CLIO AREA FIRE AUTHORITY
MINUTES
Chairperson Tom Needham called meeting to order at
Members present:
Tom Needham, Tony McKerchie, Mike Zinn, Paul Luttenbacher, Duane
Hammond, Henry Jacobi, and Verlin Morningstar.
Absent:
Scott Preseau.
Also present: Chief Jim Bronson, Asst. Chief Gary Domerese.
Communications: None.
Visitors/Comments:
1. Roger Hicks spoke about
Chief and administrative leave.
2.
Cindy Hicks asked when the public can speak on agenda items.
3. Walter Benoit spoke on the
Authority being prejudicial on who is
granted sick
leaves, and asked why the Board does not answer questions.
4.
Charles Coe said the people asking for indictments are not prosecutors.
5. Jim Chilson said he had
spoken to someone who said he had asked to be
in the support
group and was told no.
6.
Sue McGlinchey said at a previous meeting the Board told residents
to put their questions in writing and they
would be answered.
7. Duke Hatchett
said that at Thetford's meeting Monday firefighters were
there in response to a firefighter being taken off active
duty for medical
reasons, and that the Board was not consistent because some
are given 6
months to recover. He
also said he had contacted the Attorney General's
office about
problems in the department.
Minutes:
Motion by H.
Jacobi, seconded by P. Luttenbacher to approve the minutes
of
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer’s report was given by M. Johnson. Motion by V. Morningstar,
seconded by H. Jacobi to accept the Treasurer’s report.
Roll call vote. All ayes.
Chief Report:
Presented by Chief
Bronson
1. Medical Facility. Chief spoke on the problems the
department has had finding a doctor/facility to
do physicals, drug tests, hepatitis shots, on the
firefighters. He introduced Richie Thomas from
Genesys who presented his proposal. Genesys will do all the
above for $ 195.75 each. Chief said
due to budget restraints we would probably do only half of
the firefighters this year and the rest in
the new budget year.
Mike Zinn said
it would be nice to have the other bids to look at before a decision is made.
After
some discussion it was decided to hire Genesys for 45 days
on an interim basis and revisit this issue
at the next meeting.
Motion by T. McKerchie, seconded by V.
Morningstar to hire Genesys for 45 days on an interim basis. Roll call vote. All ayes, motion carries.
2. Cost Recovery. Chief reported that we had received
payment of a invoiced cost recovery incident
in the amount of $ 473.72 and said he would like a separate
account set up to receive the monies
recovered.
3. Payroll Committee Report. Chief reported that he had a meeting with the
Committee and they
agreed with the request from the Auditor that the
firefighters be treated as employees. The
Committee took
the proposal back to the firefighters and everyone agreed with it.
Motion by T. McKerchie, seconded by M. Zinn to accept and
adopt the Payroll Committee's report
as presented. Roll call vote. All
ayes, motion carries.
4. Lieutenant's pay. Chief presented a revised budget
plan that the Board had asked for, and
reminded the Board it goes back to the beginning of this
budget year.
Motion by H. Jacobi, seconded by D.
Roll call vote. All ayes,
motion carries.
5. Personnel reviews. Chief presented a draft of
Performance Appraisals & Salary/Merit Increases.
Some discussion on personnel being trained to do proper appraisals.
Motion by T. McKerchie, seconded by P. Luttenbacher to
adopt the Performance Appraisals &
Salary/Merit Increases. Roll call vote.
All ayes, motion carries.
6. Rick Fyock retiring. Chief explained he had received a letter from
Rick Fyock. He asked to retire
from the department, and also asked to be placed in the
support group. Chief recommends
accepting his retirement, and placing him in the support
group.
T. McKerchie said he thinks retirees should be given a
plaque after serving for five or more years,
with a $100.00 limit on
the cost.
Duke Hatchett said that the Board could not use public
funds for such a purchase.
P. Luttenbacher said when money was turned over it became
the recipients and they could use it
however they chose, but
that the Board would check with the Auditor.
Motion by V. Morningstar, seconded by
H. Jacobi to accept Rick Fyock's retirement and place him in the support group. Roll call vote. All
ayes, motion carries.
7. Purchase request.
Need two new tires each for trucks 11 and 17. Received quotes from three
companies with Belle Tire the lowest at $ 1787.82.
Motion by T. McKerchie, seconded by M. Zinn to approve
the purchase request
in the amount of
$ 1787.82. Roll call vote. All ayes, motion carries.
8. MAFC Conference in February. Motion by P. Luttenbacher, seconded by M.
Zinn to approve the
request for Chief and Asst. Chief to attend the MAFC
Conference at a total cost of $282.
Roll call vote. All ayes, motion carries.
9. Facilities. Chief reported that the floor in station
#1 is breaking seriously from the weight of the
trucks. It needs to be repaired in the near future. Chief said the driveway approach at station
#2
is in disrepair, although it has been blacktopped.
Discussion on this matter as to which
municipality is responsible for the repairs. T. McKerchie said
that maybe the agreement needs to be rewritten. As the agreement now states
since the department pays a nominal rent yearly to Thetford and the City they
are responsible for repairs, and
10. Letter from Jim Rynbrandt. Chief received a letter from Jim Rynbrandt
who has been the
department's training officer for many years and has been
excellent. Jim Rynbrandt is resigning
his position as training officer, but will continue to be an
active member of the department.
Motion by M. Zinn, seconded by P.
Luttenbacher to honor Jim Rynbrandt's request. All ayes, motion carries.
11. Other-Cost Analysis. This was postponed until the
February meeting.
12. Refinance fire truck.
D. Hammond presented a proposal from National City Bank to refinance
the new aerial truck.
The present interest rate is 4.83 % and the new proposed rate is 3.3%.
The refinance
fee will be approximately $4000, and will save approximately $14,000 over the
life
of the loan.
Motion by M. Zinn, seconded by V. Morningstar to
refinance the aerial truck with National City Bank for a
interest rate of 3.3%. Roll call vote. All ayes,
motion carries.
13. Drug and Alcohol Policy was presented. No action
taken.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Tony Marks
addressed the Board saying he would like to be back on the department, and
feels he
should have been given a recovery period.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Budget
Presentation. This was postponed until the February meeting.
BILLS FOR APPROVAL:
Motion by H. Jacobi, seconded by D.
Roll call vote. All ayes.
OTHER BUSINESS:
1. D. Hammond said
there is a lot of unrest at Thetford Township, and the Board needs to address
these problems because he can't take another year like the
last.
2. H. Jacobi said he was asked by the firefighters to
bring a letter to the Board, which was
distributed.
3. V. Morningstar said he had no idea his motion at the
last meeting concerning Tony Marks would
be interpreted as vindictive. He based his motion on the letter from Tony
Marks' doctor and the
Attorney.
4. T. McKerchie said perhaps a new Doctor should evaluate
Mr. Marks. Mr. Marks should request a
hearing with the Board to discuss this situation.
5. Scott Ellis addressed the Board and said he was hired
in September of 2002, and in 1998 he
suffered a heart attack, which he disclosed when he was
hired and he was never asked for a
statement from his doctor.
Motion by T. McKerchie, seconded by V.
Morningstar to adjourn at
Next meeting will be
Mary V. Johnson
Recording Secretary