BOARD MEETING
01/10/2009
Meeting called to order
8:00am by Bob Neberman, President
Other board members:
Dan Hauck, Vice President
Chuck Bowers
Joe Lupa, Secretary
Carol Tocker
Tim McFarlan, Treasurer
Mark Keegan
Also in attendance: Bud
Mellor, Fire Chief
Approximately 21 community
members present
Reports:
President’s report:
·
Mid-year
elections are coming up.
Terms expiring are for Bob Nebermen, Dan Hauck
and Carol Tocker. Would like to see a nominating committee reformed. Also, would
like to get resolution to any open line item that has been on the table over the
last year. Those items that remain unresolved must be outlined for the new board
so they have the information they need to continue with them.
A short list of items needing attention is:
·
Communications -
ie. pagers, etc.
·
Carpeting and
tile for the station.
·
Status of the
rescue vehicle grant
Secretary’s report:
The minutes for the December 13th meeting were read and accepted.
A discussion was had that
centered around the motions that are brought by, and, to the Board. Once a
motion is verbalized it should be written down and then read to the audience so
as to be recorded factually. Additionally, Once a motion is made, the additional
process of fully researching all the facts should be done. A vote on a motion
should be taken only after we have asked if all the facts are in evidence. A
vote can be delayed on a pending motion if additional information is required.
Treasurer’s report:
·
Income from
Dues/Donations was $4,260
·
The total of
expenses for Tender repair, Utilities, Truck Fuel, Paging and Telephone was:
$4,278.
·
Year to date
income is $65,300 with a budget of $47,800 so we are $17,000 ahead.
·
Year to date
expenses total is $48,500 with a budget of $53,900 so we are about $5,400 ahead.
·
Year to date Net
Income is $16,800.
Treasurer activities
coming up:
·
Issue W-2s for
WFPA employees
·
·
Develop 2009
annual dues request letter
·
Order 2009
window placards
·
Prepare the 4th
quarter payroll tax reports for Fed and State.
·
Attend the AFDA
education conference in Laughlin.
·
·
Tim read the
thank you letter from the Shaffer’s to the Volunteer Firefighters for the
benefit of the community present.
A motion
was made and passed to accept the Treasurer’s report as read.
Fire Chief’s report:
·
There were no
fire and medical calls.
·
A few citizen’s
assists.
·
An APS power
line was down.
·
A Carbon
monoxide alarm call – where Carbon monoxide was present.
·
Bud made a thank
you to all those involved over the past year with the Pancake Breakfasts,
holiday parties, and other functions and thanks for their efforts after each
function for clean up.
These functions are a major communications tool for Bud and the Board members.
·
The
communications system and Reverse 911 for Dispatchers, Firefighters and Station
Bosses is in. The Dispatchers have this reverse 911 on their PCs at home.
·
Pagers can be
turned in.
·
Public parking
on the WFPA property was discussed.
o
Bud’s
understanding is that public parking is not allowed on the property. However, he
has approved short term requests and has seen long term, unapproved parking -
vehicles towed. Bud asks that the Board take up the discussion.
·
Bud clarifies
that the AFDA meeting in Laughlin is January 16-18.
·
Because Bud is
going to be on vacation for the next two weeks, his absence as Fire Chief will
be covered by all those remaining in the area.
·
Bob Neberman
asks Bud to create an organizational structure that accounts for chain of
command.
·
Dan Hauck brings
up discussion on fire fighting responsibilities and certifications as regards
fighting structure fires and
rescue for structure fires,
vehicle fires and
rescue for vehicle fires, etc.
Dan says that 2001-2002 were the last
classes with WFPA attendance and certification for the
structure rescue. Within the next 3
to 5 months, Mayer will be offering classes for some of these certifications.
Aside from training - the equipment costs about $1,200 to 2,000 to outfit
a firefighter. Dan requests that the Board
consider the training, certification and equipment
for structure rescue and vehicle rescue
training.
·
Bob Neberman
suggests we have attorney Bob Whittington review our by-laws, our articles of
incorporation and the State’s definition of what we can and cannot do as a
volunteer organization as regards structure fire fighting and rescue. Tim
Mcfarlan notes that we need to define what services we can and cannot offer and
what happens when those who
are certified are
not available.
·
Chuck Bowers
asks what will home insurers do - knowing that we do not support structure
firefighting. The answer is that the WFD was originally put together for
forest fire fighting but that
some firefighters have been
certified, ‘along the line’, for rescue in the instance that persons are caught
in a burning structure.
A Motion
was made and passed to accept the Fire Chief’s report.
A Motion
was made and passed that we have attorney Bill Whittington do the reviews and
make recommendations to the Board for our by-laws, our articles of incorporation
and the State’s definition of what we can and cannot do as a volunteer
organization as regards structure fire fighting and rescue. We will also ask
Bill Whittington to look at our SOP's and validate that we have all the proper
documents on file at the AZ Corporation Commission, IRS, Yavapai County etc.
appropriate for WFPA.
Old Business:
Fire Department
flooring:
Chuck Bowers and Sharon Atwood found that the carpeting we picked out is no
longer available at Home Depot. But we did find similar carpeting at one of the
other locales. The sample of tile to be donated by Trevor and Susan Naugle does
not match. The details of getting the rooms painted first were discussed. A
schedule of when to paint and carpet took forever to discuss.
Dumpsters:
Chuck
Bowers reports that he has been working closely with Shari Sumner and the signup
notice for the 2009 service has been posted with a fee of $180 -to wit it should
have been $90 – but in June we are going to do a review and monies can be left
alone or reallocated then.
o
Currently there
is no more wait list. All parties seeking dumpster service have been
accommodated.
o
o
Bob Neberman was asked
about and presented his previous discussions with Waste Management as regards
the level of container service, the rate and billing schedule and ‘flow locks’
that were negotiated for the WFPA. Bob noted that Patriot had agreed to the same
terms when he spoke with them.
And, when Bob contacted
Waste Management to inform them that the WFPA will not assume responsibility for
the dumpsters after all and that we have re-transferred the program back to
Shari Sumner - Bob told WM that it would be in their best interest if all of the
considerations discussed with the WFPA were provided to Shari Sumner. Chuck and
Tim McFarlan suggested we
continue to pursue a review by Attorney Bob Wittington as regards the details
surrounding a ‘use permit’.
Norm Davis spoke as to the
history of the establishment of the original dumpster program. i.e. an approved
‘Amended Use Permit’ for the dumpsters on the WFPA property - that the County
never did type up and present to the WFPA.
Bob Neberman stated that
all we are trying to determine is possible tax and insurance liabilities.
Chuck Bowers reviewed his
discussions with the County regarding a requirement for a small business license
and found it is not required. Chuck also revealed that he had contacted Waste
Management as to their insurance liability – and they stated that they have no
responsibility to provide such coverage. Chuck contacted the Walker Fire
Department insurer John Hays with VFIS and found that they provide various
liabilities on our property but that it is limited to emergency response
operations and not those that may occur from operating a dumpster program.
When asked, Chuck’s
insurance agent suggested that private, commercial ‘umbrella’ insurance could be
purchased by the Sumners, and we recognize that additional costs be passed to
the consumer.
New Business.
John Horvat announced a
reminder that Workers of Walker is being reorganized. Meeting is at 10:00.
Chairperson and Secretary will be up for grabs. Please attend.
Parking at Firehouse:
A lengthy discussion was had regarding vehicle parking, permissions,
responsibilities, liabilities, weather, location, emergencies, other functions,
plowing, etc. Additional discussion was
had surrounding the possibility of expanding the parking areas.
A motion
was made That, during inclement weather - to allow short term parking where
dates requested, license number and a phone number are communicated to Bud or
next in command and approved. 4 Board members voted for and Board members Joe
Lupa and Carol Tocker voted against. The motion was passed.
Fire District report by Nick Wold.
The forming district Web
Site has been updated. The site is listed on the WalkerFire.org.
A community meeting is
going to be scheduled and advertised up to 6 weeks in advance. Bill Whittington
will be there, the Board and all community members are invited.
Several questions will be posed to Bill
such as: if a Fire District is voted and approved, does the existing WFPA Board
have the authority to transfer assets to the District? We want to understand all
of the ramifications of such an event as this, and other issues.
Mark Keegan announces that
there is Firefighting training at Embry Riddle March 17-21. Bud notes April 3
and 4 is tied up for the Firefighters.
Meeting adjourned 10:10
a.m.