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.
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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 .
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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.
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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.
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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