GLOUCESTER COUNTY FIRE CHIEF’S & FIRE
OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION
Gibbstown Fire Company
May 12, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Cardile at 1930 hours. The
group saluted the flag a moment of silence was observed for remembrance
of fallen brother and sister firefighters, the invocation was then given by
Assistant Chaplain Archie Roemmich.
Address of welcome was given by Chief Mike Fisler of the Gibbstown Fire
Company.
NEW MEMBERS:
Lt. Zachary Douglas of the National Park Fire Company
Butch Myers motion to accept Zach into the Association seconded by Dave
Raso, motion passed.
President Cardile then administered the Oath of Membership to Zach.
Fred Loch motion to suspend the normal order of business seconded by Rick
Thomas, motion passed.
Chief Fisler then called up Chief Mark Gismondi, Lt. Zach Douglas and
firefighter John Merkline of the National Park Fire Company. On March
10
th
a member of the Gibbstown Fire Company and Paulsboro Fire
Department were in canoe on the Delaware River, when the canoe capsized
and both men went into the river. If it were not for the quick action of the
National Park Fire Company, the results could have been much different.
Both men were rescued and are doing well. Chief Fisler presented Zach &
Doug plaques for their part in the rescue and a plaque to the National Park
Fire Company for their dedicated service and quick action.
MINUTES OF PAST MEETING:
Anthony Baldosaro motion that the minutes of the April meeting be
approved as emailed seconded by, Drew Sole motion passed.
FREEHOLDER REPORT: Freeholder Chila is unable to attend the
meeting tonight.
FIRE MARSHALS REPORT: The following is the report:
The following is my report for the actions taken by the Gloucester County
Fire Marshal’s Office for the period of April 01 to April 30, 2016 and the
totals for the year of 2016.
Inspections for the period: 145 Total for the Year: 657
Fire Permits Issued: 20 Total for the Year: 51
Fire Investigations for the period: 20 Total for the Year: 85
Fire Fatalities for the period: 1 Total for the Year: 1
Fire Scene Injuries for the period: 4 Total for the year: 31
Juvenile Fire setter actions for the period: 2 Total for the Year: 5
Training Sessions for the period: 3 Total for the Year: 9
Fire Extinguisher Inspections: 2 Total for the Year: 520
Meetings/Lectures/Court for the period: 10 Total for the Year: 47
Fire Prevention Demo for the period: 2 Total for the Year: 2
Fit Testing for Other Agencies for Period: 9 Total for the Year: 120
Site Plan Review for Towns: 2 Total for the year: 10
Total Actions Taken by the Fire Marshal’s Office to date: 1506
Respectfully Submitted;
Edward J. Johnson
FIRE ACADEMY REPORT: Bob Hill’s report is as follows:
FIRE ACADEMY DIRECTOR’S REPORT
REPORTING MONTH: May 12, 2016
GLOUCESTER COUNTY FIRE ACADEMY
FIREFIGHTER 1
Spring program final week before graduation.
Many thanks to county haz mat team for their assistance with
our recent haz mat operations practical skills training
Graduation set for Thursday May 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Fall semester scheduled to begin Friday August 5.
Chiefs urged to respond to request for individual preference for
with the traditional program or the proposed weekend only
program.
To date, only four companies have responded.
FIRE ACADEMY GENERAL BUSINESS
Instructor Level-2 has been scheduled starting in June
Haz Mat and other compliance programs to be announced and
ready for delivery next month.
TRAINING & EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Unable to attend due to scheduling conflict. But first official
delivery of driver training program next week in Morris County,
I have been advised that the attendance is very good.
Respectfully submitted
Robert V Hill Sr.
Director II
G.C. EMERGENCY RESPONSE REPORT: Director Tom Butts was
unable to attend. Chuck Murtaugh advised that the 700 project was moving
along. He advised that the flash codes for the Camden County radios had
been received, so that their radios could be used on our system.
There is a discussion being held on a permanent patch, with the Cumberland
and Salem County frequencies. He also advised that the Center had turned
off a radio yesterday, as someone was keying the radio over the dispatch. It
was a glitch on that radio when it was programmed; the Chief of that
department has been notified. They are also working on the final radio
count. More on the final radio count will reported at a later date.
Fire Coordination: Dennis Kappler thanked Mike Gallagher and Glenn
Roemmich for their work on updating the County Wide Mutual Aid Plan,
that is up for review by the Division by the end of May. He advised that
next week there will be meeting of the Fire Coordination Group.
Haz-Mat: Dennis advised that yesterday the Team held a drill at the Fire
Academy, working with the level B suits. There had been 8 people that
went through testing and interview to join the team, those 8 people are going
to be added to the team. He advised that to be considered for the team you
do not have to be certified to the technician level, operation certification is
acceptable; there is a lot of things that someone with operation level training,
can do quite a few tasks with the team. Last week the Team was on scene is
West Deptford for the over turned tractor trailer on Crown Point Road.
Neptune: Dennis advised that Mike Gallagher has been working with
National Foam on the foam tender stored at Colonial Manor. There is an
issue with the tank on the vehicle. It is much different than the tank on the
tender stored at Glassboro. National Foam is aware of the issue and will be
working on s solution.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY EMS: No representative in attendance tonight.
N. J. DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY: Nothing
N.J. STATE FIREMEN’S RELEIF ASSOCIATION: Bill McNulty is
unable to attend the meeting tonight. Bill wanted to remind everyone that
the 990 forms are due into the Office on May16th. The Caucus will be held
on Thursday August 18
th
at Whitman Square and the audit will take place on
Tuesday September 20
th
in Clayton.
N.J. FIREMENS HOME: Harry Strube The annual golf outing was held
on Tuesday, he thanked the Association for their continued support of the
outing. Tomorrow morning beginning at 8:00 am they will begin employee
evaluations at the home.
N.J. EXEMPT ASSOCIATION: Glenn Roemmich reported that the
Exempt Convention will be held on Saturday June 25
th
In Sayerville. If
anyone wants to put an ad in the convention journal the cut off for ads is
May 27
th
, and he has forms with him. Glenn announced that during the
convention he will be elected as the N.J. Exempt Association President.
Jim Schmidt motion that the Association take out a half page ad in the
Exempt Convention Journal, sine our Secretary will going in as President at
the convention, seconded by Tom Radcliff, during the question on the
motion it was amended to take a full page ad for $ 200.00. Motion passed.
LAW & LEGISLATION: Frank Lambing had nothing to report. He
stated it has been pretty quiet in Trenton.
BANQUET COMMITTEE: Bill Ross advised that he will have prices at
the next meeting from 3 facilities for our annual banquet.
BY-LAW COMMITTEE:
PROPOSED BY-LAW CHANGES
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 2. APPLICATION AND FEES
Candidates will be required to make application in writing and upon
forms furnished, filled in and presented, signed and attested by two (2) Active
or Life Members of the Association. If the candidate’s agency is a member in
good standing no initiation fee is due. Candidates whose agency is not a
member of the Association, or their agency is not in good standing their
application is to be accompanied by a Twenty-Five ($25.00) Dollar initiation
fee.
SECTION 4. APPROVAL
A two-thirds (2/3) majority obtained from the members present in good
standing and voting, the candidate shall be declared elected. Upon successful
election into the Association, said member is take the Oath of membership and
fill out the Oath of Membership form and turn this form over to the President.
ARTICLE IX. TREASURER
SECTION 5.
He/She shall by the annual meeting prepare and invoice each member
agency for their annual dues which will be $ 150.00 dollars per year.
ARTICLE XIII. MEETINGS
SECTION 2. NOMINATIONS / ELECTION
B. To be nominated for the positions of President and Vice-President, the
nominees have to be an active seated Chief Officer in good standing in the
Association. If his/her term as a Chief Officer should expire, he/she can
continue in their elected position for 1 one more term if so elected.
ARTICLE XIV. VOTING
SECTION 2.
Any Standard proposed that would affect the entire Gloucester County
Fire Service will require a one vote per Fire Company and or Department in
good standing. The vote shall be made by the Fire Chief or the next highest
ranking officer in attendance in good standing. A Fire Company and or
Department is considered to be in good standing if there is at least one Chief
Officer or the next highest ranking officer in attendance in good standing
with paid dues to the Association. A successful vote requires a 2/3 majority
of the ballots cast for passage.
SECTION 5.
A ROLL CALL VOTE is a single vote per organized fire company and
or fire department by the ranking chief officer or the next highest ranking
officer in attendance in good standing on any operational or procedural
issue as determined by the chair.
SECTION 6.
A roll call vote of each fire company and or fire department shall be
taken and recorded. Every Fire Chief shall be notified of an upcoming
important vote prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting if possible. It
shall be the responsibility of each member agency to assure that they are
represented at each scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE XVII. DUES
SECTION 1.
A dues charge of One Hundred Fifty ($ 150.00) dollars per year shall be
collected from each Active Member Agency of the Association. All dues shall
be payable to the Membership Secretary on or before the regular meeting in
May.
SECTION 2.
Members or Member Agencies owing dues after the May meeting, will
not receive credit for an active year and loses their right to be included in any
discussions or right to vote on any matter.
Rick Thomas motion seconded by Anthony Baldosaro to open the floor for
discussion on the By-Laws, motion passed.
The committee stated the Dues fee was decided upon, to help increase the
Associations treasury. The additional funds will be used for the leadership
training and food for the June meeting held at the Fire Academy and the
September meeting held at the Emergency Response Center.
A few members asked questions regarding the membership fee if a member
company is not in good standing, also a question if a purchase order in hand by
the May meeting would be acceptable.
BEAREAVMENT COMMITTEE: Rick Thomas advised that the
committee had assisted the Verga Fire Company with a funeral recently.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
RADIO COMMITTEE: President Cardile stated that they had not had a
meeting; however the dispatchers will prompt responding apparatus once for
their staffing level, and if they do not get a response the dispatcher will
notate “No Staffing” in the hot comments of the incident. The center will
also be trying to rectify the low audio of the voice on dispatching. The
committee will be meeting before the June meeting.
TECH RESCUE: Eric Wolf from the Technical Rescue Team had a short
presentation for the Association. The Technical Rescue Team has been in
existence for 10 years. The Team has over 30 members and last year they
conducted over 1108 man hours of training. The team has also added the
search of individuals training to its members. The Team is made up of
members from the Washington Township, Deptford Gibbstown and
Woodbury Fire Departments.
TENDER TASK FORCE: Bill Ross advised that they are still working
with the East Greenwich Township Fire/Rescue for a drill in the very near
future. The Task Force had sent out a questionnaire, and they ask that those
questionnaires be returned.
FOAM STRIKE TEAM: Chris Pfeiffer advised that the Foam Strike Team
has had a few meetings and they are working on finalizing some of their
guidelines and policies. They are working on qualifications for firefighters
who are working within the team. Mike Gallagher is also working with
them on a cost recovery aspect, after a response. They will have a power
point presentation for the Association sometime in the fall.
LARGE DIAMETER HOSE TASK FORCE: Eric Farley advised that
they had received SOG’s from other Counties and are working on SOG’s for
our task force, they hope to have SOG’s complete by September. They have
been working with the Tender Task Force, to make sure that apparatus is not
on both Task Forces.
ST. FLORIAN COMMITTEE: President Cardile advised that due to the
weather they had a small turnout for the service. The Emerald Society had
canceled due to the weather. Jim Hogan was the recipient of the Medal of
Mercy award.
I.C. MUTUAL AID TEAM: Nothing
WEBSITE: No report
FIRE ACADEMY COMMITTEE: President Cardile advised that the
committee had met with WHP and were going to meeting soon with Fire
Facilities, while searching for the best training tower or building for the Fire
Academy. Also Bill Bates is still working on the Managing the MAYDAY
Course.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
PAYMENT of BILLS: Bob Hill advised that our Website company Fire
companies .com had not receiver our March payment. The check had been
sent and most of gotten lost by the Postal Service. Drew Bain motion
seconded by Archie Roemmich that the treasurer stop payment of that check,
motion passed. Anthony Baldosaro motion that we keep making monthly
payments for the website seconded by Steve Mower motion passed.
Wayne Crane motion that the Association provides food for the June
meeting at the Fire academy, not to exceed $750.00, seconded by Drew
Bain, motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
STARTING BALANCE
$8,025.76
1
TOTAL OF DEPOSITS
$ 115.00
TOTAL OF EXPENSES
$ 150.00
ENDING BALANCE
$7,990.76
RECEIPTS
MEMBERSHIP
$ 10.00
DUES
$ 30.00
CAMPTOWN
$ 75.00
DEPOSITED
$ 115.00
EXPENSES
259
CAN SURETY (BOND)
$ 150.00
257
FIRECOMPANIES.COM
Bill Beckett motion to accept the treasurer’s report seconded by Fred Lock,
motion passed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: President Cardile asked if anyone had any
questions regarding the email that he had sent out about the Prosecutor’s
Office response to possible arson fires.
NEW BUSINESS: President Cardile advised that as of October the board
up service list at the Communications Center will expire. As the County
does not intend to continue with the board up list, the local fire chief to
decide which board up service that will be used.
Roll Call of the 51 members present was done at this time.
CAMPTOWN: $57.00
GOOD & WELFARE OF THE ASSOCIATION: Nothing
PLACE OF NEXT MEETING: June 9
th
Gloucester County Fire Academy,
East Greenwich Township at 1930 hours.
Anthony Bellone motion to adjourn seconded by Bill Beckett motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 2100 hours.
Respectfully Submitted
Glenn Roemmich Secretary
-119.97
EXPENSE TOTAL
$ 150.00
SUBMITTED
Robert V Hill Sr.
Treasurer