VOORHEES FIRE DISTRICT BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES. June 20, 2013

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1 TIME PRESENT ABSENT 8:00 p.m. Robert Caruso, Robert Dougherty, Barbara Silary, Vaughn Vandegrift, Chief James J. Pacifico and Solicitor Richard Tavani Thomas Hanney FLAG SALUTE Chairman Dougherty led the flag salute and called the meeting to order. This meeting has been advertised in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act. A schedule of our regular and workshop meetings has been published in the Courier-Post and has been posted and kept on file in the appropriate municipal office. The emergency exits were pointed out to all in attendance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular meeting minutes of May 16, 2013 Secretary Silary made a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of May 16, Commissioner Vandegrift seconded the motion and the vote to approve the minutes was accepted. Workshop meeting minutes of June 6, 2013 Commissioner Vandegrift made a motion to approve the workshop meeting minutes of June 6, Secretary Silary seconded the motion and the vote to approve the minutes was accepted. Treasurer Caruso presented the Treasurer s report as follows: TREASURER S REPORT May, 2013 Opening balance May 1, 2013 $1,424, Deposits $1,459, Interest $ Paid out 58 checks totaling $ 774, Ending balance May 31, 2013 $2,108, General Operating Funds (monthly) $ 97, New Station & Refurbishment Funds Building Fund $2,011, Purchase Property $ 51, INCOME Fire District Tax $1,336, EMS Billing $ 83, State Registration Fees $ 14, Local Registration Fees $ 9, Penalties, Fines & Permits $ 6, INCOME TOTAL $1,450,204.55

2 Page 2 CD S (New T-Bill Cap) $ 296, Interest $.00 Ending Balance $ 296, Non-Revenue Deposits $ 8, Secretary Silary made a motion to approve the May, 2013 Treasurer s Report as read. Commissioner Vandegrift seconded the motion and all were in favor. The Treasurer s report for May, 2013 is hereby accepted. CORRESPONDENCE Thank you card from Pat Powers for the district s sympathy on the loss of his father. Thank you from Michelle Heyers, Fashion Design teacher at Eastern High School to Deputy Chief Nagle for the attendance of the firefighters who participated in their Fashion Show. Thank you letter addressed to Lt. Chuck Knighton for our assistance to a 911 call at Comprehensive Cancer and Hematology Specialists, PC. APPROVAL OF BILLS A motion was made by Secretary Silary to pay all bills found to be true and correct. Commissioner Vandegrift seconded the motion and the vote to approve the bills was accepted. OLD BUSINESS Chief Pacifico Update: Chief Pacifico stated that we have hired two new part-time EMTs and we are looking at a third to back-fill the shifts. All the apparatus is in service, last week 6697 had tires put on and a brake and this week 6688 had tires and alignment. Tomorrow is Eastern High Schools graduation which he has been told is the largest class in the history of the high school over 550 students plus 4,000 invitations went out to guests. Next Thursday night, the 27 th, is Fire 1 graduation at the fire academy for Eric Oliver and Kacey Alexander. The Chief stated that we have numerous meetings scheduled for the new station. On 6/14 the contractor had the site re-surveyed and we are awaiting the surveyed results on the brick/block work. On 6/17 a new site superintendent started, 6/20 all parties were notified that the contractor was now on penalty clause beginning on 6/15 at $ a day. On Friday, 6/21 the architects will be meeting on-site to go over outstanding work and issues in the engine bays. We are still waiting for the bunkroom close-in schedule and next week me and most likely Chief Lafferty will go over the outstanding change orders and credits and legal counsel will also meet to review the payouts to subcontractors. We are waiting on the surety bonds to be processed for DDM Steel, 3G Plumbing and Falasca and Voorhees Fire District to the bonds in this process.

3 Page 3 Comments from Commissioner Vandegrift: During the last meeting we had a presentation and he wanted to know if contact was made with the Deputy Chiefs regarding schedule changes. Chief Pacifico stated that a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night with the Deputy Chiefs. Commissioner Vandegrift wanted to know if all parties would be at the table. Chief Pacifico stated that he just wanted to talk to the Deputy Chiefs only at this time. Commissioner Vandegrift said he thought everybody was going to be there at the meeting. Chief Pacifico said that he felt that the Deputy Chiefs should be notified first so that they could have time to make an intelligent decision. Commissioner Vandegrift stated again that he thought everyone was going to be at the table which was stated at the last meeting. Chairman Dougherty said that all parties involved will meet later in the month. Deputy Chief Nagle said they are still in the process of reviewing the information. Commissioner Vandegrift asked when is the meeting scheduled for? Deputy Chief Nagle said they have been meeting with the officers over the last two weeks but they have not had the opportunity to all sit down together. Commissioner Vandegrift said he thought that meeting was held on Friday night when they are all here. Deputy Chief Nagle stated that not everyone is here on Friday nights, some work shift work, etc. Deputy Chief Nagle said that we are not trying to drag our feet by any means they just want the opportunity to review it and come up with an intelligent decision; the presentation had been worked on for months and months and it is not fair to ask the volunteers to make a decision within two days.. NEW BUSINESS Resolution Adoption of Notice of Claim form pursuant to NJSA 59:8-6 by the Voorhees Fire District The Voorhees Fire District hereby approves and adopts the attached Notice of Tort Claim forms pursuant to NJA 59:8-6; Approval of this Resolution shall not be construed to invalidate any Notice of Claim form authorized by the Voorhees Fire District and/or FIRST Responder Joint Insurance Fund prior to the implementation of this resolution. Treasurer Caruso made a motion to approve Resolution Secretary Silary seconded the motion and all were in favor. Resolution is hereby adopted. Resolution Workshop Meeting to be held either and/or on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 or on Thursday, July 11, Chairman Dougherty stated that the final date will be established during the beginning of next week once information is received by our special counsel. Chief Pacifico stated that the meeting will be advertised. Secretary Silary made a motion to approve Resolution ; Commissioner Vandegrift seconded the motion and all were in favor. Resolution is hereby adopted.

4 Page 4 Commissioner Vandegrift comments on New Business: Commissioner Vandegrift said for the past three years he would like to have a copy of what we spend at Station 3 on building repairs and what we budgeted. Are we out of line item money for uniforms, for like rain jackets and stuff like that? What jackets are we getting, a regular raincoat or what? Chief Pacifico stated that we are going to an updated style coat. Commissioner Vandegrift asked is everybody going to get them. Chief Pacifico responded that eventually all will receive the coat; it will be in a phase in process depending on the wear of the present coat, etc. Commissioner Vandegrift again asked so there is no line item in jeopardy? Chief Pacifico stated that no budget line items were in jeopardy. Having no other comments; Treasurer Caruso made a motion to open the meeting to the public. Secretary Silary seconded the motion to open the public portion of the meeting and all were in favor. Kenneth Vandegrift 1141 Gibbsboro Road Wanted to advise the Board that since the last rain storms we had, all the water from the back of the new station is now coming into his yard. Mr. Vandegrift had pictures of the problem to present to the Board. Mr. Vandegrift stated that the water is not even going into the culvert and the water is not going anywhere near where it was designed to go; it is going right into his property. Mr. Vandegrift said that the retention pond along side of it is going to breed mosquitoes, he doesn t know who is responsible for cutting the grass but it is approximately 8 to 10 high. No work is being done on the station and Mr. Vandegrift met with the Township Engineer yesterday, Mr. Horn, and he came out and took pictures, etc. and agreed that something has to be done with the problems. A brief discussion ensued. Chairman Dougherty apologized to Mr. Vandegrift and said that the Board will look into making corrections as soon as possible. Ed Zink 1300 Walnut Avenue Mr. Zink wanted to know if there was any money left in our budget for training and equipment. Chief Pacifico stated that yes there is money left in our budget. Mr. Zink asked to know the dollar amount and Chairman Dougherty stated that there is $13, remaining in the fire equipment line item and remaining in the training budget is $21, Mr. Zink would like to know why there are firefighters that want to attend classes and are being told that there is no money in the budget and if we have money to buy equipment; why isn t it being bought. Mr. Zink asked about the money to buy new equipment and the Chief responded there is $37, in the budget for new equipment. Chairman Dougherty stated that we buy throughout the year and not everything can be bought during the first quarter of the year. A discussion ensued. Mr. Zink questioned the hydro bottles that needed to be replaced as well as the rescue ropes and riggings that we have had for at least two years for the rescue truck but we can t use them because no one has been to school for the training because they are being told there is no money in the training fund. Chief Pacifico told Mr. Zink that we currently have 31 air packs in service and 61 bottles in service, 8 bottles were ordered

5 Page 5 today. Chief Pacifico also stated that we did not tell someone that they couldn t go to school; we just asked that they put it off for awhile until our finances catch up to us as far as daily cash flow. A discussion ensued. Chairman Dougherty explained that we receive the tax money over four quarters during the year and we have to wait, at times, for the cash flow to balance out. A discussion ensued. Terry Vandegrift 1503 Spruce Avenue Mrs. Vandegrift stated that she doesn t appreciate Mr. Nagle being rude and arrogant to my husband during the meetings. Mrs. Vandegrift feels that if Mr. Nagle really cared about the resident s of Voorhees he would quickly get together with the other chiefs and staff to make a decision on the best solution for the residents and to stop dragging their feet. Mrs. Vandegrift stated that by the next meeting she expects to have a meeting date when Mr. Nagle will be addressing the shift changes by sitting around a table and make a decision for what needs to be done for Voorhees Fire District. Mr. Nagle said he apologies if he appeared rude and arrogant and was interrupted by Mrs. Vandegrift stating that she doesn t like it and will not put up with it. Mr. Nagle stated that the Board has his assurance that they are working on it and will come up with a plan. Having no further comments from the public; Treasurer Caruso made a motion to close the public portion of the meeting. Secretary Silary seconded the motion and all were in favor. COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD Commissioner Vandegrift asked about Battalion Chief Stahl s report of June 14, 2013, stating 10 guys were in and Knighton went home 2 hours sick which means the district was down to 9 and wants to know if overtime was called in. Chief Pacifico was unsure and stated that he needed to speak with Battalion Chief Stahl. Mr. Vandegrift said the chief should know whether or not overtime was called in. Chief Pacifico said that if Commissioner Vandegrift wanted to know what went on with staffing on June 14, he only needed to pick up the phone and ask the Chief and he would certainly get him the answer. Mr. Vandegrift stated that he knows the answer and just wanted to see if you knew the answer and stated that an officer should have been called first and that there were only two guys on the ambulance and wanted to know if that was okay with the Chief. Chief Pacifico stated that he would prefer to have three, however, there are times when they can t get anyone to work so they have to go down to two. Mr. Vandegrift asked if the Chief was provided with a copy of the Weekly Activity Report and Chief Pacifico stated that he receives an copy. Commissioner Vandegrift said he feels the Chief should start bringing a copy to the meeting in the event the Board has questions. Secretary Silary thanked everyone for their help during the graduation at Eastern High School. Also, she wanted to congratulate Curt Nagle stating that the business section of the paper did an article on him stating that he is Execute Vice President on the Board of the Ronald McDonald house. Chairman Dougherty thanked Terry and Vaughn Vandegrift for their excellent job on the Memorial Day parade and celebration.

6 Page 6 No further comments were made. Secretary Silary made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Commissioner Vandegrift seconded the motion and all were in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.