Fire Commissioners

CLERMONT FIRE COMMISSIONERS

DECEMBER 19, 2011

 

The Clermont Fire Commissioners held their regular meeting on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 6:30 P.M. Those in attendance were Chairman Mark Schiller, Commissioner Charles Larsen, Commissioner Laurence Saulpaugh, Commissioner Harry Harned and Commissioner Raymond Bauer. Also present were Treasurer Denise Fiore, Chief Ronald Rifenburgh, First Assistant Chief Bruce Potts and Robert Desmond. Edward Houlihan of Penflex, Inc. will be speaking to the Commissioners when he arrives.

Chairman Schiller opened the meeting with a salute to the flag.

MINUTES:

A motion was made to approve the minutes of the November 21, 2011 meeting by Commissioner Larsen, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen, seconded by Commissioner Bauer to approve the minutes, taken by Chairman Schiller, at the special meeting held on December 2, 2011 to discuss the bids for the 2012 Brush truck. All in favor. So carried.

TREASURERS REPORT:

Total amount of November 2011 invoices paid $ 8,471.95

Proposed December 2011 invoices $ 2,307.30

Paid December 2011 invoices $ 2,462.67

Total $ 4,769.97

First Niagara:

Money Market Checking Balance $130,198.59

Checking Balance $ 630.72

Plus Deposit $ 2,500.00

Less outstanding checks $ 2,550.23

Checking Balance to date $ 580.49

Money Market & Checking Total $130,779.08

Capital Reserve Fund $ 63,384.05

Reserve Fund $ 26,950.26

A motion was made by Commissioner Saulpaugh, seconded by Commissioner Harned to accept the Treasurers report as presented. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Fire District Affairs for November and December 2011
  • Card from RBC – David Rogers and Joyce
  • Firehouse Software renewal letter
  • RBC statement for November 1 – November 30 – Account balance $265,695.97
  • Penflex Service Awards Program Data Request package has been received. Commissioner Harned will review the data.
  • Commissioners training schedule by Scicchitano & Pinsky to be held in Ulster County. Commissioner Saulpaugh will attend. Commissioner Harned will take the course on-line.
  • Livington Fire District election results and year-end meeting schedule.
  • A letter will be written to NYS Department of Motor Vehicles requesting a title for the 1975 brush truck recently sold.
  • Selective insurance renewal effective 3/1/12. Commissioner Larsen will call Kleeber Insurance regarding renewal, as it was his understanding that we renew next year.
  • Mark Eger requested that letters will be written in support of the Eger Communications replacement tower to the FCC with a copy to Robert Lopez, Director of County 911.
  • A thank you was sent to the administrators of the Hover Foundation thanking for the grant received.
  • A letter was written to Michael Moore regarding his membership in the District being terminated for not meeting the requirements of probationary period.
  • At the recent election, Laurence Saulpaugh was elected to serve a term of 5 years, effective January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016.
  • The propositions for the purchase of a new truck passed 65 ayes, 17 nays to borrow up to the sum of $220,000, and 67 ayes, 14 nays to offset the total by $60,000.00 from the Capital Reserve fund.

Commissioner Harned introduced Ed Houlihan of Penflex, Inc.and explained that the Commissioners are looking at other options for benefits to the firefighters. The Length of Service Awards Plan went into effect on January 1, 2002 and the cost at that time was $46,500.00. After ten years, it was expected that the cost would decrease when the tenth year is paid off. Mr. Houlihan explained how the costs of the plan are calculated. Every year the points of the members have to be verified following GML procedure, financial statements from investments are also used in the calculation. The Commissioners are looking at other ways to benefit members and attract new younger members. An incentive program that benefits younger members now, such as a plan that offers a pension plan, health insurance, tuition reimbursement or cash payment were some options discussed. Mr. Houlihan has been advocating this with lawmakers and asks that the Commissioners contact their representatives. To end the current plan, there would have to be an election but two years would still have to be paid. A calculation would have to be made and a pay out to those in the plan who are pre-entitlement age and a calculation for those who receiving payments currently. This would be taxable as ordinary income. There was discussion about a defined contribution plan, where the money goes to a participant in a lump sum, such as, $700.00 per year per participant into a fund each but not payable until the age of 55 or older.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: Commissioners Bauer/Larsen

  • The Chief asked if a cleaner had been found for Station #1 but Charlie has not contacted anyone. The Chief suggested that Susan Rifenburgh would do it for $50.00 per month. This will be addressed under old business.
  • INSURANCE: Commissioners Larsen/Bauer

Commissioner Larsen said that this is our second year with Kleeber Insurance so next year RFP’s will have to be sent out. We have a treasurer’s bond, accident policy for $800.00 on auxiliary members. The total is $8,643.00, which includes the fire district and fire company, but does not include the new truck. A motion was made by Commissioner Bauer to wait until next year to send out RFP’s, seconded by Commissioner Saulpaugh. All in favor. So carried.

FIRE EQUIPMENT: Commissioners Bauer/Saulpaugh

  • The Chief will get a battery conditioner for M60.
  • A total of $4,501.50 has been paid to Garrison for the rescue tool. The balance is $1,998.50. A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to pay the balance for the rescue tool to Garrison before the end of the year, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.

LOSAP: Commissioners Harned/Schiller

No report

LAWS AND POLICIES: All Commissioners

No report

OLD BUSINESS:

  • A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to hire Susan Rifenburgh as cleaner for Station #1 at $50.00 per month, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.
  • Bids for the 2012 brush truck were sent out again with the opening of the bids on January 10th at 7:00 P.M.
  • The first meeting of the year will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7:00 P.M.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Treasurer Fiore reported that she filed the tax cap form with the Comptroller on November 28th.
  • The treasurer contacted the Bank of Greene County and they reviewed our statements. If we move our money to their bank we could receive a higher interest rate and also the rate would drop on the bond, 5 years or lower, 2%, 10 years or lower, 3%.

CHIEFS REPORT:

  1. 11/7/11 – Alarm activation – 600 Woods Road
  2. 11/15/11 – Structure Fire – 756 County Route 6
  3. 11/16/11 – Alarm activation- 600 Woods Road
  4. 11/20/11 - AAPI – 1251 County Route 6
  5. 11/22/11 – Alarm activation – 600 Woods Road
  6. 11/26/11 – Mutual aid for Livingston – landing zone Livingston fire station
  7. 11/26/11 – Grass Fire – County Route 6 and Route 9G
  8. 11/27/11 – Brush fire – 1131 County Route 8

The drill for the month was review of the rescue tool, new cutter, new hook-ups, pressure fan, repack hose bed and one hour OSHA training.

  • The Chief reported that letters will go out to inactive members after the first of the year.
  • New First Lieutenant is Fred Gooderham, Jake Marks is now 2nd Lieutenant.
  • Unexpended funds will be held over for interior firefighter gear.
  • Also, the Chief will purchase four more helmet lights at $120.00 per and flashlights at $125.00, 3 – 25 foot sections of 2 ½ inch hose, 3-50 foot sections of 2 ½ inch hose at $150.00. Ordered 3 spanner wrenches for truck #603.
  • A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to encumber $3600.00 for Station #1 floor, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.
  • A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to encumber $2,000.00 of equipment funds, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.
  • Commissioner Larsen estimates that we should have $19,000.00 in the fund balance to carry over for next year into the reserve fund. A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to carry over the fund balance into the reserve fund, seconded by Commissioner Bauer. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen for the Chairman to write the letter to the FCC, copy to Rob Lopez at 911 in support of the Eger Communications replacement tower, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to approve Commissioner Saulpaugh to go to training session, seconded by Commissioner Harned. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Larsen to pay the bills, seconded by Commissioner Bauer. All in favor. So carried.

The Chairman thanked the secretary and election clerk for working the election and all that made phone call.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Bob Desmond thanked the Commissioners for letting him speak with the representative from Penflex, Inc.

A motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner Harned, seconded by Commissioner Bauer at 8:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

　

Mary Helen Shannon

Fire District Secretary

Date: 
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Fire Commissioners