TOWN OF SOMERS

FIRE COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Thursday May 15, 2003

CALL TO ORDER: Carl Rohrbach called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.

Members Present: David Palmer, Tony Bruno, Alice Van Tasel and Carl Rohrbach

Members Absent: none

Others Present: Bill Meier, Bob McCulloch, Tom Mehl, and Bill Bouchelle

MINUTES APPROVAL:

· A motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of March 20, 2003 passed unanimously.

· A motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mr. Palmer to approve the minutes from the special meeting of April 24, 2003 passed unanimously

AUDIENCE COMMENTS:

Mr. Bouchelle stated that there were three insurance claims currently pending covering the break-in and two separate incidents of frozen pipes over the past winter.

· Insurance has not paid so far to cover losses in the break-in. A new solid exterior door has replaced the door damaged during the break-in.

· Insurance has paid for repair of the first frozen pipe. Inspection/repairs to ceiling and wall pending.

· Insurance has paid nothing yet. Pipe has been repaired. Ceiling repair pending.

FIRE MARSHAL:

None

FIRE CHIEF:

· A policy has been established to keep all lockable doors within the firehouse locked in response to the recent break-ins of fire departments around the state. Other measures are being pursued to improve security of the firehouse.

· The problem with the air conditioning in the ambulance’s back compartment appears to be resolved through the effort of the department’s engineers and the air conditioning vendor.

· ET246 experienced a broken fuel line while in the truck bay. Repairs completed for $200.

· The Chief explained to the full Board the recently approved transfers to vehicle and building maintenance accounts

· The Chief had a bill for $1034 for annual maintenance of the firehouse’s air conditioning system. The Fire Commission expressed concern this work was authorized by the Clerk of the Works without approval from the Board. The bill will be returned to the Building Committee. In the future such work must come through the Fire Commission for approval prior to being done.

· The Chief and the Fire Commission chairman are members of the committee that is being asked to “review and recommend any changes of duties and title of the Shift Supervisor Position” although the Chief is “ex officio”. First meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2003.

BUDGET REVIEW:

The Selectmen are aware of the potential shortfall in the part-time paid staff budget but assuming that additional transfers are allowed the rest of the budget should be okay.

FIRE COMMISSION ORDINANCE:

Discussion was held on the latest version of the ordinance resulting in some minor changes. A motion was made by Mr. Bruno seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel and approved unanimously to submit the amended version to the Board of Selectmen.

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board and the Chief thanked Bob McCulloch for his contributions to the Fire Commission over the past 10 years.

ADJOURNMENT:

A motion to adjourn was made at 9:15 p.m. by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel and approved unanimously. The next meeting will be Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 8 pm at the Somers Fire House.

Respectfully submitted,

Carl Rohrbach, Jr.

Chairman