Minutes of Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority Meeting

July 18, 2007

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. with The Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL: Board Members Present: Clark, Husby, Crego, Adams, and Hazen. Morris absent with notice.

PUBLIC COMMENT: None

CORRESPONDENCE:

Fabiano stated that they received a thank you letter and a video of the fire from the Potterville/Benton Township Fire Department.

AGENDA APPROVAL: Motion by Hazen, seconded by Adams to accept the agenda as presented. Motion passed.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Hazen states that on the minutes from June 20, 2007, Chief Fabiano’s salary states $53,000.00 and it should be $53,560.00. Motion by Adams, seconded by Crego to approve the regular meeting minutes of June 20, 2007 as amended. Motion passed.

APPPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Hazen, seconded by Crego to approve the bills as presented. Motion passed.

REPORTS:

Chief’s Report

1. The department responded to 55 calls in June, including 37 medical calls, 7 vehicle accidents and 18 fire calls.

2. A certificate was received from Tri County Emergency Medical Control Authority for 100% compliance in the quality improvement program. Every medical run they go on was reviewed. They look to make sure LGRFA charts everything that they do and if the treatment matches the medical reason.

3. Fabiano provided a letter from the company that did the equipment inspection on the damage resulting from the Potterville fire. He also included a copy of the letter that he sent to the Potterville Fire Chief requesting cost recovery on the tires. Fabiano has not heard from Potterville yet.

Chair’s Report:

1. Clark commented that in the back of the packet there is a Michigan Township Participating Plan report. The risk control people reviewed LGRFA with compliance for the items that they think demonstrate proper risk control. LGRFA is doing well on many of them. Clark will call them to find out specifics on more of what they are requiring.

2. Financial Review-monthly reports indicate that everything is right on track with where they should be.

Budget Committee Report- the committee will have a report for the August meeting.

Bookkeeping RFP – Interviews of representatives for both proposals have been conducted, MTM and Countryside Accounting. There were enough questions between the two bidders on the scope of work that the committee decided to issue an addendum outlining specifics for both bidders to respond to. The committee will have a final recommendation at the next meeting.

Personnel Committee report-Hazen stated that they could not come to an agreement with the chief. She commented that the Chief will not accept their proposal. Hazen stated that they changed the benefits to 100 vacation hours, 108 sick hours, and 1 personal day. The Chief's proposal was 120 vacation hours, 80 sick hours, and 2 personal days. Adams stated that they analyzed much data to come up with these amounts. Adams states that at this point she doesn’t feel there is anything further for the personnel committee to do. Clark states that this has to culminate.

PENDING BUSINESS: Motion by Adams, seconded by Hazen that the policy manual addendum adopted June 20, 2007, paragraph 5 be modified as follows: that the number 160 be stricken and that 108 be substituted, that the words personal leave, vacation time be stricken, and that two new paragraphs be added. One paragraph indicating that the Chief will receive 108 hours sick time, and 100 hours of vacation time per year, with no more than 10 consecutive days of vacation without authority consent, and the accumulation not be greater than 2 years of vacation, striking the sentence “all unused time to be paid on separation” and including that “only with vacation leave”. An additional paragraph be added providing for 8 hours of personal leave which is not carried over and not paid at separation. Roll Call: Crego-yes, Clark-no, Husby-yes, Adams-yes, Hazen-yes Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discussion/Action on distribution of 2006 unrestricted funds - Motion by Adams, seconded by Hazen to distribute the 2006 unrestricted funds in the amount of $20,996.01 for Watertown and $11,305.55 for Eagle. Motion passed.

2. Discussion/Action bookkeeping recommendation - next meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT - Patti Schafer asked if after review of the Chief’s accrued vacation, sick, and personal time it is in excess of the current policy will it remain on the books? She will check this out for the next meeting and the Board will need to decide what to do about it. Schafer confirmed that she will distribute the disbursement checks the next time that she cuts checks.

Husby mentioned that Watertown had discussed with the Chief using the house on Herbison Rd and possibly the house on Watertown Parkway that the township owns to consider both for training exercises and possible future burns.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Hazen, seconded by Crego to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Date Approved _____________ _______________________ Jean Husby, Secretary