Public Safety Commission

Public Safety Commission FIRE DEPARTMENT August 16, 2021 Webex Meeting -----------Minutes---------- 1. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Ford called the meeting to order at 6:56 p.m. 2. ATTENDANCE MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Meghan Carta Commissioner Darnell Ford Commissioner Phil Pessina Commissioner Linda Salafia MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Anthony Mangiafico STAFF PRESENT: Acting Chief Jay Woron 3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Commissioner Ford asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the July19th meeting, Commissioner Carta made a motion to accept, Commissioner Pessina seconded, and all voted in favor to accept as presented. 4. PUBLIC HEARING  None 5. CORRESPONDENCE  None 6. MONTHLY REPORT  Commissioner Ford congratulated Acting Chief Woron on his appointment by the Mayor as the next fire chief  Acting Chief Woron gave the monthly report: o Call comparison – 371 emergency calls, down from 407 last month o Very busy month with mutual aid calls  Meriden had multiple calls  Fire duty was quiet o Events:  Providing hydrant sprinklers around the city to stay cool  Summer camp visits were held at fire headquarters Page 1 of 4   Provided medical coverage for Citizens Bank 5K race  Participating in a back to school event handing out backpacks on August 28th  Mid-September Marine unit will escort the Amistad up the Ct. River o Training:  Annual confined space rescue training being done  Rescue training being conducted at house at the corner of West Street & Middlefield Street  Large area search training to be done in the old bowling alley below fitness center on Washington Street  Dive Team has done multiple training sessions with a night dive to be done at Brownstone Park  The Marine Unit has been doing annual training on the river  High angle rope training coming up with two sessions to be done at Mt. Higby and two down in New Haven  Training for the Middletown Fire Department was briefly discussed by Acting Chief Woron and he stated that training is pretty well rounded for the entire department – comprehensive training is currently in place 7. OLD BUSINESS o Mass vaccination plan has trailed off – No EMS standby currently being done o Arrigoni Bridge work on schedule o New Car 3 (shift commander vehicle) currently getting lights/sirens installed o Delta variant is spiking – Middlesex Hospital has fifteen patients currently being treated o New Car 1 is being delivered this week o New hire is starting in station on August 23rd and starts recruit class at the Fire Academy on August 30th o Two female firefighters of the department had their babies – three other firefighters are out on FMLA, two for baby and one for health reasons o Currently down two battalion chiefs which creates overtime issues o Human Resources working on the Deputy Chief position process o Department will have two firefighter vacancies after all trickles down 8. NEW BUSINESS o Met with Central Communications Director Bartolotta at the end of July regarding medicals/call volume as the hospital has changed dispatch medical protocols  Acting Chief Woron will report back to the Commission next month o Prime Mover/Hazmat trailer  Apparatus was never used – Retired Chief Kronenberger started the process of turning this apparatus back over to the state and this was done about two weeks ago o Active Shooter Committee started  Committee has met four times to date and have incorporated Middlesex Hospital and the police department Public Safety Meeting – August 16, 2021 minutes Page 2 of 4   Currently looking into resources and training needed with the primary goal of medical care – currently getting a cost for training of medical care  Acting Chief Woron will update the commission further next month o Engine 2 is due for replacement in 2022  Replacement committee will be put together & a ballpark price for a new engine will be obtained o Firefighter recruit list due to expire soon & recruitment needs to be done  Acting Chief Woron explained to the commission that he has spoken with the Mayor and is looking to do an outreach program within the city (to do presentations/info sessions) for recruitment Callbacks currently are difficult as many live out of town  Looking to hold recruitment testing in October and would like to put two firefighters in the spring 2022 recruit class o Truck 1 – 2012 ladder truck report: o Needs constant repairs and has had issues since purchase o New repair facility built in Waterford and Truck 1 will be heading to the new facility to be gone through – hoping to be put on a factory maintenance program and this will curtail some repairs o Multiple staff vehicles have had repairs during the past month o Multiple department vehicles have high mileage and the Fire Marshal vehicles are not all wheel drive which poses issues in the winter months o Acting Chief Woron has asked Jeff Daniels to get a price from state bid on the replacement to 4-wheel drive vehicles 9. Other Matters Not on the Agenda:  None 10. Public Hearing Reopened – Other Matters 11. Monthly Summary of Action Taken by the Telecommunications Committee  No meeting held for the month of August Public Safety Meeting – August 16, 2021 minutes Page 3 of 4 12. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Ford made a motion to adjourn, Commissioner Carta seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Ruffino Recording Secretary NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 Public Safety Meeting – August 16, 2021 minutes Page 4 of 4