MINUTES OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF  APRIL 15, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order by President Cagney at 8:00 a.m.  The oath of office was administered by President Cagney to Al Kotlarz.  On a roll call of Trustees, the following Trustees answered present:  Arends, Cagney, Tammen, Kotlarz and Weidman.

 

In addition, present ex oficio:  Chief Gould, Deputy Chief Jones, Deputy Chief Smith and Attorney Daday. 

 

SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

Consideration of the minutes of the March 18, 2008 meeting of the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District. 

 

After a short discussion, Trustee Arends made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted with a second by Trustee Tammen.  The motion carried unanimously.     

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Trustee Tammen presented the Treasurer’s report from the status of accounts report and the cash flow spreadsheets.  President Cagney requested an explanation of how ambulance fees were charged and where that figure came from.  There was a discussion of the tax levies and income for the District.  Deputy Chief Jones indicated that we had received approximately $1.5 million dollars in the calendar year 2008.   He believed that they were still somewhat short.  He also indicated that the tax levy payments would catch up from Cook County.  After a short discussion, Trustee Weidman made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report as submitted with a second by Trustee Arends.   The motion carried unanimously as follows:

 

            Ayes:  Arends, Weidman, Kotlarz, Tammen, Cagney.

            Nays:  Zero.

 

PRESENTATION OF THE BILLS

 

Deputy Chief Jones presented the bills for payment from the register report dated April 14, 2008.  Deputy Chief Jones reviewed several items in the check detail report.  After a short discussion, Trustee Tammen made a motion to approve the payment of the bills as submitted with a second by Trustee Arends.  The motion carried unanimously as follows:

 

Ayes:    Tammen, Arends, Kotlarz, Weidman, Cagney.

Nays:   Zero.

 

 

Chief Gould presented the bill for the purchase of the new fire engine.  He requested that that bill be paid in the amount of $278,062.00 and that it be paid from the operating account of the District.   After a short discussion, Trustee Tammen made a motion to approve the payment of the bill submitted with a second by Trustee Weidman.  The motion carried unanimously as follows:

 

            Ayes:  Tammen, Weidman, Arends, Kotlarz, Cagney.

            Nays:  Zero.

 

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD: 

 

None

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

CHIEF’S REPORT

 

The Chief presented his report from his attached written report.  He reviewed the activities for the month.  President Cagney asked the Chief to explain the District’s relationship with Red Center.  The Chief explained that Red Center was the dispatching facility that the District used to dispatch for fire calls and ambulance calls.   He also explained the process of what occurs when a citizen or individual calls 911 and how the calls are handled. 

 

Review of Five Year Plan -  President Cagney passed out some sheets with regard to certain assumptions that were made with respect to the Five Year Plan.  He was interested in discussion with respect to the validity of the assumptions of the Five Year Plan.  Trustee Kotlarz asked whether at the airport there would ever be a need for a separate company dedicated to responding to crashes on the airport.  The Chief indicated he did not feel that that was the case nor would that be appropriate since that if necessary that would be handled by the airport itself. 

 

Discussion was had with regard to future tax referenda including the timing and strategy of any tax referenda. 

 

Delivery of the New Fire Engine – The Chief indicated that the fire engine was to be delivered within the next few days.  He indicated that it would probably be placed in service on or before May 1, 2008.

 

Fire Commission  Report – No report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Review and award bid for breathing apparatus -  Deputy Chief Smith reviewed the bids for the air compressor purchase.  He indicated in his written recommendation that he recommended the Air One Proposal.   After a short discussion, Trustee Tammen made a motion to approve the purchase of the compressor from Air One in an amount not to exceed $38,000.00.  Motion was seconded by Trustee Weidman and carried unanimously as follows:

 

            Ayes:  Tammen, Weidman, Arends, Kotlarz, Cagney.

            Nays:  Zero.

 

Review of SAFER Grant -  The Chief indicated that he had put together further information with regard to the SAFER Grant that the District had pursuant to its direction.   He indicated that they had accepted the Grant.   Discussion was had with regard to the timing of the hiring of new firefighters.  The discussion was that the new firefighters hoped to be in place and offers made in the first quarter of 2009. 

 

Trustee Weidman made a motion to direct staff to move forward with the hiring process of the three additional firefighters.  The motion was seconded by Trustee Tammen and carried unanimously.

 

Trustee Workshop – Chief Gould indicated that he was recommending that the Board schedule a date for a workshop to discuss issues of importance to the District in a rather informal setting.  Discussion was had about the impact on the Open Meetings Act and Attorney Daday indicated that it would be subject to the Open Meetings Act.  Chief Gould was going to suggest several dates sometime in the next few months to facilitate the workshop.

 

Northbrook Automatic Aid – The Chief indicated that Northbrook had forwarded an Automatic Aid agreement.  He felt that that was something that has been done informally over the last several years and that this was a formalization of that arrangement.  After a short discussion, Trustee Tammen made a motion to approve the Automatic Aid agreement with Northbrook seconded by Trustee Kotlarz.   The motion carried unanimously.

 

Appointment to the Pension Board -   By statute, the President appoints certain members to the Pension Board.   The Chief requested the re-appointment of Tim Jones to a 3-year term.  President Cagney accepted that recommendation and appointed Tim Jones to an additional 3-year term to the Pension Board.

 

OTHER MATTERS:

 

President’s Report:

 

President Cagney indicated that he was not going to be available on May 20th for the next scheduled meeting.  Discussion was had and the meeting date was changed to May 22, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.  President Cagney also asked about District goals for 2008.  The Chief indicated that those were in the Board binder and that could be a subject for discussion at the Trustee workshop. 

 

Attorney’s Report:        None.

 

Closed Session:  None.

 

Adjournment:

 

After a short discussion, Trustee Kotlarz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 a.m. seconded by Trustee Weidman.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

                                                            _______________________________________

                                                            Thomas Weidman, Secretary