09-05-12 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting September 5, 2012 Page 5 Chief Cox stated that the fire department has begun an accreditation process whose goals are to be outcome based. The initial cost was $7,500. There will be additional costs for the peer review team and each five (5) years there would be renewal expenses in order to meet the current standards. New turn out gear is expected to be here in October which will provide a new look for the firefighters. Currently they are in negotiations with St. Joseph County where three (3) advanced life support (ALS) units are in service. Penn Township is now funding their own, and as a result Medic 12 will be discontinued with the current personnel being used to fill positions which are currently vacant. Discussions about possibly putting in additional ambulance service in South Bend is also under consideration since approximately seven hundred (700) calls for service are lost currently each year due to excess volume. Those monies could help fund the six (6) positions. An aerial operational class will be offered later this year and they hope to expand certification classes. The department has three (3) SAFER positions and if the city hires post 9/11 veterans there would be no additional cost to the city. They are also looking at having training video conference system in all of the fire stations plus Clay Fire which would result in ongoing training and more trucks in service. They are also looking at connecting with the hospitals, but there would be costs to the hospitals for this to take place. The department has a replacement plan which would be funded from Fund # 288 which receives the EMS revenue. 476 individuals picked up the fire department applications which reflected 39% minorities and women. 252 were returned, but only 39% of those were from females and minorities. Many individuals applied who were from outside of South Bend. He would like to work closely with Council Member White in the future to see if those numbers can be improved. The proposed training facility is needed since the department does not have any where to train. They hope that the facility would also be available for K -9 police officers in the future. The department is also hoping to develop community outreach programs with the schools. Chief Cox noted that Los Angeles has a cadet program in high risk areas. They are talking with Ivy Tech also on possible partnerships. At this point in the meeting Council Member White noted that she had to leave in light of another schedule meeting. She turned the meeting over to the Committee Vice - Chairperson, Dr. David Varner. More information and data about the proposed training facility was requested by the Council, since this has been a topic under discussion for many years. Chief Cox stated that Bill Schalliol in the Department of Community Development has more detailed information and that the Redevelopment Commission would be involved.