Meeting of the Board of Fire Engineers
September 25, 2002
Meeting called to order at 7:35 p.m.
Members present: Michael S. Trovato, Chief
Warren Alexander, Deputy Chief
Gerard Menangas
James Roderick Jr.
Marilyn Monks
Others present: Michael Benjamin, Captain #4
Larry Flores, Lieutenant
Hydrants in Town discussed. Alarm at the A&P Supermarket on Shankpainter Rd. keeps going off. A&P advised to call their sprinkler company in case it was just an adjustment that was needed. Intercity alarm was called and found nothing wrong with the system. Water Dept. was notified to check hydrants on Shankpainter Rd. in case a valve was shut down somewhere on Shankpainter Rd.
Hydrant located on the corner of Tremont St. & West Vine St. still out of order.
Water Department will be advised again.
Members Comments will be added to the Board’s Meeting Agenda.
Chief Trovato polled the Board members to see if there was a majority vote to go into executive session regarding Lisa Silva. Alexander, Menangas, Roderick, Monks, Wolf and Chief Trovato in favor of holding the meeting in executive session.
Chief Trovato announced that the meeting would go into
Executive Session and would reconvene in an open session.
Meeting of the
Board of Fire Engineers
September 25, 2002
Meeting convened in Executive Session at 8:00 p.m.
Members present: Chief Michael S. Trovato
Warren Alexander
Adam Wolf
Gerard Menangas
James Roderick Jr.
Marilyn Monks
Others present: Lisa King Silva, Rescue Steward
The Chief advised Silva that he had asked her to attend the meeting to discuss two incidents that had occurred that he was not pleased about. The first incident occurred with a postal worker who couldn’t deliver the mail because Silva had placed the rescue vehicle out on the apron in front of the mailbox. Words were exchanged between Silva and the postal worker. Silva went to the Post Office to complain to the Postmaster about the postal worker not delivering the mail to the fire station. A few days later the postal worker came into the station to ask when the postal box would be moved where the rescue vehicle would not obstruct it.
Chief Trovato explained to Silva that he had made an agreement with the Postmaster regarding mail delivery to the box and where the box would be located before she had joined the dept. He added that had she gone to one of the Rescue Officers or him the conflict could have been avoided.
Silva was advised that the mailbox would be accessible for all mail deliveries in the future.
The second incident occurred during Silva’s standby shift when she found the battery in Rescue Vehicle 196 was dead. The Paramedic on duty and the Secretary rolled the battery charger over to the truck in order to charge it up. Silva became very agitated and advised them that she was the Rescue Steward and they were not to touch the truck. The next day Silva told the secretary that it was a good thing she hadn’t touched the truck because she would have decked her.
Silva stated that Lorne Russell and Captain Roda had been advised and Russell was on the way to charge the battery on the truck. She added that she felt the rescue vehicles were her responsibility as Steward. Silva apologized to the board and the secretary for her conduct and added that she would not have hurt the secretary.
The Chief advised Silva that she should have advised the Chief and he would have made the decision regarding the truck. Chief Trovato advised her to learn to control her temper. He added that all department members represent the department when they have dealings with the public.
Motion: Roderick motioned for the meeting to go back into Open Session; Wolf seconded the motion, All in favor.
Meeting re-convened in Open Session at 8:21 p.m.
Open Session Reconvened at 8:21 p.m.
Chief’s Report continued:
The Chief informed the board of an incident that had occurred earlier in the week. The Rescue Squad was backed up to the wall with calls and the nearest Paramedic was in Eastham. The Chief advised the driver of the rescue truck, leaving the hospital, to expedite safely back to Town using lights. The Paramedic in the truck called the Chief to advise him that Lenny Nelson at CIEMSS had told him it was illegal to use the lights on the truck when returning to town. The Medic added that if the lights were used, he would get out of the truck. The Chief called Lenny Nelson to advise him of the incident and that the medic used his name as his source of information re the use of lights. Nelson advised the Chief that he disagreed with the medic’s conduct and the Chief’s request was well within reason. The Chief & Nelson agreed that the Paramedic would be reprimanded and required to attend counseling
Another incident that was discussed occurred during a mutual aid rescue call when a police officer, also a member of the rescue squad, made a decision without consulting the Chief.
Ladder 192 Roll Up Doors discussed. Color of paint sample from Middleboro Fire Apparatus does not match truck.
New Furniture needed for upstairs Day Room. Men’s Bunkroom needs new Beds and Carpeting. Monks will check cost of furniture and carpeting.
Air Bottles and Furniture will be added to Wish List for FY2004 Budget.
Phones needed in bunkrooms. Phones have to be compatible with present system. Secretary will research the phone system.
Rusty’s Burner Service in W.Yarmouth will be called to change the filters, clean the drains and the ductwork in Headquarters. They will also be advised to put locks on thermostats in the building.
Joel Macara will represent the department by attending the Training and Operations meetings upcape. (Macara will replace Jeff Francis)
Motion: Monks motioned to accept the vote of the rescue squad and appoint Macara to the position; Alexander seconded the motion, All in favor.
State Inspections needed for Fire vehicles.
New Copier is needed. Old copier is broken and parts can no longer be obtained to repair it. Estimates have been obtained from Sharp, Savin and Minolta.
Motion: Roderick motioned to approve the purchase of a new copier that meets the needs of the department with a cap of $ 4,000; Wolf seconded the motion, All in favor.
Motion: Wolf motioned to adjourn the meeting; Menangas seconded the motion, All in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.