Chairman Mauceri called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in Room 5 at Town Hall in the presence of members Mr. Veno, Mr. Dardeno, Mr. O’Leary, Mrs. Bailey and Town Administrator Greg Balukonis.
1. MEET WITH MUNICIPAL RESOURCES INC.
Representing Municipal Resources Inc. (MRI) were Mr. Wally Stickney and Mr. Brian Duggan. Also in attendance were Acting Fire Chief Harlow and On-Call Fire Fighter Jeff Strong. In addition, many members of the Fire Department were present.
MRI
Mr. Duggan and Mr. Stickney of MRI began the discussion by reviewing their background and qualifications.
Mr. Duggan informed the Board that their study revealed that emphasis should be placed on the following areas within the North Reading Fire Department:
Ø Response Time
Ø Operational Safety
Ø Staffing
Ø Infrastructure Planning
Ø Reducing the Level of Internal Turmoil
Ø Restoring Public Trust and Credibility
Mr. Duggan reviewed the general observations MRI made of the Fire Department, stating that in general it is a good department but there exists a significant amount of turmoil which the department needs to overcome before it can move forward. Mr. Duggan emphasized that the department is stressed because of past events and political tensions.
Mr. Duggan reviewed the top ten findings of their analysis of the Fire Department as follows:
Ø Cost per call and per capita were above average
Ø Career staff should be added to reduce overtime and recall
Ø User fees should be used to create a position of Fire Inspector
Ø Firefighter safety should become a priority
Ø Recruitment program to develop a larger pool of on-call personnel
Ø A second unstaffed station should be developed
Ø Aggressively pursue Federal SAFER Grant
Ø Adjust shift strength up by one person to accommodate the “Two In, Two Out” rule
Ø Advanced life support should be developed
Mr. Duggan next discussed the following topics: benchmarking and comparative analysis, management, departmental staffing, apparatus facilities and equipment, training, communications and technology, and budget and finance.
Mr. Duggan reviewed MRI’s findings through comparative analysis with what MRI had identified as North Reading’s peer communities.
Mr. Mauceri opened up the discussion to questions from the Board.
Mr. Veno
Mr. Veno began by stating that he felt that the perception by the Fire Department that the public has lost faith and trust in them was inaccurate. Mr. Duggan agreed, stating that he didn’t find much indication of that in his study.
Mr. Veno asked Mr. Duggan to elaborate on the fees pertaining to the Fire Department responding to automobile accidents. Mr. Duggan explained the costs involved in responding to such calls and the likelihood that the fees would be covered by insurance companies.
Mr. Veno asked Mr. Duggan to elaborate on language on page three of the report that reads: “the public’s expectations are higher than the department’s capability”. Mr. Veno also asked for clarification on language on page four of the report pertaining to the deployment of existing apparatus.
Mr. Dardeno
Mr. Dardeno began his discussion by commending the department and agreeing with Mr. Veno’s statement about the public’s perception of the Fire Department.
Mr. Dardeno commented that he was disappointed that he did not have an opportunity to provide input to MRI as they conducted their study. Mr. Dardeno also stated that he didn’t feel that the communities that MRI had chosen as peer communities for North Reading were relevant because of their distance from North Reading. Mr. Dardeno asked the MRI representatives if they had looked at the “nuts and bolts” procedures and the documentation of the department.
Mr. Duggan responded to Mr. Dardeno’s comments. Regarding Mr. Dardeno not being interviewed by MRI, Mr. Duggan felt that there was a communication issue to blame for this oversight. Regarding peer communities, Mr. Duggan reviewed how the peers were selected based on criteria such as land area, population, DOR database, etc. Mr. Duggan noted that comparable departments within the Commonwealth were difficult to find. Mr. Duggan also noted that MRI had looked into the “nuts and bolts” operations of the department and had made some suggestions to Acting Chief Harlow.
Mr. O’Leary
Mr. O’Leary began his discussion by stating that he also didn’t believe that the public’s perception of the Fire Department is as poor as the Fire Department perceives it to be. Mr. O’Leary felt that there was a high level of interest surrounding the Brady incident, but that in general the Department is held in high regard by the community and the Board of Selectmen.
Regarding personnel and overtime, Mr. O’Leary stated that he supports the “Two In, Two Out” rule and that OSHA standards should be adopted. Mr. O’Leary also supports the notion of a centralized dispatch but noted that these items come with a cost.
Mr. O’Leary stated that with regards to overtime, this would have a direct impact on the personnel’s level of income. Mr. Duggan agreed, stating that it is a real issue but that there is also the awareness of safety issues.
Mr. Mauceri noted that the Board of Selectmen will use this study as a tool to begin a process and move forward to make some progress and changes to the benefit of all.
Mrs. Bailey
Mrs. Bailey commented that she agreed with her fellow Selectmen, that she had never heard anything but admiration and praise for the skills of the Department, and that she was sorry that past occurrences had put a damper on the department’s spirit.
Mrs. Bailey asked if there should be a policy in place with regards to property damage in order to prevent placing fire fighters at risk of injury. Specifically, Mrs. Bailey asked if a building is known to be unoccupied, should the Fire Department wait to go in until the OSHA standard is met.
Mr. Duggan commented that fire fighters find it very difficult to wait when a fire is in progress. Chief Harlow commented that lack of action by the department could develop into a public relations nightmare, and that it is difficult to know for sure if a building is unoccupied.
Mrs. Bailey reviewed the data regarding cost per call per capita as compared with the Town of Northborough. Mr. Duggan commented.
Mrs. Bailey stated that she would like to see the report used to create a plan, even if the town could not afford to implement it immediately.
Mr. Mauceri
Mr. Mauceri also echoed the board’s feelings on public perception of the Fire Department.
Regarding the lack of Fire Department input into the Police Station Project, Mr. Mauceri noted that there was a Fire Department liaison assigned to the PSBC. Acting Chief Harlow stated that initially that liaison was discouraged from providing input, but that there is now participation.
Mr. Mauceri asked Mr. Duggan what the town should be doing regarding grant opportunities. Mr. Duggan commented and Acting Chief Harlow noted that the Fire Department is on top of the grant applications.
Discussion
Acting Fire Chief Harlow stated that he found the report to be valid and accurate and noted that it is difficult to find other comparative communities. Regarding the public’s perception of the department and the Brady incident, Mr. Harlow noted that the healing process is improving and that an effort to open up the lines of communication between the Board of Selectmen and Fire Department would be beneficial. Mr. Harlow stated to the Board that their comments can sometimes have a negative impact on the morale at the Fire Department. Mr. Harlow indicated that he would like to see the report used to improve the department.
Mr. Strong stated on behalf of the Call Department, which currently has a staff of ten, that the recommendation to bring staffing up to fifteen is one which he supports. Mr. Strong asked that the on-call fire fighters get regular COLA increases. Also, Mr. Strong asked Mr. Balukonis to summarize the benefits to the on-call fire fighters should they get injured on the job.
Mr. Veno stated that he would like to see the board use the report within the town’s financial capabilities.
Mr. O’Leary queried Mr. Duggan about the relationship between the Board of Selectmen and the Fire Department. Mr. Duggan stated that he had heard that the fire fighters feel that the politicians do not support or listen to them.
Mr. O’Leary noted that some issues do take up a lot of the administrations time and that that is frustrating from the board’s point of view. Mr. Duggan mentioned that both sides should meet to air those issues out.
Mrs. Bailey noted that discussions about financials and management should not be taken as a personal affront to the department’s skills and abilities. Mrs. Bailey hoped that the topics in the study which do not have a financial impact be addressed in short order.
Mr. Mauceri thanked MRI and members of the Fire Department for their time. Mr. Mauceri suggested that after Town Meeting and the election, the topic should be brought up for discussion on how to proceed with the report. The topic will be placed on the May 15, 2006 agenda.
ADJOURN (9:45 PM)
I, MR. O’LEARY MOVE TO ADJOURN.
SECONDED BY: MR. VENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
_______________________________ ___________________________________
Date Joseph Veno, Clerk
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