1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Havens called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Edward Havens
Deputy Mayor John P. Pelkey
Councillor William Aman
Councillor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Judith Paquin
Councillor Elizabeth Pendleton
Councillor Matthew Streeter
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
Town Attorney Barry D. Guliano
3. Public Participation - None
4. Communications - None
5. Town Manager's Report - None
6. Items for Discussion
A. South Windsor Volunteer Fire Department - Proposed New Fire House and Purchase of Two (2) New Fire Trucks
(See attached Exhibits A and B)
Fire Chief Philip Crombie, Jr. began by explaining that his presentation would consist of two sections - one concerning the long-range plan for apparatus and the other concerning the long-range plan for facilities. The response patterns for 2002 and 2003 were studied in order to assess the future needs with regard to both.
6. A. (Continued)
Apparatus Plan
The overall goal of this Plan is to provide the firefighting and support vehicles that are needed to deal with the most routine incidents. To manage the unusual demands, those types of incidents which occur once a twice a year, mutual aid and automatic aid are used.
Current apparatus includes pumpers, a ladder truck, a rescue truck, a command vehicle and a support vehicle. The pumpers provide the fire-fighting capability and come with their own water supply, either 500 or 1,000 gallons of water. (There are two pieces of apparatus which also carry foam.) They carry 1,500 feet of hose to take water from fire hydrants; and that single five-inch hose supplies the capacity of each of the pieces of apparatus. They carry ground ladders, roof ladders and an extension ladder to reach two or three stories, plus all other equipment. The modern apparatus of the Department seats between seven and ten firefighters.
As far as the response of pumpers, the Town is divided into areas and districts. The oldest of the four first-line pumpers is 17 years old, and the newest is about 8 years old. There is a reserve pumper, which is 32 years old, that is used when one of the other four is out for maintenance. The Plan looks at going with five first-line pumpers, with no reserve pumper, while still maintaining the current response pattern. This will make the reserve pumper a first-line pumper, and the usage would be better managed.
The aerial apparatus is used for elevated rescues with fire apparatus for buildings between three and seven stories, depending upon how close to the building the apparatus can be. This carries a large supply of ground ladders to access other portions of the building. The current ladder capability is an 80-foot straight ladder with a nozzle on the end, which responds to all of the reported structure fires throughout Town and selected rescue calls if the call involves elevated reaches. It is eighteen years old. The Plan looks to replace the current ladder with a 100 foot tower, which is a ladder that has a bucket on the end. This will provide a greater reach and the bucket will provide fire fighters with a platform and improves their safety. The Plan looks to add an additional aerial piece of apparatus in
2010; and this would fill out the first response
6. A. (Continued)
capabilities so that two engines and a ladder could respond to two incidents occurring simultaneously.
The rescue apparatus is 8 years old and carries a wide variety of tools for a number of different types of rescue operations. It responds to all reported structure fires throughout Town and all rescue situations. It does not respond to smaller types of fires, such as vehicle and brush fires. This apparatus is not slated for replacement until 2010. As part of the rescue capability, the Department also has a boat. The Plan looks to replace that boat for use in the Connecticut River in 2010. So that they can continue to maintain a single piece of rescue apparatus, the Plan looks to add a trailer which could carry large items and infrequently used items. The trailer would be towed by the Department's utility vehicle.
The command vehicle provides the mobile office space for the Incident Commander. This is a vehicle which provides communications capability; it has reference materials, information on hazardous materials, etc. This is the four-wheel drive Expedition which is used by the Incident Commander evenings and weekends. The utility vehicle is currently used during the day by the daytime Incident Commander, and has been used for the last two years. Prior to that, the Fire Marshal, who was the daytime incident commander, used his vehicle in the daytime. The Plan looks at having two of those command vehicles each equally equipped, so that their usage could be split days and then evenings/weekends; and so that there would be the capability of responding to simultaneous incidents.
The Plan is to return the support vehicle to its intended purpose, towing the boat, rather than using it for the daytime Incident Commander. The rescue trailer, which was discussed previously, would be used by the support company-those non-firefighting individuals who provide the rehabilitation and deliver spare equipment to fire scenes and for towing the fire safety trailer. Currently, because of the command duty that the utility vehicle is getting in the daytime, it takes some effort to free that up to be used for its intended purposes.
The Fire Department is included in the funds that the Town provides to maintain the vehicles throughout the year-fuel, repair, maintenance, testing, etc., which is done for about $46,000 per year. Page 6 of attached
6. A. (Continued)
Exhibit A was referenced, specifically the "Vehicle Replacement Plan" chart. The cost of vehicles as the years progress increases by 2 percent per year.
In summarizing the Apparatus Plan, Chief Crombie said that the Apparatus Plan would include continuing the number of pumpers, but moving from four and a reserve piece of equipment to five first-line pumpers; replacing the ladder with a tower and adding a second aerial apparatus after 2010; maintaining the current rescue vehicle and replacing it on its replacement schedule; adding a second command vehicle; maintaining the support vehicle; replacing the boat in 2010, and adding a trailer which would be towed by that support vehicle to carry the large equipment which can't be carried easily on the rescue apparatus.
Facilities Plan
There are currently three fire stations, and there are a number of issues at each of those locations.
The Fire Headquarters was built in 1978. It has three double apparatus bays, which means that one apparatus can be parked behind the other. There is also administrative space used for the Fire Department, the Fire Marshal and the two part-time Fire Inspectors, plus a meeting room. The roof on that station is currently being replaced.
The original portion of Station Two was built in 1958; in 1987 the apparatus bay was added and the old apparatus bay was converted to office and meeting space. Two pieces of apparatus can be fit in this facility.
Station Three was built in 1966. Two apparatus bays are drive-through bays, but they are 66 feet deep, which is not deep enough for modern fire apparatus. The modern pumper is about 34 to 35 feet long, with the ladder which extends off the back. Two engines could not be back to back. The height of the doors places additional limitations on what apparatus can be housed there.
6. A. (Continued)
The three stations are managed with the budgeted funds which they receive, with the exception of mowing, which is done by the Town. All of the stations lack administrative space. The conference room and training room at the Fire Headquarters are currently used as offices, which leaves only the meeting room available for training space. There is limited space for outside training at each of the three stations, and there is an issue with parking and driveway situations at both the Fire Headquarters and Station Three. When the meeting room at the Fire Headquarters is used, there is not enough parking space for the capacity of the room, and there is limited office space at the other two stations.
Station Three is not connected to sewers. It lacks the modern exterior parking area drainage and the interior drainage. The bay height and length limits the ability to house apparatus and is approaching forty years with the heating and electrical systems.
The Work Session was recessed in order to call to order two public hearings and the Regular Meeting. Following the Public Hearings, the Regular Meeting was called to order and recessed, and the Work Session was then reconvened.
The current facilities-the three fire stations-total about 24,000 square feet with 10 vehicle bays for fire apparatus and other vehicles. The Plan would maintain three stations, but replace Station Three with a new station, the total square footage being about 40,000 square feet. The vehicle bays would be increased to about 16. This would provide improved administrative and training facilities for the Fire Department, as well as the ability to house the modern fire apparatus of today, and the ability to allow the apparatus to be moved from station to station without having to determine whether it would fit.
The Plan also looks at combining the facility with the Ambulance Corps, and the appendices in the Facilities Plan include what the Ambulance Corps and the Fire Department have looked at, in concept, in terms of the space and the usage of that space. Under that Plan, the location of Station Three would not be suitable, as it would be difficult to operate out of the location at Route 5 and Sullivan Avenue and cover the Town with an appropriate response time. It has also been a difficult location for the
6. A. (Continued)
Fire Department, in that it is remote from where the firefighters are. Because it is in an industrial area, it takes some time for the firefighters to get to the current Station Three to respond with apparatus. It cannot, however, be located too far from its current location and still meet the requirements for the Fire Department response of the Insurance Services Office.
In terms of this Plan, it would be necessary to acquire land, develop a design, and determine how to fund the project. In looking at fire stations which have been built around the country in the last year or two, the cost for those facilities varies between $175 per square foot and $200 per square foot. Therefore, a facility of the square footage of the current Fire Headquarters would be between $3 million and $4 million.
The time schedule is not critical at this time. The current location of Station Three is difficult and becomes more difficult after 2010 when they purchase the second aerial apparatus (if the Council agrees to that) because the current facility where that type of apparatus fits is the Fire Headquarters; it cannot fit anywhere else. The Department is existing now at the other stations with the space they have, but they are cramped.
Mr. Galligan interjected that, as far as a time frame is concerned, it would be set by the Council. The Space Needs Committee is examining other space needs, and the Committee is being expanded to include members of the Board of Education. He said that if something were to be done in a relatively quick period of time, then it would be feasible to start looking a property this year with the idea of going to referendum in November of 2005. He said that the Space Needs Committee needs to investigate this, together with the Fire Department and the Public Building Commission; and he suggested that they look at the Police Department at the same time.
Deputy Mayor Pelkey, stating that most of the vehicles discussed as part of the Apparatus Plan have not been identified as Capital Projects and, as such, would put a major strain on the Capital Projects funding. Therefore, it would most likely have to go to a referendum. With regard to a more specific time frame, Chief Crombie said that with regard to a new facility, it would probably be within the next two to three years. As far as capital
6. A. (Continued)
projects funding and apparatus, he said that the ladder was moved off and replaced by the pumper. They are looking at the potential of funding at least the trailer from another source, such as a grant. He said that the dates in the Plan, as presented this evening, are aggressive; but somewhat flexible.
Referring to the aerial truck, Chief Crombie said that it would be under a lease/purchase program.
Councillor Aman, referring to the topic of the piece of land for the Fire Department, said that the Council would not be able to wait to go to Referendum if an appropriate piece of land became available. It would have to be considered right away.
Chief Crombie stated that the Apparatus Plan looks at a 15-year period of time, so those purchases, additions and replacements would occur during that period of time. The Facilities Plan would be in a particular year, and they would continue to look at the maintenance and upkeep of those buildings in their budget as they do now. He said that the Fire Department has purchased fire apparatus in recent times through a lease/purchase option where they pay off the cost of the apparatus over four or five years and then own that apparatus.
Continuing, Chief Crombie said that there is an apparatus committee in the Fire Department currently preparing specifications for the next pumper. Once they go out to bid and the company is selected, there is an 8 to 10 month lead time. They attempt to sell old apparatus on the used equipment market if it is still a good piece of fire apparatus, or sell it on the used truck market if it can no longer be used as fire apparatus.
Councillor Pendleton asked whether Station Three meets OSHA standards, and Chief Crombie responded that there are standards for diesel exhaust, but it is more of an issue in fire stations where there are living facilities for firefighters. Because of the time that people are in the station in South Windsor when the equipment is starting up and going out, there isn't a need to look at controlling the diesel exhaust.
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor Delnicki asked if this would lend itself to a 6320 corporation and the Town Manager responded that it would. The Councillor said that this might be a solution, and he expressed his support for the Plan.
Councillor Fine, acknowledging the various issues at the fire stations, noted that the land on which Station Three sits is valuable and there shouldn't be a problem selling it and using the funding for the purchase of new land.
7. Executive Session - None
8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
Attachments - Exhibits A and B
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