HCFFA March Minutes - Annual Meeting on April 19th at BUCKSPORT
Lisa Winger
Hancock County Fire Fighter’s Association
Monthly Meeting Minutes
HOST: Osborne Fire
March 15, 2011
Secretary’s Report: Accepted as sent
Treasurer’s Report: Balance in March $2685.71 stranger
Communication: None
County Coordinator Report:
Trouble still with the west tower, crackly and noisy - were going to set up in Sedgwick, spare repeaters were dead so ordered a new one; have the new duplexer
Past presidents have met for the nominations for next year
Blue Hill Chief Denny Robertson has compiled 100 year History of Blue Hill Fire book, which he has for sale.
Committee Reports:
Radio: issues with license renewal for South Tower (Cadillac) county repeater, GPS coordinates weren’t right and put it some place in the middle of Pretty Marsh; everyone should be checking their coordinates before putting in their license renewals because of this same type of situations
Application to go with Cadillac Mnt repeater for the narrowband only; conditional, only if Canada approves. All of our other mountains will have the same dual frequencies.
Courtney Hammond from Me. Forest Service asked if towns had the Forestry Statewide channel and if so, you should get it removed from your radios and replace with Forestry Tactical channel which is 159.450. Southern Maine is still able to use the statewide channel, but not up this way.
Chief Barron, Mariaville, asked if anyone had received a letter from the state asking for use of the department’s primary channel, allowing the state to trunk off the frequency. Chief Barron was advised not to sign off because they would end up losing the frequency because state agencies would over run it. If anyone is approached, contact Rick at Browns.
Budget: Nothing new, the process for next year will be starting up soon.
Training: Lisa explained the training that was coming up. (See attached information)
Wild land Firefighting will have to add one more day – this is being offered as part of the academy and taught by Fred Mason, Acadia National Park. We will be accepting students outside of the academy. Contact Lisa for registration information. This is a gap class for structural fire fighters – and will allow the students who complete this course to register with the state of Maine.
If they wish to do a pack test then that maybe able to be arranged with Me. ForestService for this area. Lisa will follow up on this -
Courtney Hammond, MFS, said that they can also offer the 130/190 Wild land class if he is guaranteed 15 people. It will be a four day class. Also, they can offer a Wild land urban interface class, Pumps and chainsaws if needed.
Accountability Committee: See attached information
Agency Reports:
Fire Marshall: no report
Forest Service: Rangers are finishing up their helicopter crew member course; they will continue to expand their missions; Heli - attack program will be beefed up this year – they will be loaded and ready to roll at a minutes’ notice. Have Jet Ranger and four Hueys.
Acadia National Park: Andy Mitchell explained that he was just back from the Oil Spill incident and will be headed out
west for a little bit as part of a team he is still on.
Maine State Federation: Bim mentioned that he needs things for the June newsletter – any events, anything for sale,
incidents, etc. Please forward any information to Bim before the first of June
Federation Dues are due by the end of June.
Maine Chiefs Association:
Legislative Update from Mike Bender:
LD 43 – This bill repeals the laws enacted in 2008 creating and implementing the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.
Sponsored by Representative Lance Harvell
POSITION TAKEN: Opposed
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
Chief Hinds noted this bill is going to sub-committee.
LD 83 – This emergency bill creates a system to legalize the sale, possession and use of“ consumer fireworks”. Under the terms of the bill, in order to sell, use or possess consumer fireworks in any municipality, the legislative body of the town or city must adopt an ordinance allowing those activities. Municipal police officers, fire officials and code enforcement officers are authorized by the bill to enforce violations of the consumer fireworks law and any locally adopted consumer fireworks ordinance.
Sponsored by Representative Douglas Damon
POSITION TAKEN: Neither for or against.
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
The sub-committee had another meeting. This is moving forward.
LD 123 – This emergency bill prohibits the Commissioner of Public Safety from requiring the installation of automatic sprinklers in existing “commercial places of assembly” that are open for no more than 50 days per calendar year. Commercial places of assembly are defined to include bars with live entertainment, nightclubs, assembly halls with festival seating and restaurants.
Sponsored by Representative Paul Davis
POSITION TAKEN: Opposed
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
This bill is going to the floor tomorrow. Chief Hinds thinks this is going to be tabled. There was a brief discussion on LD 123 that Chief Fournier drafted. Chief Hinds noted that he will distribute the letter to all the House members. If this bill goes to the Senate, John Martin & Steve Hinds would like other Fire Chiefs present at the State House.
LD 124 – A recent amendment to the law authorizing the development of rules by the Maine Fuel Board governing installation of fuel-burning devices into chimneys required the Board’s rules to allow for the continuing combination of a wood burning device with an oil burning device in the same lined chimney, provided certain other standards were met and provided the chimney had been existing and in that type of use prior to 1998. The amendment was a grandfathering provision. This bill removes the grandfathering aspect of that amendment so as to
Allow the installation of different fuel devices into a chimney regardless of its age.
Sponsored by Representative Lance Harvell
POSITION TAKEN: For this bill as amended.
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
There is an amendment on this bill. This amendment will be moved forward as written.
LD 166 – This bill exempts seasonally restricted cottages from the standards of Maine’s Uniform Building and Energy Code. The bill defines a seasonally restricted cottage essentially as a one-story, detached single residential unit that does not have water services from November 1st to April 30th.
Sponsored by Representative Kathleen Chas
POSITION TAKEN: Neither for or against on this bill.
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
Chief Hinds reported there are numerous bills on this.
LD 253 – Resolve, To Establish a Single Construction Permit for Above Ground Oil Storage Tanks in Gravel Pits & Quarries.
Sponsored by Representative Jane Knapp
POSITION TAKEN: No position at this time.
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
John Martin noted that this is a resolved. He noted that this bill is only going to be a study. They had a work session on March 8th.
LD 264 – This bill prohibits state fire, safety and building codes from requiring a chimney in a residential structure to be lined unless the heating unit connected to the chimney is a condensing unit that recaptures heat by condensing escaping water vapor.
Sponsored by Representative Lance Harvell
POSITION TAKEN:
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
This bill is dead.
LD 737 – This bill establishes the fire safety codes for all buildings and structures built prior to January 1, 2008 as the codes and standards in effect as of January 1, 2007.
Sponsored by Senator Thomas Saviello
POSITION TAKEN: Neither for or against.
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF
This is another sprinkler bill.
LD 970 (HP 714)
"An Act To Increase Safety for Law Enforcement Officers and Emergency Responders"
Sponsored by Representative Alexander Cornell du Houx
POSITION TAKEN: Neither for or against.
ASSIGNED TO CHIEF:
Chief Hinds noted that they want to increase the fine.
From John Marshall:
Chief Marshall, Ellsworth, is the Chief’s Rep for the Policy Committee. Maine Municipal has noted over 100 that will have effect on municipalities.
Fire Marshall’s Office may lose five inspectors due to budget cuts and retirement within the next 5-6 months and will not be able to replace for the next three years. With the staff, they will have no one to certify/tag/inspect rides at carnivals/fairs.
John Morse will be retiring at the end of the month.
Maine EMA/MEMA is currently handing out DOL truck driving information and will be forwarding other annual
training in the future.
Title four funds will be given out soon
Maine Fire Training & Education will have a name change to Maine Fire Trainings Institute. They will be moving to their Brunswick site by summer; the Bangor and Southern Maine offices will be closed.
Fallen Firefighter’s – FAST – Local Assistance State Team is pulling together the regional teams to be in place at a location within 3-4 hours in the event of a line of duty death to help guide the department/family through the process.
To start the process, how it is paid out – goes to the spouse/ or whoever is listed as their designated beneficiary on their life insurance if it is on file with the department. BUT instead of having the confidential life insurance information on file at the fire department, there are beneficiary forms that can be completed and kept on file in case of a LODD. Also, there is a hot sheet resource sheet to aid the fire department in what can be done.
Blaine House conference is on April 14 & 15 in Northport – topics covered will be residential fires, solar panels & concerns and wind driven fires. Looks to be another good conference.
EMA – Reminder that the Marine Mass Casualty will be on May 18th in Bar Harbor and this includes Federal, State and Local entities
Also, Bar Harbor Airport has to do a mass casualty event and that will be scheduled in the near future.
RCC – Renee had been in Augusta for the Next Gen 911, nothing to report at this time
Sick Call: Barbara Bailey’s father passed away, please send a card
Old Business: None to report
New Business: Board of Directors put together the nominations for voting and will present at next month’s Annual meeting
Next Meeting: Bucksport - Annual Meeting
Emergency Incidents: Bucksport – Chief Bowden spoke about responding to someone on the Verona/Prospect bridge. The person was helped down from the bridge.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa E. Winger
HCFFA Secretary/Treasurer
Lisa Winger
Oops, sorry – last one had one small typo. J
From: Lisa Winger
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 3:42 PM
To: Lisa Winger; Robert Gardner; Hancock County Firefighters Association Training and Education Committee; hancockcou...@googlegroups.com; Richard Gray; Corson, Steven; Kevin Hallett; John Morse; capt...@gmail.com; Robert Mealey; Keith Orr; Tony Linforth; aaron graham; Donald Dewey; Bar Harbor_Dave Rand; mbar...@barharbormaine.gov; Mariaville VFD--Scott Baron ; ffg...@yahoo.com
Subject: HCFFA March Minutes - Annual Meeting on April 19th at BUCKSPORT
Hancock County Fire Fighter’s Association
Monthly Meeting Minutes
HOST: Osborne Fire
March 15, 2011
Secretary’s Report: Accepted as sent
Treasurer’s Report: Balance in March $2685.71
Communication: None
Jonathan Marshall
Good Afternoon,
I have given my notice to the City and will be retiring on July 8th . After long and careful consideration I decided that the 30 year mark was a good point to take advantage of my retirement program, I have passed the minimum 25/55 requirement and there is a reason we have such an option.
The City of Ellsworth has been a great employer and I have had the privilege to work with and lead the greatest firefighters in the world. I have no plans to move to Florida or anything so I’ll be around and I plan to remain active, as a retired member, with the Maine Chief’s LAST program.
Thank you to all for your support over the years.
Respectfully,
Jon
Jonathan E. Marshall, Chief
Ellsworth Fire Department
1 City Hall Plaza
Ellsworth, Maine 04605