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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-24-1973 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, MAY 24, 1973 The Board of Public Works and Safety_of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session May 24, 1973, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. in the Municipal Building of said City. Mr. Judge presided with Mr. Benner and Mr. Burton present. The following business was had to-wit: Mr. Benner moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Ed Nicholson appeared before the Board to request approval for subdivision improvements in HIdden Valley Fourth Addition. Mr. Benner moved to grant approval for construction of subdivision improvements in Hidden Valley Fourth Addition, specifically all sewer and water lines,storm water system, curbs and street paving, seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Donald Strahan, Director of Public Safety, presented the following letter to the Board: May 24, 1973 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY Jerald J. Judge, President Dear Board Members: I request permission for Chief Lewis E. Doren and myself to be permitted to attend the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. This conference will be held at Muncie, Indiana, June 10-14, 1973. Funds are available in the Police budget for this purpose. Sincerely, /s/ Donald L. Strahan Director Mr. Burton moved to grant permission for Chief Lewis Doren and Safety Director Strahan to attend the Indiana Association of Chief of Police Conference of Muncie, Indiana, June 10-14, 1973, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. One bid was received for Mobile Relay System for Richmond Police Department from Motorola Communications & Electronics, Inc. in the amount of $8,000.00 Mr. Benner moved to approve street light request at South 5th Street below "Q" Street as per further conversation with Mr. Judge and on South 31st Street between Southeast Parkway and South "B" Streets according to Exhibit A attached, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. A request for street lights on Test Road between Liberty Pike and Ross Waste Treatment Plant was taken under advisement until the next meeting. Mr. Benner moved to take a Curb cut request at the Church of Christ, 1962 Chester Blvd. under advisement pending approval of the Traffic Division, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Judge moved to take bids for Street Materials under advisement for further study of the newly appointed Administrative Assistant, seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. No bids were received for gasoline and fuel oil . Mr. Howell will contact each gas distributor in Richmond and see what can be worked out. Mr. Judge moved to accept the bid for Motorola Communications and Electronics Inc. for the Mobile Relay System in the amount of $8,000.00 upon recommendation of Chief Doren, seconded by Mr. Benner and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. ®0 Page 2 Board of Works Minutes May 24, 1973 Mr. Benner moved to approve curb cut permit on North 5th Street for the new Post Office as per construction plans. Safety Director, Donald Strahan, gave the following recommendation regarding the Minute-Man Program: MINUTE-MAN PROGRAM Based on recommendation #17 we have continued to evaluate the Minuteman Program with respect to response time, numbers of minutemen arriving at the fire scene, degree of training, and fir-fighting ability. These evaluation will continue as recommended by the National Loss Control Service Corporation. At the same time we acknowledge the fact that a minimum field force of 66 men and a staff of 6 (72 total ) could adequately provide the necessary level of fire protection in our community for life and property as outline in this report. We recognize the need for three additional firefighters to insure the minimum manning levels during sickness and vacationa as recommended by the National Loss Control Studies. With an increases strength of 3 more regular firefighters bringing the field force to 69 men and a staff 'of 6 (75 total ) it may be possi- ble to provde adequate fire protection without the "Minuteman" force. A thorough analysis of this program will be continued over the next three months at which time a decision will be made as to its elimination. Safety Director Strahan gave the recommendations of the study conducted by the National Loss Control Service Corp. : ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT 1 . Continue the elimination of the position of Assistan Fire Chief Administrative duties previously performed by the Assistant Chief should be assumed by the Battalion Chief. 2. A more comprehensive program of medical controls for both incoming and existing members of the Fire Department should be instituted. 3. Periodical reports of performance should be submitted on every member of the Fire Department. 4. The present system of promotion in the Fire Department should be replaced by one based solely on performance, testing, experience, and education. 5. Future promotions to Chief officer positions should continue to be made available only to those who have proven their capabilities particularly as they relate to managerial skills. FIRE COMPANY DISTRIBUTION 6. Pumper Company 1 , previously located in Station 1 , should continue to be eliminated for the present time and its personnel assigned to other fire companies. 7. Two new 2 bay fire stations should be constructed, one in the vicinity of Chester Boulevard and Crestdale Avenue and one in the vicinity of National Road EAst and Garwood Road. Pumper Companied 2 and 3 should be transferred to these new stations and their old stations disposed of. 8. The present separate Aerial Company and Rescue Company should be merged into a single Aerial/Rescue Company under the command of a single Captain and housed in Station 1 . Page 3 Board of Works Minutes May 24, 1973 FIRE FIGHTING METHODS AND COMMAND 9. All front line and one reserve pumper should immediately be modified and equipped for "blitz attack' as outlined in the text. 10. The Fire Department should return to the concept of company operations. 11 . Each fire company should be provided with a portable two-way radio for the use of the company officer. 12. The following minimum on-duty manning levels should be immediately established for the fire companies in Richmond. Station Companies Minimum Manning on-Duty 1 Battalion Chief 1 Dispatcher 1 Aerial/Rescue 4 2 Pumper 2 4 + 3 Pumper 3 3 4 Pumper 4 3 5 Pumper 5 3 6 Pumper 6 3 Total Mimimum on Duty 22 Men * * When sickness or vacations cause the number of men on duty to fall below 22, off-duty men or Selectmen should be called in to work with pay. + Four men should be maintained on duty at Station 3 instead of Station 2 until new Station 3 is constructed. 13. Establish a strength level of 69 men assigned to field forces. 14. Upon completion of new Stations 2 and 3, establish a minimum on-duty strength level of 23 men. 15. Establish a strength level of 6 men assigned to the staff as outlined in the text. 16. A total Fire Department manning level of 75 uniformed men should be immediately established as outlined in the text. 17. Continue the evaluation program for the Minutemen as presently con- ceived, keeping accurate records of the number responding and their time of arrival . TRAINING PROGRAM 18. Continue the current practice of according the Drillmaster a chief officer level rank. • 19. A manual of standard hose andladder evolutions of the Richmond Fire Department should be developed to supplement the Ohio State Fire Service Training manual . 20. When replacement of the present drill ground facilities becomes necessary, facilities as described in the text should be provided. 21 . Responsibility for maintenance of Individual Training Records should be transferred to the company officers. 22. Battalion Chiefs should closely monitor the company training sessions to ensure they are properly conducted. Page 4 Board of Works Minutes May 24, 1973 (Fire Department Report cont. ) 23. A formal program of officer training should be established. 24. Means should be explored to encourage firefighters to pursue a course of higher education in fire technology and management. 25. The in-service company intersection and preplanning program should be immediately reinstituted. 26. A program should be instituted whereby all fire hydrants in the City are inspected at least twice yearly by in-service fire companies. APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 27. Immediate steps should be taken to order replacement for the pumper assigned to Company 6. It should be designed and equipped as outlined in the text. 28. The amount of hose carried on all pumpers should be increased to the masimum permitted_ by the size of the hose bed as outlined in the text. 29. The method of bedding hose on the pumpers should be changed as described in the text. 30. All apparatus should be provided with additional fire fighting equipment as outlined in the text. 31 . The Mechanic should be restored to full time responsibility for fire apparatus maintenance and repair until such time as a central city garage is able to assume the full workload. 32. A job-cost record system should be instituted in the Fire Depart- ment Shop as outlined in the text. COMMUNICATIONS AND ALARM 33. Means should be provided in the Dispatching Center for electronically recording all incoming telephone calls, dispatching messages, and radio communications. 34. All fire alarm boxed in strictly residential areas should be grad- ually eliminated and those from which a high precentage of false alarms are received should be removed from service. 35. Industrial and commerical buildings using master boxes on the public fire alarm circuit should be required to maintain the boxes themselves. 36. All fire alarm locations should be verified to the fire stations by use of the teletype system. 37. Response of fire apparatus to fire alarms should reflect the fire potential of the area in accordance with the response pattern recom- mended in the text. 38. Future considerations should include a central dispatching center for the entire City for the use of both fire and police. MUTUAL AID AND CONTRACT SERVICE 39. All mutual aid agreements with surround fire departments should be formalized in writing. 40. A portion of the revenue from the Townships should be used to purchase an additional pumper-tanker. Page 5 (39 Board of Works Minutes May 24, 1973 (Fire Department Report cont. ) FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM 41 . Reduce the number of men assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau from four to three (including the Fire Marshal ) and change the rank of the Fire Inspectors from Captain to Deputy Fire Marshal . 42. The administration of the Fire Prevention Bureau should be improved as outlined in the text. 43. Every building in the City of other than one-or two-family residen- tial nature should be inspected at least once a year or as necessary to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. WATER SUPPLY 44. The present methods of payment to the Richmond Waterworks for fire hydrants and water mains should be subjected to close scrutiny and renegotiated if possible. 45. The installation interval for fire hydrants in newly developing residential area should be increased to 1000 feet. BUILDING CODE AND ENFORCEMENT 46. A mechanism should be created to ensure that the Fire Department is notified by the Building Department of all changes of occupancy. 47. The Fire Department should give approval of site plans before a building permit is issued. Mr. Judge moved to accept the recommendation of the Safety Director, seconded by Mr. Benner and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. There being no further business on motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned. Jerald J. Judge President ATTEST Margaret Mellen Clerk of the Board