TOWN
OF SOMERS
REGULAR
MEETING MINUTES
CALL
TO ORDER:
Carl Rohrbach called the meeting to order at 7:00
p.m.
Members
Present:
David Palmer, Tony Bruno, Alice Van Tasel and Carl Rohrbach
Members
Absent:
Frank Lawlor
Others
Present:
Fire Chief Bill Meier, Fire Marshal Walter Summers
MINUTES
APPROVAL:
·
A
motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel to approve the regular meeting
minutes of June 19, 2003 passed unanimously by members present who attended that
meeting.
·
A
motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mr. Palmer to approve the regular meeting
minutes of July 17, 2003 passed unanimously by members present who attended that
meeting.
·
A
motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel to approve the regular meeting
minutes of August 21, 2003 passed unanimously by members present who attended
that meeting.
·
A
motion by Mrs. Van Tasel, seconded by Mr. Palmer to
approve the special meeting minutes of September 11, 2003 passed unanimously by
members present who attended that meeting.
AUDIENCE
COMMENTS:
None
FIRE
MARSHAL:
·
A
motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel to approve payment of the Fire
Marshal activities for the period from 6/15/03 through 9/6/03 passed
unanimously.
·
The
exhaust hood in the elementary school cafeteria needs repair. The system is non- compliant with
current fire codes and upgrades may be required.
·
Reviewed
site plans for high school renovation.
Need to keep current road to the rear of building clear during
construction to access sprinkler system and kitchen. Will send letter to Building Committee
about requiring stand-by coverage when fire safety systems are
down.
o
Inspection
hours are being used by the Fire Marshal for the school building
renovation. The Selectmen stated at
an August Selectmen’s meeting that the 100 hours (2 hours per week) of school
renovation inspection time proposed last fiscal year for the Fire Marshal could
be accomplished by the professional engineer hired by the architect doing the
job. This is acceptable but the
Fire Marshal is required by code to sign off on items during renovation that
will require his inspection prior to the sign-off. This additional time could tax the
current budget.
o
The
Commission asked the Fire Marshal to put together an outline for the next
meeting of what’s required from him to be compliant with inspection codes for
the renovated school building program and the time required to complete.
·
PTA
has put up $400 help cover the cost of the fire safety trailer for training at
the schools.
·
Recently
passed State legislation has changed the fire codes. The changes
include
o
The
Fire Marshal now has the right to vacate a building if he determines there
exists a risk of death or injury to persons within the
building.
o
A
public announcement shall be made before a public gathering of people that
describes the location of emergency exits.
·
A
motion by Mr. Bruno seconded by Mr. Palmer and passed unanimously to approve
attendance of the Fire Marshal at a no-fee class on October 31 that will update
local fire marshals and building code officers on the code changes.
·
Applied
for a grant under the “Change your Clock, Change your Battery” fire safety
program to distribute batteries for smoke/CO detectors during the fire house
open house and during annual apartment inspections.
·
4-Town
Fair issues
o
Inspection
found two rides that needed to be repaired and one ride that had
failed.
o
Concerned
with fire risk posed by the small temporary tents with lights that are not
covered under code for the larger tents.
Will check with State Fire Marshal to see if codes exist to control these
makeshift tents next year.
FIRE
CHIEF:
·
$10K
have been transferred from last year’s Fire budget to the 2003-2004 budget for
bunker gear
BUDGET
REVIEW:
The Fire and
Ambulance budgets are on track. The
Chief expressed concern that if
the winter is severe like last year the heat and electricity line items may be
short. He feels that any shortage
can be made up in other areas.
PAID SHIFT
CAPTAIN UPDATE:
There
are four applicants for the paid shift captain position. A five-person panel is being formed to
conduct interviews with the four applicants on October 1, 2003 with a
recommendation to the selectmen no later than October 3, 2003.
NEW
BUSINESS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
A
motion to adjourn was made at 8:15 p.m. by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel
and approved unanimously. The next
meeting will be Thursday, October 16, 2003 at 7 pm at the Somers Fire House.
Respectfully
submitted,
Carl
Rohrbach, Jr.
Chairman