SEACOAST CHIEF FIRE OFFICERS MUTUAL AID DISTRICT

MINUTES OF MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

The regular monthly meeting of the Seacoast Chief Fire Officers Mutual Aid District was called to order at 7:06pm at the Hampton Beach fire station by the president, Chief Christopher LeClaire with 30 members present representing 26 communities. Advocate member John Merrill of IPS was also present. The interim Somersworth Chief Don Bliss was welcomed back to the group.

Following the salute to the flag, a moment of silence for departed firefighters especially Lieutenant Tim Oliveria of the Salisbury Fire Department was observed.  A message of welcome was heard from the host Chief Christopher Silver who also introduced the HFD Emergency Medical Services Officer Peter Wahl.

Having been transmitted to the membership by electronic mail, a motion to waive the reading of the June minutes was made and seconded (Cresta/O'Brien). So voted.

A financial report on the June golf tournament was read along with the treasurer’s report and a motion to accept was made and seconded (Warren/Lord). So voted.

For correspondence, a letter from Chief Souliotis of Salisbury Fire was read. The chief thanked the group for all of the support that he received during the recent LODD in his department.

A letter from the Epping town clerk dated June 20, 2011 certifying a 1969 town meeting vote on RSA 154:25 & RSA 154:26 was read along with a letter from Chief Don DeAngelis requesting membership in the mutual aid district.

Motion (Walker/Comeau) to grant membership in the district to Epping Fire. So voted.

Committee reports;

START: Chief Comeau: Operational grant received from the state of $71,000. Annual budget is approximately $130,000. START is down two team leaders due to retirements. Vacancies are to be filled in the near future. There is also an opening on the board for a chief of a call or volunteer department. President LeClaire appointed Chief DeAngelis of Epping to fill that vacancy.

SCBA SUPPORT TRAILERS: Chief Sullivan reported that all three units have been serviced and as they are five years old and all of the on-board cylinders have been hydrostatically tested. He also suggested that if a department has scheduled SCBA training, to pick up one of the trailers on the day of the drill and utilize them.

MIRT: No report.

                                                                                                                        (cont)

Page Two………………………………………………………………………September 2011

Committee Reports  (cont)

TRITON PUMP: Chief Cresta reported that the Triton needs work and a new home. Chief

Sullivan had suggested either Stratham or Brentwood as they have stations with spare space.

FUNDRAISER: Chief Cresta. Thanks to everyone for another successful fund raiser.

BY-LAWS: No report

STATE FEDERATION:  No further report.

LOGO-WEB SITE: No report.

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM: D/C Wilking: Board will be meeting on Monday the 12^th, and the team did assist at the Pease air show.

LEGISLATIVE: Chief Sullivan reported on a joint committee established to look at funding of both police academy and fire academy training.

TRAINING: Chief LeClaire reported that Director Plummer is tied up in North Conway, but two academy classes (Fire Instructor and Fire Officer) are being held in the seacoast this fall and both are full. A seminar is being scheduled for the week of October 12th with more information to follow.

MAINE: Chief O’Brien reported that Maine has approved the sale of fireworks.

MASSACHUSETTS: Chief Cutter once again thanked the group on behalf of Chiefs Souliotis, Spencer and Brickett for the assistance provided to Salisbury. Some 35 departments were involved in covering the town for an entire week.

Old Business: A/C Berkenbush distributed a document outlining the results of the request for proposals for ambulance billing. Certified Ambulance Group of Rocky Hill Connecticut was the low bidder at 4.50%. Exeter is going to sign on with that company and it is up to each member community to do so if they wish. Motion (Head/Considine) to accept the proposal. So voted.

Chief LeClaire reported that our grant request currently before the state of NH looked good in comparison to the other 40 requests received.

D/C Thayer mentioned that Eliot was now the only community not a member of the district. Chief O'Brien will look into why and report back.

                                                                                                                        (cont)

Page Three……………………………………………………………………September 2011

Old Business: (cont)

D/C Wilking: On the departmental inventories announced at the June meeting; Inventory sheets will be sent out by e-mail soon. He also suggested a review of the district task force at the same time and overhaul and update them where necessary.

Chief Comeau stated that the lakes region is training their personnel in task force operations and protocols and could possibly assist us along the same lines.

A/C Berkenbush spoke on the leadership and management training programs offered by Bruce Mast Associates. Cost would be $550 per student with the LGC providing a stipend of $100 per student enrolled.

New Business: D/C Thayer suggested that the SCBA trailer committee needs a member from Lee and One from Rochester again, due to retirements. President LeClaire appointed A/C Mark Dupuis of Rochester and Chief Peter Hoyt of Lee.

Chief LeClaire noted other vacant positions and appointed Chief Ralph Cresta to the board of directors to take the place of retired Chief Mike Blake. Other seats to be filled soon.

D/C Wilking brought up a training issue now that Perry Plummer has left Dover. Eric stated that someone should be taking Perry's place and leading the training for our organization as it would be unfair to the new director for this district to expect special efforts from his office on our behalf. Chief Don Bliss spoke as a former state agency head and said that this should not be a problem for Director Plummer, as every new commissioner or director is faced with this in some form or another and handles it.

Chief Sylvia announced a Pease disaster drill slated for October 2^nd that will be held off-site this time in Newington. This drill will concentrate more on fire operations and communications. He will be contacting members on Newington's run card.

Chief Sullivan mentioned a problem that surfaced following the recent portable and mobile radio frequency realignment. The PL code for 158.955 mhz (Newburyport-Salisbury-Merrimac) is wrong in the majority of radios. The SCFO prime mover radio will be fixed as soon as possible.

Other agencies plan to wait for narrow banding to take place next year.

                                                                                                                        (cont)

Page Four……………………………………………………………………September 2011

For the good of the order:

A/C Berkenbush talked about sheltering problems during Hurricane Irene. Problems that included The Red Cross, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. Discussion was had on regional shelters vs local shelters and it was suggested that Chris Pope and Nick Crescenti be asked to come to a future meeting. No decision was made either way.

Chief Walker reported on a Strafford firefighter that was severely injured during Hurricane Irene operations when a tree came down on him. He is currently a patient at Maine Med in Portland.

NHAFC meeting on September 8th in Belmont.

Our next meeting will be in Hampton Falls on October 6th, 2011

Adjournment was at 8:30pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Chief William H. Sullivan,

Secretary