phil Hanford;
Elizabeth G. Carr; Greg Babbitt; Arturo Pierera and Carolyn Towsley.
Approval
of Agenda – Greg Babbitt moved that
the Agenda be approved as amended.
Supported by Elizabeth Carr. Motion
carried.
Approval
of Minutes –Carolyn Towsley moved the
minutes be approved as presented.
Supported by Phil Hanford. Motion
carried.
End of
Year Settlement – Explanation of how
year-end settlement was presented for fire department account.
After review Greg Babbitt moved to accept amended line items for
2011-2012 budget as presented on page 3 (see attached).
Phil Hanford seconded. Roll
Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth
Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Explanation of how year-end settlement was
presented for first responders account and budget adjustments were shown to have
a balanced budget. It was noted
that January runs, March runs and January contract money were not in yet and
will be received in the next fiscal year budget.
After review Greg Babbitt moved to accept amended line items for
2011-2012’s budget as presented on page 3 (see attached).
At the next board meeting we will move $3,572.20
from checking into the fire department Independent Bank CD so they will start
out with a fresh budget.
2012-2013 Budget – A proposed
2012-2013 budget for the fire department was presented.
After making adjustments to the budget and inserting a Contingency
Expense item Greg Babbitt moved to accept the amended 2012-2013 budget.
Phil Hanford seconded. Roll
Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth
Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
A proposed 2012-2013 budget for the first
responders was presented. After
making adjustments to the budget Greg Babbitt moved to accept the amended
2012-2013 budget. Phil Hanford
seconded. Roll Call: Greg Babbitt –
yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn
Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report –Firemen Checking
$3,572.20– Firemen Fund $771.23
Independent Bank $8,242.23
Total Assets $12,589.66. As of
March 28, 2012.
First Responders Checking $10,423.25 as of March
28, 2012.
John Boyd said the report would be accepted as
presented.
Greg Babbitt moved to approve the bills: Fire
Department checks #4566-4603 and EFT Payment and First Responders checks
#1267-1284. Phil Hanford seconded.
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Old
Business –
Propane/Natural Gas – John Boyd said
we have been solicited to use natural gas supplied3 by DTE.
The application to apply has a $300 fee.
Phil Hanford moved that we send $300 to make application for natural gas
service. Greg Babbitt seconded.
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
New 6X6
– It is not in service yet.
However DNR has been out to take pictures, were pleased with improvements
and they will send information on to Lansing.
The title switch will then take place at the Secretary of State’s office.
We will then need to get it insured.
.
Truck
3-21 – John Johnson was present at
the meeting to present an offer for truck 3-21.
He originally wanted to lease the truck; however since we wanted to sell
it he put in an offer. Elizabeth
Carr moved that we sell truck 3-21 to John Johnson for $2,900 and a $600
donation for his water usage of 12,000 gallons.
Arturo Pierera seconded.
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Crystal
Flash –Crystal Flash has already
installed a diesel tank and filled it.
We need to complete the credit application.
New
Business –
Pay For
Attendance at Fire Meetings – Phil
Hanford mentioned that at the joint township board meeting it was noted that
bonuses given in December were called Christmas bonuses.
It is a reward to the fire department for attending over 50% of their
mandatory meetings and goes towards their Christmas dinner cost.
Phil made the motion to change the verbiage to give an attendance in
December for fire department employees who have attended over 50% of the
meetings for the duration of their employment time during that current fiscal
year. Greg Babbitt seconded.
Carried.
Commercial Site Visits (inspections) -
Ron Palmer said commercial site visits need to
be conducted this year and it will involve more hours for their employees.
It is a state required project.
Ron was directed to draft a letter to inform commercial companies about
these visits and what forms they need to complete.
He will present the draft letter to the board next month for review.
Also he will provide some statistics on the amount of extra time that
will need to be paid for to conduct these visits.
Fire
Chief’s Report – There were 15 fire
runs since last meeting. Two
firefighters have passed Firefighters 1 and 2 classes and two others have passed
Firefighters 2 class. Marv Bell
said that at the last Fire Chiefs meeting they were discussing the
implementation of two new programs: 1) Tender Task Force (where 4 more tankers
respond to assist on bigger fires with the local fire companies on scene, thus
providing more assistance) and 2) Rapid Intervention (Crew) Team (RIT) (where 4
more people are on the site to assist the firefighters on scene in case an
emergency happens to them and it will not be a mutual aid fire department).
Bob Buse has moved out of state.
Marv has not received any price quotes on the ridge vents repair.
Safety
Report – 98% of the fire department
has had NIMS training. The entire
department needs to be 100%. NIMS
is part of the curriculum for Firefighters 1 and 2.
However, two employees have not made an effort to attend the training.
A Compliancy Chart needs to be updated to include NIMS training and
consequences if they do not complete NIMS training.
Verbiage will be presented at the next meeting.
Maintenance Report – DNR has
inspected Truck 3-22.
MFR
Report – Ron Palmer
reported that they are working with the State to change protocol on the
usage of some equipment which may result in the purchase of some new equipment.
First Responders had 13 runs in January, 9 runs in February and 13 runs
so far in March.
Appointment/election of Assistant Fire Chief and
Captains – John Boyd reported that a
committee met on February 29, 2012 and that he filled in as an alternate.
Assistant Fire Chief and Captain of Training and Safety each had one
applicant and Maintenance Captain had 2 applicants.
Carolyn Towsley who chaired the committee reported that the committee
consisting of Carolyn Towsley, John Boyd, Marv Bell, Alan Brennan, Ron Palmer
and Tom O’Neil recommend Alan Brennan, Assistant Fire Chief; Ron Palmer Captain
of Training; and Safety and Steven Cook Maintenance.
Carolyn Towsley so moved the above appointments and Phil Hanford
seconded. Roll Call: Greg Babbitt –
yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn
Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Brief
Public Comment – Phil Hanford
informed the Board the parking lot needs to be re-blacktopped.
He asked that each Township review to see if they can assist with this
project. Estimated price will be in
the range of $20,000-$30,000 or higher.
It will need to be road milled because the parking lot has been
resurfaced twice. Also we might
want to look at expanding the parking lot 18-20’ to the east.
John Boyd complimented the Fire Department on
the great job they did with their budget last year with so many big purchases
and projects completed.
Announcements – None.
Correspondence – None.
The next meeting will be May 16, 2012 at 7:00
p.m. at the Fire Hall.
Adjournment - At 9:30 p.m. John Boyd
declared the meeting closed.
Submitted by,
Carolyn Towsley, Secretary