TOWN
OF
REGULAR
MEETING MINUTES
CALL
TO ORDER:
Carl Rohrbach called
the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members
Present:
Tony Bruno, Frank Lawlor, Alice Van Tasel and Carl
Rohrbach
Members
Absent:
Dave Palmer, Jr.
Others
Present:
First Selectman Dave Pinney, Rick McDonald and Tom Mehl
MINUTES
APPROVAL:
A
motion to approve the October 21, 2004 regular meeting minutes was made by Mrs.
Van Tasel, seconded by Mr. Lawlor and passed unanimously.
AUDIENCE
COMMENTS:
·
Fire
Department is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, November 21,
2004
·
Somers
Fire Department holiday events are scheduled. These include the adult pot luck
Christmas party (12/4), the children’s Christmas party (12/19), and the Lions
Club tree lighting (12/12).
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter
received from
the CT Department of Public Safety concerning Fire Marshal/ Fire Inspector
Pre-Certification courses. No
action taken
FIRE
MARSHAL:
·
A
motion by Mr. Lawlor, seconded by Mr. Bruno to approve payment for the Fire
Marshal activities for the period from 9/19/04 through 11/14/04 pending
clarification of several items passed unanimously.
·
A
motion by Mr. Bruno, seconded by Mrs. Van Tasel and passed unanimously to
approve the Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshal’s attendance at seven half-day
seminars between January and July of 2005 pending clarification of course
contents. These classes cover fire
alarms, investigative tools, fire rated construction and life safety compliance
review. The Deputy Fire Marshal’s
attendance is dependent on the Chief’s and Shift Captain’s okay and switching
time so no overtime is incurred.
o
Mr.
Lawlor requested that future class requests should include a more comprehensive
course description to better inform and educate the Board.
FIRE
CHIEF
·
Repairs to the insulation barrier
and addition of insulation on exposed pipes were completed by
local contractor on 11/15-16/04. Total cost was $1,780 with funds coming
from monies remaining in the building project.
·
Rick McDonald of the Ambulance Corps
verified to the Commission that the Fire Service’s defibrillators are not made
by the company that produced the failed units in
·
The
Town Attorney has completed his review of the proposed Fire Commission
ordinance. The Commission will
comment on his changes at the next regular meeting.
CAPITAL
NEEDS PLAN/STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN
·
Preliminary
capital needs plan was presented to Selectmen on 11/4/04.
·
The
Commission and the First Selectman discussed the need for a long range or strategic plan for
the Fire Department
o
Mr.
Lawlor requested that the Town Planner be invited to the next Fire Commission
meeting to share her vision of the 2004 Plan of Conservation and Development and
the long term projected commercial and residential growth in Somers as it
impacts the Fire Services.
BUDGET
REVIEW:
With
nearly 40% of the 2004/2005 fiscal year completed the overall fire service
budgets remain on track.
NEW
BUSINESS:
·
The
Fire Commission wishes to acknowledge Fire Department member Greg Smith for his
dedicated service in
·
The
First Selectman was informed that four of the five current Commission members
have the same 12/22/2006 term expiration date. It was recommended that the terms be
staggered to provide the Board greater continuity in the event members do not
seek reappointment.
ADJOURNMENT:
A
motion to adjourn was made at 8:20 p.m. by Mr. Bruno,
seconded by Mr. Lawlor and passed unanimously. The next regular meeting is December 16,
2004 at 7 pm at the Somers Fire House.
Respectfully
submitted,
Carl
Rohrbach, Jr.
Chairman