CLERMONT FIRE COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING
MARCH 4, 2014
The Clermont Fire Commissioners held a special meeting called by the Chairman on March 3, 2014 for the purpose of reviewing the status of members relative to OSHA requirements. The meeting was held at 7:00 P.M. at Station #1 and those present were Chairman Mark Schiller, Commissioner Susan Rifenburgh, Commissioner Laurence Saulpaugh, Commissioner Raymond Bauer and Chief Fred Gooderham.
Since the February 17th meeting, Commissioner Rifenburgh and Chief Gooderham have spoken to representatives from OSHA. It was determined that although members must complete their OSHA training, if they do not complete the training in the calendar year, then it is difficult to ask them to complete it now for the prior year. Some of the members who did receive a letter of suspension have now completed the 8 hour course but that will cover them for 2014. The OSHA requirements for drivers in the department and drivers with CDL licenses have variations and cannot be interchanged. The guidelines for refresher training are 8 hours for current firefighters and for new firefighter training is 15 hours. Within the content of the training course, the time spent on each criteria can vary as is warranted. If on calls, a firefighter used the jaws or pumps, it can be considered as part of the safety training and should be entered on the call sheet. For Hazmat, new members must take an 8 hour course and it must be touched upon every year. EVOC courses are required for drivers. The Chief has ordered DVD’s from Homeland Security but will need a laptop and projector for powerpoint presentations. The Chairman would like the Board to consider revising the S.O.P’s. Some suggestions would be a quarterly review of the drills attended so that we can give them an opportunity to make them up, How to provide makeup time, disciplinary action and how to do it.
It was discussed, that in light of the information obtained from Commissioner Rifenburgh and Chief Gooderham, we should rescind the suspensions because we cannot go back to last year. A motion was made to rescind the suspensions, which are still current for three members by Commissioner Bauer, seconded by Commissioner Saulpaugh. All in favor. So carried. The other three members that were issued letters of suspension have since taken the 8 hour course.
The Commissioners and Chief discussed having the course given in Clermont and the cost of it, either in one session or splitting it up into two 4 hour sessions. Commissioner Rifenburgh did see that there is someone who does do this at other Columbia County Firehouses. The Chief will check into this.
A motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner Rifenburgh, seconded by Commissioner Saulpaugh at 7:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted- Mary Helen Shannon, Fire District Secretary