Saratoga County
Fire Advisory Board
Attendance: Doug Farrar T/O Ballston
John Mazur T/O Charlton
Phil Brousseau T/O Clifton Park
Ray Bush T/O Corinth
Wayne Seelow (A) T/O Edinburg
Kevin Barkley T/O Galway
Ed Petkus (A) T/O Greenfield
Ted Wilming T/O Hadley
Art Hunsinger T/O Halfmoon
George Downs T/O Malta
Bob Palmieri C/O Mechanicville
Mike Bashore (A) T/O Milton
Jake Losaw (A) T/O Moreau
Kurt Haas T/O Northumberland
David Atwell T/O Providence
Robert Scavone (E) C/O Saratoga Springs
Rick Drew T/O Saratoga
Jeff Mahar T/O Stillwater
Dennis Farrar (A) T/O Waterford
Scott Brackett (A) T/O Wilton
Ed Tremblay Emergency Services
Paul Lent Emergency Services
Jackie Staskowski Emergency Services
The July 28, 2008 meeting was called to order at 1900. The “Pledge of Allegiance” was said and a moment of silence observed for departed members in the Fire Service, notably Charles D’Avignon, the Vice-President of FASNY and Robert Cromie, former Fire Advisory Board member for Town of Wilton.
Fire Advisory Board
The minutes from the June 30, 2008 meeting were approved.
Public Safety Building
Pachecho Ross has done what they believe to be a final revision of the public safety building plan. This will be submitted to the Building & Grounds Committee who will then have to decide how to move forward with the project. Paul hopes to have a large board presentation of the plan as soon as next month to show appearance and elevations.
Radio Committee
The Milton tower is up at full height (180’). The Providence tower construction begins early August and will reach 225’ when complete. We’re waiting for the shelters to arrive from vendor CSI. The representatives from Alcatel (microwave system) will be in town to begin laying out installation plans for Spruce Mt. and Milton. Once the microwave system is up and running, we can collect the $600,000 from T-Mobile and also make it possible to move the equipment and vacate the old.
Paul received RFI responses from vendors M/A-Com and Motorola. This RFI does not include pricing; it’s for vendors to provide information on what they have to offer, such as coverage and reliability requirements. Blue Wing consultants will write a report with the results. The lowest percentage of coverage we got was 93% portable, which is more than the expected 85 – 88 %. Mobile coverage on 800 is about 95 % everywhere in the county except the upper Sacandaga Valley. This is what the vendors are saying they can offer. As mentioned in last month’s meeting, the County Administration is requiring an RFP (request for pricing). The responses from the RFI will be incorporated in the bid specification for the Request for Pricing.
There will be some tangible refurbishing on the Halfmoon water tank at the end of August.
A question was asked on what was being done to help improve the current radio system. Paul replied they have done checks on Providence and Spruce and there’s a new amplifier on low band base station, but suspects the trouble lies with the microwave system. Paul says they may try to upgrade the base stations and has been talking with a vendor who may be able to loan us some equipment. The problem regardless, is that there aren’t high powered low band stations anymore.
Paul will have an update of the radio towers on the website soon and is waiting for new pictures to include.
Vischer Ferry requested 2 new Identifiers:
M-623 – for the F350 with utility body to use for EMS calls, motor vehicle accidents, power line calls, water rescues, and as a tow vehicle for MR-632 and
M-634 – 2001 Jeep support vehicle for other 2 vehicles, fire police activities, and membership transport.
Motion made and approved.
Haz Mat
Kevin reported the mobile response team and local agencies actively trained with Homeland Security last week in Wilton. They held 2 informational sessions and a mass decontamination drill. Pictures are on the website.
Mutual Aid
The Mutual Aid subcommittee held a meeting July 14. Ed and Mike McEvoy plan on meeting to discuss a suggested protocol to then be reviewed with the subcommittee.
Fire Training Center
Ed was in contact with the program manager of Drager to get a status on repairs to the temperature monitoring system. He was told he’d have an answer by the end of the week.
Ed put together a job description for the position of training facility operator and asked the Fire Advisory Board to review it before moving forward.
The Fire Fighter 1 has only 1 or 2 classes left.
The new instructors, Jim Reynolds and Art Hunsinger are going to the August conference to get certified. Afterwards they will begin scheduling classes for the fall training schedule.
Ed’s working on a Highway Incident Management class to take place in South Glens Falls. Notices will go out with details, and he’s trying for dates in October.
Ted asked if there was burning in the old building because there is a creosote buildup. We may need to remind everyone again not to burn in there. The hay building and pole barn need cleanup. Ted asked if the tank trailer was in use and the answer was no because it needs to be re-piped. The basement door mechanism needs fixing. Wheelbarrows are missing again!
Personnel - no report.
Legislative & Budget
Bob Palmieri and Ed Tremblay attended the last public safety meeting to make the presentation about the Resolution asking State Government to increase the field training budget for state fire training programs. The Committee under a motion by Supervisor Grattidge approved the request for Resolution.
A question was asked when the budget was due. Paul said we get our paperwork on the 30th of July and have about a month to put it together, usually by Labor Day. A couple of items Ed would like if possible: forcible door simulators for training in the new burn building and support for the training facility operator.
Recruitment & Retention
Art will be attending the FASNY conference in August.
Dave Bowen of Vischer Ferry will be the 1st recipient in Saratoga County to receive the Fire Prevention award from the State for his many years of dedicated service. Congratulations!
Old Business
Thanks to everyone who participated at the Saratoga County Fair this year, especially Paul Parker and John Cooper for organizing and scheduling coverage of the Fair Officer Booth.
The handouts at the booth ran out quickly; we’ll need to keep this in mind for next year’s fair.
Good & Welfare
Charlie D’Avignon’s passing was a tremendous loss, and he will be sorely missed. As an active member of many organizations including Mechanicville FD, VP FASNY, Hudson Mohawk, State Chiefs, and Saratoga County Fire Officer’s, he devoted many years to the County with his valuable support and participation.
New Business – no report.
Next meeting is August 25, 2008 at 7pm.
Motion to adjourn by Bob Palmieri and carried by all.
Respectfully submitted by Jackie Staskowski