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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-27-00 Health & Public Safety Health and Public Safety Committee South Bend Common Council The March 27, 2000 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Andrew Ujdak at 5:07 p.m. in the Council Information Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Aranowski, Varner, White,Kelly,Udjak, Kirsits, Coleman, and Pfeifer;Khadijah Muhammad,Nancy Sulok and Terry Bland of the$nn 11 !tub IIrilnure;Leon Stein,Dave Van de Weille,Fred Jaronik,Michael Damiano,Tony Nania, Mark Catanzarite and Joe Wagner of the South Bend Fire Department, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney. Council Member Udjak noted that the meeting was called to receive a presentation from various members from the South Bend Fire Department. He believes that such a meeting would be informative in light of the upcoming labor negotiations with the firefighter union later this year. The Council Attorney then asked each of the firefighters present to introduce themselves. Leon Stein,the President of Local# 362,then introduced Fred Jaronik, Vice-President of Local# 362, Michael Damiano, a Guide of Local# 362,Joe Wagner,Committee Chairperson of Local# 362, and firefighters Tony Nania and Mark Catanzarite. Leon Stein,President of Local# 362 thanked the Committee for the opportunity to provide information about the South Bend Fire Department. He then presented information on a GSI study conducted in April of 1999. He used an overhead projector and described the following documents(copies attached): # 1 Current First In Engine Response Capability #2 Current Second In Engine Response Capability # 3 Current First In Medic Response Capability #4 Current First In Rescue Response Capability # 5 Current First In Truck Response Capability #6 Current 2 in 2 Out Response Capability # 7 Current Structure Response Capability It was noted in relation to#4 that there is one(1)rescue rig in the city with this being the only rig having four(4) firefighters, with all other rigs having three(3) firefighters. It was noted that there are four(4)truck companies in the city(see# 5). The City currently has two(2) infra-red cameras,both of which are on the rescue rig. They work in teams of two and thus each team has one camera. The rescue rig responds to every fire. Approximate cost of each infra-red camera is $ 25,000. There are NO such cameras on any of the engine companies. Council Member Kelly noted that the approximate cost to put in service an infra-red camera on each of the engine companies would be approximately$250,000. President Stein noted that a phase-in program should be considered. Several firefighters noted the safety features of having Health and Public Safety Committe Meeting Minutes of March 27,2000 • such cameras and how communities smaller than South Bend have developed partnerships with the private sector to purchase such equipment for their rigs. Council Member White requested additional information on how the City of South Bend compares to other communities on this matter. Dr. Varner requested updated GSI Maps in light of Station# 10 being relocated and the southside annexation. President Stein stated he would request that information. The firefighters then presented three(3)additional handouts(copies attached),namely: Salary and Pension Schedule 2000 for the South Bend Fire Department Pension Base Listing for 1999 *South Bend is the 5th largest community in population of 98 listed *South Bend is 76th of 98 communities in fire pension base Pension Benefits Listing for 1999 * South Bend is the 5th largest community in population of 104 listed * South Bend is 93rd of 104 communities in pension benefits Council Member White requested additional information on the number of firefighters having twenty(20)years of service. Council Member White also requested the number of firefighters with twenty(20)years of service who are at least 52 years of age. She also inquired about recruitment. Council Member Aranowski noted that the City has a pretty good recruitment pool. Firefighter Mark Catanzarite stated that the City of South Bend has a recruitment pool of 100-150 individuals. He noted that other cities our size have recruitment pools of 300. He stated that the larger the pool the better the prospective firefighter. Council Member Kirsits noted that the hiring process has been changed over the years. He requested the Council Attorney to provide an update on the hiring policies under the Nemeth Administration compared to those used currently. Council Member Udjak thanked all of the firefighters present for their presentation and handouts. There being no further business to come before the Committee, Council Member Ujdak adjourned the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Council Member Andrew Udjak, Chairperson Health and Public Safety Committee KCF:kmf Attachments lieaith and Public Safety Committe Meeting Minutes of March 27, 2000