MENDON FIRE DISTRICT MINUTES
October 20, 2020
The meeting was called to order at 19:00 Hrs.
Attending: Art Morrell, Dan Considine, John Shipe, Steve Shuler, Ryan Wilsey, Secretary John McGinnis, Treasurer Heidi Baumer, William Fletcher, Counsel, P.Kester, D.Ackerman, L.Marchese, Mike Arman, Larry Kaplan
Public Comment: None
Budget:
-S.Shuler made a motion to approve the 2021 budget, 2nd by D.Considine. Motion approved unanimously 5-0.
Calendar & Requests for Meeting Room: 3 requests were received. The scouts requested their Tuesday meeting times. R.Wilsey made a motion to approve, 2nd by S.Shuler. Motion approved unanimously with the provision that COVID precautions be followed. A request from Mendon Storm Baseball to conduct a function that will be outside. A request for the usual election day bake sale be held as usual. This would be approved if it is held outside the building. R.Wilsey made a motion to approve the requests providing the outside mandates be followed, 2nd by J.Shipe, unanimously approved 5-0.
Correspondence: None
Board of Directors:
-President reported that the nominating committee has been set.
-There was consensus that the District and Department cooperate on securing a new sign.
Chief’s Report:
–YTD Calls: 183 Damage: 1 Injury: 1
-A written report from the Chief detailing the damage to equipment is attached to the hard copy of the minutes. The Chief reported a standby generator from the county possibly may be delivered by 10/20 or 10/21.
-The thermal camera on 365 is out of service.
-A discussion took place about new air packs, initial investment estimate $200K. The board feels it is a good idea for the chief to investigate options and costs in the interests of planning ahead. This means capital priorities are now #1 new air packs and #2 new tanker.
-S.Shuler made a motion to discard Purchase orders #19 &19A and enter a new order for 25 new G5 pagers from Flower City for $21,542.51; 2nd by J.Shipe. Motion approved unanimously 5-0.
Minutes
–There was a request by A.Morrell to amend the September minutes to reflect discussion about a standby generator that took place but was not reported in the minutes. The minutes will be amended and submitted for approval next month.
Treasurer’s Report:
–Motion to approve the treasurer’s report by R.Wilsey, 2nd by S.Shuler; Motion approved unanimously 5-0.
Committee reports
Capital Projects/Special Projects
–Shed discussion moved to the “Generator Shed Issues” topic in Old
Business.
Apparatus: NTR
Building Grounds:
-The doors have been painted. The south doors are showing their age.
S.Shuler will investigate replacing these doors. Information and Technology
-Lock Change Program, 2 new quotes received from Casco for total of
$20,700 and ADT for $19,000. The Security 101 quote was unrealistic.
R.Wilsey made a motion to proceed with ADT, 2nd by S.Shuler. Motion
Approved unanimously 5-0.
-The Internet and Phone quote from Spectrum was reported by R.Wilsey
to be extremely high.
Personnel:
-Dale’s Report: R.Wilsey made a motion to approve Dale’s report, 2nd
by S.Shuler. Motion approved 4-0 with J.Shipe abstaining because he did
not read the report.
-Leadership: NTR
-Recruitment and Retention: NTR
Old Business:
-S.Shuler made a motion to approve the Policy Resolution on Public
Comment at Meetings and the Mendon Fire District Records Retention
Policy; 2nd by J.Shipe. Motion approve unanimously 5-0.
-There followed a discussion about “Generator Shed” development, cost,
procedures etc. Where are we at with the project? Are we proceeding?
is the cost limit still at $30K? Who approves the structure? Feeling that
Corey Gates approval not valid. Tim DeRuyscher will examine the project
but will it still need a certification? In addition, Legal Counsel submitted a
memorandum to the Board listing his concerns with the project and possible
solutions (copy attached to hard copy minutes).
Next steps: Tim DeRuyscher agrees to examine the project. The county will
lend us a temporary generator for one month. If the county takes it back we
can get one from Admar for $200/wk. unused, $700/wk. if used.
A.Morrell made a motion to stop the project now until the Board gets things
straightened out and T.DeRuyscher’s findings will help with this. 2nd by
J.Shipe. Motion approved 3-2. Approving: R.Wilsey, D.Considine, A.Morrell;
Against: J.Shipe and S.Shuler who would rather the project continue until the
Board gets Mr. DeRuyscher’s opinion.
New Business:
-Inquiry from the Town to see if the District will let the Town use its program
to make ID Badges. Board is ok with this; Town will deal with R.Wilsey.
-The following hard copy items are attached to the District hard copy of the minutes:
1)Dale’s Report
2)Treasurer’s Report
3)Chief’s report on 10/15/2020 incident
4)Records Retention Policy
5)Policy on Public Comment at Meetings and Hearings
6)Legal Counsel Memorandum on Generator Shed vs. Multi-Purpose Bldg.
Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made by R.Wilsey, 2nd by S.Shuler
Motion approved unanimously 5-0, meeting adjourned at 20:35 hrs.
Respectfully Submitted,
John M. McGinnis
Secretary
Mendon Fire District
*The intent of public comment time is to allow a non-commission member to comment on any topic. The commenter may not receive an answer to their question or a response to their comment, as the board may need to research a subject or confer with counsel on the topic prior to giving a response. The time allotted for each person commenting is limited to three (3) minutes.
Committee reports
Capital Projects/Special Projects
-J.Shipe updated several projects: door painting, roof, generator housing.
-J.Shipe will check out the cost of renting a generator while Larry
Kaplan transfers the current generator to the new location.
Apparatus
-Pump testing will take place next week.
-It was noted that Crosby’s service station is no longer a Sunoco dealer.
Maybe a fleet card from Crosby’s should be investigated.
-R.Wilsey made a motion to survey all out-of-service Homaltrol (sp?)
equipment with the aim of donating it. 2nd by J.Shipe. Motion approved
unanimously 4-0.
Building Grounds:
-Need to check the sidewalks around the building, see if any repairs are
needed.
Information and Technology
-R. Wilsey reported that the Security 101 presentation was given at the start of the meeting and other lock system quotations will be coming.
Personnel:
-Dale’s Report: R.Wilsey made a motion to approve Dale’s report, 2nd
by S.Shuler. Motion approved unanimously 4-0.
-Leadership: NTR
-Recruitment and Retention: NTR
Old Business: NTR
New Business:
-The secretary handed out an election schedule and noted the need for the
Board to appoint a separate Board of Elections (Chairman and Electors) to
conduct the election.
-The secretary handed out proposed policies for: public comment at open
meetings and records retention for review and approval at October meeting.
-The following hard copy items are attached to the District hard copy of the minutes:
1)Dale’s Report
2)Treasurer’s Report
3)Preliminary 2021 Budget
4)Mendon Fire District Budget Process for 2020
5)Mendon Fire District 2020 District Election Schedule
6)Mendon Fire District Record Retention Policy
7)Mendon Fire District Policy on Public Comment at Meetings and Hearings
Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made by R.Wilsey, 2nd by S.Shuler
Motion approved unanimously 4-0, meeting adjourned at 20:28 hrs.
Respectfully Submitted,
John M. McGinnis
Secretary
Mendon Fire District
*The intent of public comment time is to allow a non-commission member to comment on any topic. The commenter may not receive an answer to their question or a response to their comment, as the board may need to research a subject or confer with counsel on the topic prior to giving a response. The time allotted for each person commenting is limited to three (3) minutes.