March 2008 Meeting
The firefighters met on March 19th at Mitchell Fire Company No. 3, Burlington City Station 903. Association President Jeff Boileau called the meeting to order at 20:00 hours. Past President Ken Anderson gave an Invocation. Mr. Boileau introduced Mitchell Company President Mike Adams who welcomed the firefighters. Mr. Joe Arnao motioned to thank Mitchell Fire Company and Auxiliary for their hospitality.
The secretary read the minutes from the February 20th meeting at Delran Fire Company No 2. Mr. Don Cobb motioned to accept the minutes as read, Mr. Mike Willits seconded; the minutes were accepted. The treasurer was absent so no report was given. No report was received from the County Fire Marshal.
Mr. Ken Anderson reported on the County Chiefs meeting held at Station 701, Riverside. The Department of Health will not be required to respond to fumes calls; they will continue to respond to Hazmat incidents and calls involving multi-family dwellings. W.U.I. guidelines previously read have been adopted. Strike Team Leader training is being worked on. The chiefs did receive a report from the County Fire Marshal. There have been two fatal fires in a short period; these illustrate the need to maintain working smoke detectors. A rehabilitation committee has been formed and work is in progress.
Past President Lee Daneker reported on the Fire Marshals Association’s March meeting at Station 272, Westampton. There is a focus on Autism Awareness Training. A study was discussed that involved an audible alarm drill at a residential dwelling. While the family members responded appropriately to the fire alarm, an autistic child did not and remained in place with ears covered. A solution offered was to use detectors with a human voice; preferably the parent’s announcing the alarm. School lockdown procedures are being reviewed.
Mr. Ed Downs reported on the fire police meeting locations. Mr. Don Cobb reported that the County Exempt Association would meet at the end of March. Mr. Daneker reported that the Emergency Services Advisory Board did not meet in March and will in April. Mr. Anderson presented his report on legislation affecting the fire service.
The County Memorial Service Committee will be meeting in the beginning of April. The service is set for May 21st, the third Wednesday in May. The Sunshine Committee announced three deaths: Ted Mitre Sr., John Majoros, and James P. Janson Sr.
Communications:
A letter was received from Beverly City for an event. There has been no representation from Beverly City to the Association so the letter was discarded. The President asked the secretary to read a letter from him to the company chiefs giving instructions for the May Memorial Service. The secretary presented a statistics report from the Association’s website host that shows how much and what type of Internet traffic occurred on the website in the month of February. This report is received on the last day of every month.
New Business:
Mr. Boileau has permission to place a file cabinet at the Training Center to store Firefighter Association documentation. He asked for a motion to purchase a file cabinet for this purpose. Mr. Don Cobb motioned for the purchase, Mr. Chris Barnes seconded; the motion was carried. Mr. Cobb also added that there are Association records at the Burlington Township Municipal building.
Mr. Boileau also suggested that the Association lease a post office box for all Association correspondence. There was discussion on the proposal and it was decided that mail should go to the member handling each office rather than a central address.
April 2008 Meeting
The firefighters met on April 16th at Washington Fire Company, Delran Station 111. Association President Jeff Boileau opened the meeting at 20:00 hours and introduced Chief Mohrmann who welcomed the firefighters. Mr. Joe Arnao motioned to thank Washington Fire Company for their hospitality, the motion carried. Past President Ken Anderson gave an invocation.
The secretary read the minutes from the March meeting; the Memorial Service date in May was incorrect. The Treasurer reported on March and April financial activities.
Mr. Paul Miller gave a report on the County Chiefs meeting that was held in Willingboro. It was reported that Chief Devlin resigned as president and Chief Liberatore assumed the office. The Sweetwater Tower is scheduled to be on-line soon and the digital paging system needs reworking. The cost of the “Firehouse Software” has risen and is being looked into. A Rehabilitation SOP is being worked on. There was no report received from the County Fire Marshal. There also was no report from the Fire Police; however, they will be meeting at Station 231 in the next week.
Mr. Don Cobb reported on the County Exempt Firemen’s Association meeting from March 31st at Delanco Station 111. Mr. Cobb reported on the Firemen’s Home, the administrator resigned, more details would follow. The firemen’s home renovation is continuing. The Masonic Home in Burlington is being considered as a possible South Jersey Firemen’s Home location. A State Exempt Association Memorial Service will be held on April 19th in Paulsboro. The State Exempt Association’s convention will be held on August 30th at Boonton, NJ. There will be a raffle drawling at the convention. The current Exempt Association headquarters will be closed and the new location will be in Kenilworth, NJ. Transportation for the residents of the Firemen’s Home to the Wildwood Convention is being arranged.
Mr. Lee Daneker gave a report from the Emergency Services Advisory Board meeting on April 4th. Training Center news: The Fire Tracks program is being worked on; an ID card type program will be the first component with accountability being the second component to be developed. The burn building project is going out to bid within 60 days. Bids will specify costs for rebuilding the existing burn building first or build a new propane building first. There is a vacancy for a fifth senior instructor position. A vehicle storage garage building location is still in the planning stage. A second power generator is needed as a back up to the primary power generator. Digital paging is needed as a back up to the existing paging system. The Lifetime Achievement Award applications will be reviewed at a special meeting.
The County Farm Fair date is set, more information to follow. Mr. Anderson gave a report on Legislation affecting the Fire Service. The report is attached to the minutes. The Memorial Service will be held on May 21st and dress uniforms are suggested. The Firefighters Association offers special thanks to Mr. Joe Arnao for arranging for the Firefighter’s memorial wreath in past services. The secretary offered the BCFA website statistical report. Website hits are increasing and a “News and Events” page has been added. The Sunshine committee had no report. Mr. Chris Barnes from Evesham reported that Mr. Bill Stone also from Evesham is very ill. A card was sent to Mr. Stone.
Mr. Anderson had several announcements of upcoming events. The New Jersey Fire and Emergency Medical Services Institute will be hosting their first annual dinner and meeting on May 19th. Ticket information was provided and posted on the BCFA website. The secretary motioned that the association buy a dinner ticket so that President Boileau could attend, Mr. Anderson seconded; the motion was carried. Mr. Anderson also reminded the association of the Saint Florien’s Day service to be held at Saint Andrews Church in Mount Holly on May 4th.
There were 22 in attendance. The next meeting will be held following the County Memorial Service. The service will be on May 21st at the monument on the public safety building grounds or in the training center auditorium if raining.
May 2008:
Due to the weather related change of location for the Memorial Service, the May meeting was for information only; there was no business conducted.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ray Di Patri
Association Secretary