HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-11-1997 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND. INDIANA.SEPTEMBER 11. 1997
1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met at 5 p.m.Thursday, September 11,
2 1997, in the Municipal Building in said City. Chairperson Bob Goodwin presided, with Bruce Metzger and
3 Assistant City Attorney Steve Rabe in attendance. Robin Henry was absent. The following business was had
4 to-wit:
5
6 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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8 The minutes of the regular meeting of August 28 and the special meeting of September 10 were approved on a
9 motion by Metzger,second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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11 CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
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13 Claims for payment submitted by the City Controller's office were read by Metzger who noted they totaled
14 $1,054,811.67 and moved to approve, second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a
15 unanimous voice vote.
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17 REQUESTS
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19 A. Lt. Kris Wolski of the Traffic Safety Division presented to the Board requests for handicapped
20 parking spaces made by Patricia Wheelter at 822 North 19th Street and Ronald Saylor at 227 South
21 West 2nd Street. He said each had been reviewed and the recommendation was for approval. Metzger
22 so moved,second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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24 B. Lt.Wolski read a request made by David Hogg to close North 5th Street from North A to Main Street
25 for beautification. He said it will be a joint effort of various groups, including the Petal & Stem Club.
26 They will be working from 9 a.m. to noon. Metzger moved to approve, second by President Goodwin
27 and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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29 C.A request made by Darlene Moegerle for a street blockage at both ends of Parkway Lane from 3:30
30 to 7 P.m. September 14 was presented to the Board by Lt.Wolski who commented he had no problem
31 with granting the request. Metzger so moved, second by President Goodwin and the motion was
32 carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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34 D. After hearing a curb cut request by Mattingly Builders for 1023 Hampton Court for access to a
35 garage, Metzger moved to approve, second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a
36 unanimous voice vote.
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38 E. Fire Chief Mike Allen informed the Board of the fact that Bryan Ervin, a probationary firefighter, had
39 received approval from P.E.R.F. and his hire date was September 8. The Chief requested approval of
40 the temporary promotion of John S. Pierce and Kevin Nicholson to the rank of engineer. Metzger so
41 moved,second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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43 Chief Allen also asked for approval of the Board of the participation of Engine No. 3 of the Richmond
44 Fire Department in this year's Family Fun Fest set for Saturday, September 13, in Glen Miller Park. He
45 said that will take place at the bottom of Roosevelt Hill near the Band Shell stage. Metzger so moved,
46 second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
47
48 BID AWARD
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50 A. President Goodwin read a letter from Purchasing Manager Vicki Stevens, recommending the Street
51 Division salt bid for 1998 be awarded to Morton International as the most responsive and responsible
52 bidder. Metzger so moved, second by President Goodwin and the motion was carried on a unanimous
53 voice vote.
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55 BID OPENING
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57 A. President Goodwin said the bids for the culvert repair on Cumberland Road are for labor and
58 equipment only since the extent of the damage is not known. President Goodwin opened and read the
59 bids from Mike DeLucion and Son and Butler Excavating. Metzger read the bid submitted by Potter
60 Excavating. President Goodwin said the bids would be taken under advisement and possibly be
61 awarded at the next meeting.
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63 GRIEVANCE HEARINGS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
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65 A. Tim Thomas, president of the Richmond Firefighters Local 1408, presented to the Board Grievance
No.4 which was filed July 29.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
September 11, 1997
Page 2
1 He explained that it was filed as a violation of safety in Article No. 22 which covers rules and
2 regulations. He said the grievance is a result of training during July in the 90-plus degree temperatures
3 the firefighters had training in the gorge with extremely hot temperatures and later on that day they had
4 a working fire where firefighters were falling out right and left.
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6 Thomas said he had contacted other departments through the state union and learned that Muncie has
7 an inclement weather policy in place similar to what the union has requested. He said that request
8 asked that no training be held if the heat index is 85 degrees or higher and the wind chill factor is 40
9 degrees below zero.
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11 Thomas said the Chief responded that the training chief will follow the following guidelines: During
12 extreme heat and humidity, or cold and wind, hands on training will be conducted with the highest
13 consideration for the Fire Department members limiting the scope and exposure in proper measures for
14 the conditions. However, Thomas, said the union felt that was unacceptable and wanted some kind of
15 policy in writing.
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17 Chief Allen, reading from his written response, said the continuous need for training and responsibility
18 for the safety of the members of the Fire Department are most definitely two of the most important
19 considerations within the Fire Chief's responsibilities. He said the Chief must have the trust of the
20 administration to freely administer to the training requirements and needs in a fair and common sense
21 manner.
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23 Assistant City Attorney Steve Rabe said as a point of clarification, the Board may notice that both
24 grievances have been filed by the local union, adding that it is the position of the administration that as
25 you look at the contract and grievance procedure it constantly refers to employee, not the union. He
26 said he had talked with Thomas and asked that in negotiations this should be added to the contract, to
27 provide for the executive board to be able to file a grievance. Rabe also alluded to the Book of Rules
28 passed by the Board in April of this year in which it states that education and training programs be
29 under the direct supervision of the Chief.
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31 Chief Allen said in conversations with representatives of other fire departments in other cities, he had
32 found no such policies as this. He said Kokomo, Seymour or Connersville have no written policies
33 about this. He added that he will be attending the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Fire
34 Chief's Association next week and will inquire as to whether or not any of them have policies of this
35 kind in place.
36
37 President Goodwin asked about the responsibility of this Board with this kind of grievance and Rabe
38 answered that this body has from today, 21 days in which to make a decision as per the contract.
39 Thomas said he feels the union would be more than willing to accept the guidelines recognized
40 nationally, if there are any. It was agreed to take the issue under advisement until additional
41 information could be gathered, both from Chief Allen and Thomas.
42
43 B. In reading Grievance No. 5 filed by the Richmond Professional Firefighters Local 1408 executive
44 board, Thomas said part of the reason the board filed the grievances is that it seems reasonable to the
45 Board to address one grievance rather than 35 firefighters filing individual grievances. He said the
46 executive board has been filing grievances on behalf of its members since the early 1970s. Metzger
47 responded that he had no problem with that, adding that he would rather look at the issues instead of
48 the steps.
49
50 Thomas said Grievance No. 5 was filed July 20 under Article No. 3 of the professional negotiation
51 agreement between the City and the Firefighters on the sub topic of the training committee. He said the
52 article states that the training committee has two responsibilities which are the selection of the training
53 officer within 30 days when a vacancy in the postion occurs and to ensure the continuous training
54 program for both new and seasoned firefighters.
55
56 Thomas said the training committee is not fully recognized, adding that he felt members of the union
57 would be more receptive to the policies if they came through the training committee. He said there is
58 now a lot of resistance to training and it is the general consensus of the membership that training
59 seems to be used more as a management punishment tool rather than a learning or teaching tool.
60
61 Thomas said the contract states that the training committee is made up of two members chosen by the
62 administration, two by the union and one is agreed upon by the four members. He said the members
63 want an equal say in how they are trained and that is not being given now. He said if the training
64 committee is utilized it is going to force the members and administration to work together, adding that
65 there seems to be a growing wedge between the two parties now. He concluded by saying it is not the
goal of the union to derail or stifle training.
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd
September 11, 1997
Page 3
1 Lt. Bill Reece, a representative of the training committee for the union, said that group is not noticed by
2 the administration as a full fledged training committee.
3
4 Chief Allen, reading from a written response, said the grievance addresses that the training committee
5 is a policy-making committee, and he thought that is what the dispute was about. However, he said,
6 some things have been interjected here tonight that are not directly related to that. He said the training
7 committee was not meant to take on the role of a policy-making body, adding that would usurp the
8 responsiblity of the Board of Works as well as the Fire Chief. He said it clearly states in the Book of
9 Rules that the role of policy making in the area of training is clearly that of the Fire Chief, adding that
10 the Chief's office will always be held accountable for the safety of the fire department.
11
12 In stating the stance of the administration, Rabe said the Chief is responsible to give directions to the
13 training of the Fire Department. Thomas said he never questioned that the Chief is in charge of the
14 department,but that does not take anything away from the committee.
15-
16 After further comments made by Chief Allen and Thomas, as well as Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Purcell,
17 Metzger suggested the issue be taken under advisement to enable the Board members to do some
18 work with both the Chief and Thomas.
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20 ADJOURNMENT
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22 There being no further business, on a motion duly made seconded and passed and carried on a unanimous
23 voice vote,the meeting was adjourned.
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30 Robert Goodwin, President
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34 ATTEST:
35 Norma Schroeder, Clerk
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