Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

 

Monthly Business Meeting Minutes

 

Meeting Date:  August 2, 2005

 

Meeting called to order by President North at 1950 hrs.

 

Roll Call:  President North called the roll.  There were 16 members in attendance.

 

Secretary’s Report:  Secretary pro-tem James Shanley read the minutes from the July 12, 2005 Business meeting.  There were no corrections or deletions.  Motion was made by Frances Lattizori that the minutes be approved as read, seconded by Edward Connors.  Motion carried.

 

 

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Jerry Thompson reported on the following:

  1. Annual dues of $10 should be paid to him now.
  2. Bank account signature cards have been completed for the new officers.
  3. All accounting records done using Quicken prior to 6/1/05 are being archived as they can not be accessed using Quickbooks.
  4. He has not found the record of the FEMA deposit but is looking for the bank statement where it should appear.

 

Chief’s Report: Fire Chief James Legassie reported on the following:

  1. The department responded to 8 calls during the month of July.  He listed each.
  2. The details of the Incentive Plan are being posted for this year.  This plan has a 10 year vesting period and pays out upon retirement or injury.  New members must have one year of service before they are eligible.  $500 is put in each year.
  3. Training issues:
    1. There will be a mandatory HAZMAT OPS refresher course in August.  It is the intent to have all personnel trained at the OPS level.
    2. New members will need to get an Awareness Level class first.
    3. There will be Blood Borne Pathogen training in November or December.
    4. There will be HazCon training in the future, dates to be determined.
  4. SCBAs: 12 new Scott packs, 24 new bottles, and 2 RIT packs are in the station.  All interior personnel will need to be trained and fit tested for the new packs and masks.  The new SCBAs will not be put on the apparatus until all interior personnel are trained and fit tested.

           

Training Officer:  Captain Russell Neher reported the following:

  1. August 9 there will be the practical portion of the extrication class.  To be done at Stewart’s.  There will also be SCBA training at Riverton.  The SCBA should be done only by members who are not attending the extrication class.
  2. August 16 and 23 will be the HAZMAT OPS refresher class at Pleasant Valley at 1900 hrs.  See Chief or Capt. Neher if you can not attend this mandatory class.
  3. August 30 there will be the initial SCBA training for all members to become familiar with the new SCBA.
  4. Training in September will concentrate on using the new SCBA including confidence and maze drills.
  5. CPR/AED training will probably be in February.

 

Committee Reports

 

Truck: Lt. Ed Connors reported the following:

  1. The specifications for the new minipumper are still being reviewed by District President Richard Winn.
  2. For the brush truck 400’ of 1 inch forestry hose has been received and another 300’ is on order.  To reduce the weight of the vehicle all the metal Indian tanks will be removed as most do not work anyway and the booster hose reel will be removed.  The intent is to set up a preconnect and some hose packs with the forestry hose.  This work will probably wait until winter.  The water tank on the brush truck is kept empty to reduce the weight and improve handling.  The tank is filled at the scene.

 

Picnic: Capt. Neher reported the following:

  1. The department picnic will be September 10 starting at 1100 at Boulder Ridge.
  2. The menu will be the same as last year’s.  Russ read the menu.
  3. We should have use of the whole facility.
  4. The cost will be in the $800-1000 range.

 

Membership: Asst. Chief Cyr reported the following:

  1. In accordance with the District’s new hiring policy all new members will have a criminal background check done upon application.  The forms for this are in the new application.
  2. Every 3 years all Department members will have a driving record check done.  In the next 3-6 months all three Departments in the District will have the records of all members checked as this is the first time.
  3. These new policies have come into place as recommendations from VFIS.

 

 

Old Business

  1. Asst. Chief Cyr reported that the uniforms have been received except for the hat badges.  One problem is that the shirts do not have patches sewn on yet.  We must supply patches for this to be done.  Chief Cyr will get the patches to them and hopefully they will be done for the August 6 parade.
  2. Chief Legassie reported that new reflective vests have been purchased.  These vests should now be on E-1 and R-3.  They are to be worn when turnout coats have been removed at emergency scenes.  A new set of ICS vests have been purchased as well.
  3. The headset on E-1 has been repaired and is in service.
  4. New Elkhart low-pressure nozzles have been placed in service on the cross lays of E-1.  We will be pricing out similar new 2 ½ inch nozzles.
  5. The deck gun n E-1 is in place but not in service yet.

 

 

New Business
  1. Capt. Neher reported that Pine Meadow FD will be having a fund raising pig roast on August 13 from 1100 until 1900 at their firehouse.  The cost is $25 per adult.
  2. Capt. Neher took a head count of personnel expecting to attend the Harwinton and Winsted parades.  He added that better turnout is needed for these details to help clean the apparatus and appear in the parades.
  3. Jim Shanley reported that he has prepared a clothing order form for members to order clothing silk screened or embroidered with the Department’s logo.  The supplier of this clothing is in Illinois, and is a reputable supplier to multiple departments there.  The order form was distributed along with a selection of logos. It was agreed that the members would review this material and put an order together at the next meeting.  Chief Cyr asked if the ink used could be reflective.

 

 

Good of the Order

1.      Chief Legassie reported on a structure fire which occurred last night in Harwinton.  Apparently there was a second call after the fire where two personnel were electrocuted.  Chief Legassie used this incident to emphasize to all members the need to be constantly aware of electrical hazards at emergency scenes.  CL&P is to be notified as soon as possible when they are needed.

2.      Lt. Connors recommended that another electrical safety class be held in the future.

 

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be 9/13/05.

 

Adjournment:  Motion made by Ken Cyr and seconded by Ed Connors to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 2048 hrs.

 

 

Respectively Submitted,

 

 

F/F prob. James H. Shanley, Jr.

Secretary pro-tem

 

 

Attachments: Sign-In Sheet