Spencer Fire Department

Regular Membership Meeting

January 11, 2009

 

The meeting was called to order by President Ed Brown at 8:01pm with 19 members present.  The minutes from December 2009s meeting were read. 

 

Motion: Derek Grier - Accept the reading of the minutes, seconded by Brian Wackowicz,

carried by membership.

 

Report of Fires and Other Emergencies:  Given by Chief Chris Garland

          12/14/2009 – 12/31/2009            

18 calls: 1 MVA, 1 Mutual Aid, and 16 EMS

Total of: 223 calls for 2009

1/1/2010 – 1/11/2010

 10 calls: 1 Chimney Fire, 1 Mutual Aid, 1 Other, and 7 EMS

Total of: 10 calls for 2010

 

          Breakdown of calls for 2009:

1 House Fire, 13 Trash and Grass Fires, 1 Chimney Fire, 5 False Alarms, 9 MVAs, 1 Vehicle Fire, 1 Forest Fire, 2 Mobile Home Fires,

1 Business Fire, 11 Miscelleaneous Calls, 17 Mutual Aid,

161 First Responder

 

Application for membership: 

          Kim Smith was approved by trustees and voted into the department this evening. 

          Welcome to the Department!

           

Communications, Bills and Receipts:

          1. WIC Program: $35.00 for room rental

              Food Cupboard:  Thank You Note for donation

          2. Big M: $358.22

    s-Go: $100.00  (for website)

          3. NYSEG:  Fire Dept will be dispatched to scene of Natural Gas odor.  NYSEG                       crews will also be dispatched.

Action: Ed Brown will be responding to NYSEG via email that we have

reviewed the notice from NYSEG

         

Motion: Josh Smith - Accept all donations and pay all bills, seconded by Brian

Wackowicz, carried by membership.

 

Committee Reports:

          1. Pancake Breakfast:

                    December 2009: We served 186 people and took in $713.58.

For the year of 2009:  We served a total of 1336 people and took in $5577.34.

                    January 2010: We served 196 people and took in $841.50.

                   

          2. Jackets:

DISCONTINUED

                   

          3. NEW Family Picnic:

                    Chair: Cindy Ervay

                    Helpers: Robbie Ervay, Hazel Saikkonen, Josh Smith

                    Date: June 5, 2010 – Tenative

         

4. Trackster:

- We have only have had one offer on the Trackster for $2200.00 by Scott

Cooper from Binghamton.  It is not as much as what we paid, but it is a good offer.  The offer is only for the Trackster.  The trailer and tank are not included.

- Motion: Derek Grier - Sell the Trackster for $2200, seconded by Brian

Wackowicz, carried by membership.

         

          5. NEW Trackster Replacement:

Josh Smith: An acquaintance at Cargill has a 2008 Rhino 450 that is

almost brand new.  It only has gone through about 2 tanks of fuel.  He wants $6000.00 for it.  A comparable 2009 leftover Rhino 450 will cost about $9000.00 from CNY.  You can find a used 4wheeler for about $2,000.00, but it will be used and might have other problems.  The trailer we currently have is big enough for a Rhino and the tank from the Trackster will fit in the bed of the Rhino.  There is a possibility of bringing the Rhino to Spencer to try out.  Josh Smith would like to see something replacing the Trackster before spring. 

 

Action: Josh Smith will talk to his acquaintance at Cargill and see if we can

have the Rhino brought down to look at and try out.

 

Jen Grier: We have three breakfasts left this year. 

Historically, breakfasts with a purpose to purchase equipment have brought in more money than regular breakfasts.

         

Trustees Report:  Given by Trustee Chris Lester

1. One application – reviewed, accepted and voted in (tonight).

2. Changes in bylaws:  Chris Lester recommends a meeting to be open to

membership for suggestions.

 

Meeting: Bylaws Review and Amendment meeting will be held Thursday,

February 4 at 7 pm in the meeting room.

3. Finance meeting– The goal is to finish the 2008 audit, start going over 2009 records, and finish the 501(c)3 application.

 

Meeting: Scheduled for January 18 at 10:00am in the meeting room.

 

Chaplain’s Report:  Given by Chaplain Amy Crance

1.     We had a member pass away: Claude Van Riper.  He was a member of

SFD and the squad. 

 

2.     Action: Amy Crance will be picking up the plaques for fallen members

tomorrow (Tuesday).

         

Treasurer Report:  Given by Treasurer Jen Grier

          Checking:               $1039.32

          Savings:                   7645.38

          Special Savings:          250.24

                                        $8934.94      Total Balance

 

          2009 Statistics:

                    Made:           $11,221.81

                    Spent:           12,939.12

                                        $   1717.31

 

Old / Unfinished Business:

          None

 

New Business:

1.     Cindy Ervay:  Are we going to be purchasing carnations for the February

Pancake Breakfast?  We always have in the past.

                   

Jen Grier:  We usually spend 75.00 for carnations (about $1.00 each)

 

Motion: Dave Crance - Purchase carnations for the February Pancake

Breakfast ($100.00 maximum), seconded by Amy Crance, carried by membership.

 

Action: Cindy Ervay will pick up carnations.

         

2.     Louise Smith: Suggesting: 2 cabinets and that every member brings in a

non-perishable item for the cabinet each month and any appliance they are not using.  We can use freezer to have meatballs and other food items readily available. 

                   

Jen Grier: Suggests that locks are placed on the doors to keep hungry

members out after practices.

 

Ed Brown:  Suggests that Louise Smith puts together a list of non-

perishables that she would like to have in the cabinets.

 

Louise Smith: Suggests that the chiefs take something out of cabinet to

make dinner for meeting nights to help save money.  She will donate an electric skillet.

 

3.     Dave Crance: Suggesting that the first responders are going out on too many

minor calls and was wondering if there was any way to get back to old ways, where there were not as many minor calls?

 

Derek Grier:  Minor calls are good sometimes because the person may

not know they have something more serious wrong with them.

 

                    Dave Crance: Satisfied with the information brought up.

 

4.     Al Wackowicz:  Provided everyone with a map of town and village streets.  He

would like any information that members feel would be helpful for other members, such as house numbering, senior living locations, crossroads that no longer go through, new roads that go through, water supply locations, trailer park numbering…etc.  Notes should be back to Al Wackowicz by the next meeting.

 

Action:  Al will handle the lamination of maps and collection of notations.

 

Al Wackowicz will aim to have it all done and ready by March.  There will

be a Fire Police practice on March 5.

 

5.     Robbie Ervay: Tioga County labels calls either a 2 (completed) or N (not

responding).  We do not get credit for N’s.  This affects our status and may affect us getting grants. 

 

Action: Someone will have to call, either radio or by phone, in route or

back in service.

         

6.     Josh Smith:  Reports that 1041 was dead the other day.  This truck needs to

be driven more often.  Josh Smith will try to remember to bring the truck over for practice nights.

 

Ed Brown:  Asked if 1041 could be added to response for MVAs?  It has

the big traffic control light bar.

 

                    Josh Smith : Suggests that Al Wackowicz  use it for traffic control for

accidents to move from place to place in order to help coordinate the traffic control efforts.

                   

 

 

7. Josh Smith:  Next Tuesday – Snow Rescue training for practice. 

Would like to remind members to dress warm and be ready to be outside.  The scenarios will be played out from a fire department standpoint.

         

8. Jen Grier:  Squad will be in desperate need of daytime drivers soon.  Bud will

be 75 in two weeks and will be retiring.  He currently drives three days per week.

 

          9. Ed Brown: Rhino 450 for $6,000

Josh Smith: Suggests to allocate the money gained from selling the

Trackster to a special fund for another UTV.

 

Al Wackowicz: Suggests that we ask Josh Smith’s acquaintance at Cargill 

who is selling the Rhino for the first option if he’s going to sell it.  He does not seem to not be in a hurry to sell.

 

Jen Grier: In the past, we have seen a significant increase in pancake

breakfast revenue when we allocated that money towards a major purchase that we would like to make.

 

Josh Smith:  We can approach businesses to see if they would like to

donate towards a new utility vehicle.

 

Robbie Ervay:  We should set the Trackster money in another account for

a utility vehicle.

 

Ed Brown: Seems that the general consensus is that we will not be buying

the Rhino in the next couple of months.  Let’s try to allocate more

money towards that cause.

 

                    Chris Lester:  Suggests we hold a Fish Fry to raise more money for the

Rhino fund.

 

                    Jen Grier: Brings up the fact that Lent is right around the corner.              

 

                    Chris Lester:  Doug’s Fish Fry has a Fish to Go set up and gives a lot of

donations. 

 

Action: Brian Wackowicz: Stop in to Doug’s Fish Fry and check to see

what they can do to either come here to do the fish fry for us or just getting the fish from them.

 

                    Action: Chris Lester: Will talk to Wegmans about fish and/or fish fry.

 

Ed Brown:  Reminds the membership that we need a 501(c)3 number

before we can deal with any big company with regards to donations.

 

          10. NEW Fish Fry Committee:  Chris Lester, Brian Wackowicz, Hazel Saikkonen.

 

          11. Ed Brown:  Goals for the Year of 2010:

1.     Bylaws amended

2.     Planned Training Program

3.     Fundraising (in general)

4.     Recruiting New Members

 

12. Chris Garland: The cluster is back in 1052 and we should not have any

further problems.

 

13. 2009 Year End Report

- House:                 1

- Trash and Grass: 13

- Chimney:              1

- False Alarm:         5

- MVA:                    9

- Vehicle:                1

- Forest:                 1

- Mobile Home:       2

- Business:              1

- Misc:                              11

- Mutual Aid:           17

- First Responder:   161

- GRAND TOTAL:   223    

 

                    The member-made call count is posted on bulletin board.

         

14. Chris Garland: Mr. Forbes is offering an alternate fuel class – Tenatively

scheduled for February 3 from 6:00pm until 10:00pm at our station.

                   

Clean Up:

          Bill Miller, Chris Lester, and Ed Brown.

 

50/50 Raffle Winner:

          Hazel Saikkonen of $11.25.

 

Motion: Derek Grier - Bypass the reading the minutes, seconded by Hazel Saikkonen,

carried by membership.

 

Meeting closed at 9:25pm in prayer by Chaplain Amy Crance.

 

Minutes of this meeting were submitted by Secretary Sarah Smith.