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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-2000 Meeting I 911 ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE February 28,2000 - 911 Fourth Street 11 :00 A.M. PRESENT: Chief Few, Fire Dept., Chief 1. Hornsby, Blythe Fire Dept., S. Hatfield, Sheriff's Dept., S Smith, Marshal's Dept., Chief J. Lewis, Hephzibah Fire Dept., Captain V. Payton, Hephzibah Fire Dept., C. Oliver, Administrator, W. Hornsby, Deputy Administrator, E. Doss, Rural Metro Ambulance Service, D. Dlugolenski, EMA Director, J. Wall, Attorney, ChiefC. Walker, Fire Dept., L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, MEDIA: J. Brown, Channel 26. Election of Chairman. R. Oliver nominated Walter Hornsby. Seconded by Chief Few. E. Doss moved nominations be closed. Motion carried 9-0. Walter Hornsby appointed as Chairman. I Election of Vice Chairman. R. Oliver nominated Sid Hatfield. Seconded by Mr. 1. Hornsby. Motion carried 9-0. Sid Hatfield appointed as Vice Chairman. Consider approval ofthe Job Descriptions of Director, Assistant Director and Training Coordinator for the Augusta-Richmond County 911 Center and forward this as a recommendation to the Public Safety Committee. Chief Few: I would like to make a motion on the requirements for the Assistant Director and the Training Coordinator as far as education requirements be changed to a two-year degree and subsequently after that a four-year degree. Captain Payton: Second. Mr. Oliver: We'll say initially it's a two-year degree, but anybody coming in after will need a four-year degree. That's both the Assistant Director and the Training Coordinator. Motion carries 7-1-1 with S. Hatfield voting no, S. Smith not voting. Chief Few: On the education portion I think we added or related field, for all three. I Mr. Oliver: So move. Mr. Doss: Second. Motion carries unanimously. I Consider approval of the Policy and Procedures Manual of the Augusta-Richmond County 911 Center and forward this as a recommendation to the Public Safety Committee. Mr. Wasson: Legal counsel recommended some verbiage changes. Section 5.6 of the manual was omitted with a verb. On page thirteen, include County Administrator in the appeals process between the 911 Director and the 911 Advisory Committee Review Board. Section 5.5.1 on page fourteen in the previous version said within five days, was changed to ten days. Mr. Wall: That's what it is in the personnel manual. Mr. Oliver: An appeal effectively would come to Walter or myself and being that we are part of this committee does that put us in a conflict situation? Mr. Wall: That's the reason you were removed from the appeal board. The original version said that the 911 Advisory Committee Review Board that hears the disciplinary actions, there is a subcommittee, originally that had the Asst. Administrator on that committee and we removed him from that committee because he would be hearing it administratively. I Mr. Wasson: On page forty, Section 10.3 there is a change. Mr. Oliver: On page nine Section 4.4.3 is a grammar cleanup. Have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent. On page twelve, 4.18, you've given them twenty-four months to obtain necessary training to become certified as outlined in this section. That seems to be an awful long time. Mr. Wasson: That includes all training. Mr. Hornsby: About how long do you think it would take to get an individual trained? Mr. Wasson: This twelve-month requirement is for the Asst. Director and the Training Coordinator. So that they have the same training that their people will eventually have. As far as when you bring a new dispatcher in, from a total perspective, the ability to dispatch and demonstrative ability it will take a good year for that person to prove that they have the capabilities and then it will be an on going process. After six months somebody may be competent and can do some of the job, but they will be constantly asking questions and learning and learning. So six months to a year minimum for them to really to become somewhat of a competent dispatcher. I I Mr. Hornsby: So two years is really not asking to much to get them up get them up and going? Chief Few: I don't agree with that. I think you should know within six-months if a person is capable of handling the job. After further discussion, Mr. Wall: I think we're confusing two issues here. There is a probationary period of twelve months that's everywhere. This twenty-four month period only applies to current employees. If you read that sentence, it says, "those current employees that are working as of March 4", you're giving those employees twenty-four months. So somebody coming in off the street, they are a probationary employee, they have to achieve this, hopefully Phil and the Asst. Director will know within that twelve-months if they are capable of getting this certification. After further discussion: Mr. Hornsby: Phil can you and Chief get together before the next meeting and let us know what it is that he wants as far as the fire dispatch certification? Mr. Wasson: Ifhe wants it to be NFA we can make the change now. I Chief Few: I'll say either or and you would be okay. Mr. Hatfield: I would include both. Mr. Hornsby: Since we've had this manual before do you all want to approve this policy and procedures manual? Mr. Doss: So move to approve this manual here today. Mr. Dlugolenski: Second. Motion carries unanimously. Discussion of the final merge date for the Augusta-Richmond County 911 Center. I Mr. Oliver: I just want to make sure of one thing that I've heard. There maybe a couple of people from the Sheriff's department that wish to stay with the Sheriff's department. I think that if those spaces are available and those people want to do that they should be given that opportunity. I've heard the same thing on the Fire department. One thing I just want to make sure of is that ifthere are some people that want to stay in those various lines that we make it so that there is orderly transition so that the 911 Center is adequately staffed with enough senior people that can make that happen. So I would ask both the Sheriff's department and the Fire department as opportunities may come available if people want to go back, that's great, but to work with the 911 Director and perhaps give him thirty days notice to make sure he is adequately covered. Chief Few: The Director and I had some conversation about that. In the next couple of weeks we'll be putting together an entry-level process for those people who would like to come back over on the fire side. This will give them the opportunity to come back if they can pass the entry-level process. If they can't pass then they would have the opportunity to stay with him or find other employment. The pension is another Issue. I Mr. Wall: In so far as the pension is concerned I think that seems to be the main concern that some of the firefighters might lose their pension benefits while they're in the process of making the decision on whether they want to return to fire fighting or stay here. I have talked with both the administrator of the Firefighters Pension Fund as well as the Attorney, Tim Sweeney, who represents them. I think that we can put into place a mechanism ifit's the desire of this committee and ultimately the Commission where they won't forfeit any rights. It would be an administrative agreement where those firefighters would remain on the fire department payroll pending a determination as much as sixty days. In essence they would be on loan through an agreement between the fire department and 911 where they would work within the 911 Center during those sixty days. That would give them an opportunity to review their options as to whether or not they wanted to go to the fire department. They would not lose any pension benefits because of that interim type of arrangement between the fire department and the 911 Center. It would allow you to go ahead and make the mo\:,e March 4, leave those firefighters in the dispatch position, give them whatever you all decide, thirty or up to sixty days to transition. If the firefighters decide they want to return to the fire service versus being a 911 dispatcher and give him an oppurtunity to cross train people to replace those that may leave. I After further discussion, Mr. Dlugolenski: I'll make a motiQn to go forward with the effective date of March 4 with a sixty day transition migration plan developed by the Director in concert with the Sheriffs department and the Fire department. Mr. Doss: Second. Mr. Wall: And with an agreement between the Fire department and 911 that the Fire department employees would be on loan with 911 to reimburse the Fire department. Chief Few: I want to make a substitute motion that we hold that off until we know exactly what will happen with our pensions. Substitute dies for a lack of second. Motion carries 8-1 with Chief Few voting no. I I Other Business. Mr. Hornsby: When would you all like to have our next meeting? Mr. Wasson: I would recommend meeting before the next Committee Meeting on March 15. Mr. Oliver: I would like to see under other here and I need to rely on the Sheriff and Fire Departments, it's say "possession or ability to readily obtain state certification". Usually, what I've seen on that is, if someone comes in as an engineer from out of state they'll say "possess or be able to obtain within six months. So that it is not nebulous as it relates to how long you have to do it. Is that reasonable? Chief Few: For most people that come in from out of state that is a reasonable time to obtain one. Mr. Wasson: The state certification referred to in this code you have only six months to get it by law. I Mr. Oliver: So the way this is spelled out by the law, they have six months to obtain this certification. How about the Georgia Post, is there a six month requirement on that? Mr. Hatfield: I'm not sure. Mr. Wasson: Once again the Georgia Post requirement is for basic communication officer or for fire, it's not for basic law enforcement or for fire and it's all covered under that six months. Mr. Oliver: How important do you see the Georgia Post certification? Mr. Hatfield: I think the Georgia Post certification is important at all as it relates to communication. But, Post has a requirement as it relates to communication officer! dispatcher. They have a requirement and that is a six-month feature. Mr. Oliver: What I would suggest is that on the Asst. Director I would make it possession or ability to obtain within twelve-months. And my suggestion would be on the Post Instructor certification on the training officer and the EMD officer both of them be within twelve months as long as that's reasonable. After further discussion, I Mr. Oliver: I would move that the officers have to obtain those two certifications as quickly as possible, but not later than twelve months. Mr. Doss: Second. I Mr. Dlugolenski: Will they be removed from the position or revert back to dispatcher? Mr. Oliver: They can go back to dispatcher if there is a position available. Motion carries unanimously. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. I I