February 3, 2011 - Approved

February 3, 2011 by aeck

Present: 

            Ron Walter, Mayor of the City of Butler
            Angela Eck, Clerk-Treasurer of the City of Butler
            Heather Jones, Wilmington Township Trustee, Butler/Wilmington Fire Territory Advisory Board
            David Capp, Butler/Wilmington Fire Territory Advisory Board
            Eric Johnson, Common Council, Butler/Wilmington Fire Territory Advisory Board
            Tammy Davis, Common Council, Butler/Wilmington Fire Territory Advisory Board
            Gerald McNerney, City of Butler Attorney
            Brian Moore, Fire Chief

Mayor Walter opened the meeting of the Butler/Wilmington Fire Territory Board at 7 pm at 120 West Main Street, Butler, Indiana. 

The minutes from the June 8, 2010 and July 1, 2010 meetings were presented.  Tammy Davis made a motion to approve the June minutes and Heather Jones seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor.  Eric Johnson made a motion to approve the July minutes and Tammy Davis seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor.

Mayor Walter asked City Attorney McNerney if the Advisory Board should appoint a president to preside over meetings if Mayor Walter was not in attendance.  Mr. McNerney replied that they should appoint a vice chairman.  Mayor Walter then opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Tammy Davis made a motion to nominate Eric Johnson and Dave Capp seconded the motion.    Tammy Davis then made a motion to close nominations and Heather Jones seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor, nominations were closed.  Tammy Davis made a motion to appoint Eric Johnson as Vice Chairman and Heather Jones seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor.

Angela Eck made sure that everyone had copies of the budget.  Mayor Walter stated that the DLGF has told us to cut $18,246 from the Fire Territory Operating Budget.  There was a lot of discussion on this and as to whether or not to request an additional appropriation from the Cumulative Fund to make up the difference. 

Mayor Walter then asked Mr. McNerney if it is possible for the Fire Territory to use the other townships cumulative fire money.  Mr. McNerney stated that he doesn’t think it is possible unless they are made part of the territory and have a seat on the advisory board.  Mayor Walter stated that he would still like a clarification from Crowe Horwath on this.

Gary Miller from the Fire Department asked about mowing and snow removal.  Mayor Walter reported that the City is doing the snow removal and billing the Territory for it.  Mayor Walter stated that no decision has been made on mowing, but it has been suggested that perhaps the firefighters could do it.  Chief Moore stated that no one has the equipment to do the mowing.   Mr. McNerney stated that the Fire Department should come up with specifications on the mowing and then get with him.  Heather Jones stated that her township contract out mowing of cemeteries and that it is a lump sum per season, which can be paid out monthly to the contractor.

Mayor Walter went back to the issue of the budget cut ordered by the DLGF.  He stated that the Board needs to give direction to Angela.  Heather Jones asked Chief Moore if it would be a hardship to cut the $18,246 from equipment.  He stated that it would. 

Eric Johnson made a motion to cut $18,246 from the Operating Fund, Equipment line for 2011 and Tammy Davis seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor.

It was decided to hold off on an additional appropriation from Cumulative Fire.  The Board would re-evaluate the issue in June.

There was discussion on garbage and mail.  The dumpster from the City Hall building will be moved to the new Fire Station once the City Hall Building is all cleaned out.  The Fire Department will be putting in a mail box on the other side of the street. 

There was discussion on keys next.  The keys that were given to the Fire Department by Tecton do not say Do Not Duplicate on them.  Mr. McNerney stated that all of the keys need to be signed out as well.  Chief Moore has spoken with Larry’s Lock and Safe and they can get us different keys that say do not duplicate on them.  Someone just needs to go to their store.  Angela Eck also requested that repairmen sign out keys as well.  She requested that Brian instruct Rhonda to send them to the City Utility Office when he is not available.

Chief Moore stated that there is still a problem with heat in the bays.  They are still working on the issue.  Mr. McNerney stated that we cannot wait much longer on this.  Chief Moore also stated that the punch list is still not quite done.

Mr. McNerney stated that the firefighters need to do an inventory and get the list to Angela Eck.  There is a lot of new equipment out there and it needs to be recorded.  Mayor Walter stated that this needs to be done sooner rather than later.

Mayor Walter also stated that he has a concern about children being out there.  He wants the Fire Department to come up with a written policy on who is responsible for the children and designate some areas as off limits to the children.  Dave Capp agreed that something needs to be in writing.

Mayor Walter asked about cleaning.  He thinks that we need to hire someone to do it, but it has also been suggested that the firefighters should be responsible for it.  Chief Moore stated that the officers are trying to stay on top of it and that they haven’t had any problems yet.  Mr. McNerney warned that this issue will come up again in June and that Chief Moore needs to make sure that they have something in place that works by then.  Mayor Walter is still afraid that the cleaning won’t get done.

Chief Moore stated that he would like to hire someone to clean as well.  Mayor Walter asked the Board what they thought.  Dave Capp is against hiring someone to do cleaning, he is not against having someone do the floors and carpets 3 to 4 times a year.  Tammy Davis agrees with Dave.  Heather Jones asked how bad it gets out there.

Gary Miller would like to use the money budgeted for cleaning on satellite television instead.  He was under the impression that this cost would be split with the paramedics when the building became occupied.  The board agreed that they cannot spend money on satellite television for them.

Mr. McNerney suggested that Chief Moore find out what cleaning he can get done for $1200 per year and the board agreed.

The next Advisory Board meeting will be the first week of June or the last two weeks of May.

Chief Moore reported that he would like to use $50,000 from the fire cumulative fund to start replacing air packs.  He has to take 30 bottles out of service right now because they are expired.  Each air pack will cost about $5,000.  He would like to do this for the next three years.  There was some discussion on this subject.  Dave Capp made a motion to authorize the Fire Department to purchase new air packs for the next three years at $50,000 per year.  Heather Jones seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor.  Mr. McNerney reminded Chief Moore that these air packs will have to go through the bidding process.

Eric Johnson made a motion to adjourn and Heather Jones seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all in favor.