MAINE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Monday, March 6, 2017
(Unanimously Approved on Monday, June 5, 2017)
Chair Dan Brooks called the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission to order at 9:06 a.m. in Room 438, State House, Augusta. Fire Commission members attending today’s meeting included John Arsenault, Stephan Bunker, Senator Scott Cyrway, Gerry Gay, James Graves, Steven Greeley, Chief Joseph Guyotte, Representative Thomas Longstaff, Representative Catherine Nadeau, Vicki Schmidt, Charles Soltan, Representative Timothy Theriault, Chief Joseph Thomas, Chief Michael Thurlow, Chief Larry Willis (RET) and Susan Pinette (staff). Members excused included Senator Brownie Carson, Bruce Fitzgerald, Matt Gomes, Ron Green, Chief Thomas Higgins, Harty Norris, and Shaun St. Germaine. The Fire Commission welcomed the following guests to the meeting: three former Fire Commission members- Representative Michel Lajoie of Lewiston, Chief (RET) Jeffrey Cammack of the Bangor Fire Department and Executive Director of the Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association, and Alex McPhedran of the Readfield Fire Department; Jim Roy, Deputy Director of the Maine Fire Service Institute; and Chief William Gillespie of the Liberty Fire Department.
The Fire Commission is pleased to welcome two new members- Representative Catherine Nadeau of Winslow and Representative Thomas Longstaff of Waterville. Representative Nadeau is starting her third term in the House of Representatives and Representative Longstaff is starting his fourth term. Both Representative Nadeau and Representative Longstaff are members of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Representative Longstaff also serves on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee.
A motion by John Arsenault, seconded by Chief Larry Willis, to accept the meeting minutes of January 9, 2017. The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Reports
The 2017 Spring Joint Conference Committee announced that over one hundred people have pre-registered for the upcoming conference. The 2017 Joint Conference is scheduled for March 29-31st at the Sunday River Grand Summit Resort Hotel and Conference Center in Newry, a site that Committee members say continues to be popular with participants and vendors. The Joint Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29th at 4pm, location to be determined.
The Municipal Needs Committee updated the Fire Commission on their progress and goals for the following year. Steve Bunker was named Chair and will be assisted by members Mike LaJoie and Bill Gillespie.
The Education and Training Strategy Committee reported that they have not met since January, but have continued to refine their data from the surveys and are working on developing a solid plan for the grant program. Committee members informed the Fire Commission that immediate plans were to speak at Wednesday, March 29th’s Joint Meeting and to host a table in the Hall of Flags at the Fire Service Day at the State House. The Committee intends to schedule an informational discussion before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and is working on a three to four page packet of materials.
Article 3, Section 1 of the Fire Commission bylaws states “Elections of officers shall be held at the regularly scheduled meeting in April, which shall be deemed the Fire Commission’s Annual Meeting, or if no regularly scheduled meeting is held in April, then the election shall be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Fire Commission.” The Elections Committee is tasked with presenting candidates for the five officer positions prior to the Fire Commission’s Annual Meeting. Members of the Elections Committee are Charlie Soltan, Chair, and Gerry Gay and John Arsenault. The Committee reported that all current Fire Commission officers have indicated they want to continue to serve, and unless other candidates come forward, the Committee will submit the following slate for consideration:
Chief Dan Brooks- Chair
Gerry Gay- First Vice Chair
John Arsenault- Second Vice Chair
Ron Green- Secretary
Chief Mike Thurlow- Treasurer
Old Business
The Fire Commission originally was scheduled to host Maine Fire Service Day at the State House on Wednesday, February 8th but cancelled due to a conflict with an off-site Legislative event. Due to a recent cancellation, the Fire Commission was given the opportunity to host another day- Tuesday, May 9th (later changed to Tuesday, May 2nd) from 8am until 10am. Fire Commission members agreed and arrangements were made for informational displays, brochures, posters and refreshments. Members also agreed to change the date of the Annual Meeting to Tuesday, May 2nd following the Hall of Flags event.
Fire Commission members reviewed the current “Bills of Interest”, a list of bill titles that are of importance to Maine’s fire service. Members discussed in detail LD 182 “An Act To Protect Firefighters by Establishing a Prohibition on the Sale and Distribution of New Upholstered Furniture Containing Certain Flame-retardant Chemicals” sponsored by Representative Walter Kumiega, which had a public hearing before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Members reviewed a draft letter in support of LD 182.
A motion by Charles Soltan, seconded by John Arsenault, that the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission accept the draft letter supporting LD 182 “An Act To Protect Firefighters by Establishing a Prohibition on the Sale and Distribution of New Upholstered Furniture Containing Certain Flame-retardant Chemicals” sponsored by Representative Walter Kumiega and that the signed letter be sent to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources prior to their April 5th work session. Motion passed unanimously with three members abstaining (Stephan Bunker, Steven Greeley and Chief Joseph Thomas.)
New Business and News from Members
The State Fire Marshal’s Office announced that line of duty death benefits will be awarded to the family of Lieutenant Timothy Flaherty, a thirty three year veteran of the Portland Fire Department. Lieutenant Flaherty, a resident of Yarmouth, retired in 2004 and died of cancer after a long, valiant fight in 2011. Lieutenant Flaherty was 63. Death benefits are awarded to the child, spouse or parent of a firefighter who dies while in the line of duty. Line of duty is defined as “cease to be alive or to sustain an injury or illness that results in death during the performance of a firefighter’s official duty”. The Line of Duty Death Benefits panel unanimously voted to award these benefits, and credits the thorough documentation submitted for their unanimous decision.
With no further business to come before the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission, Chair Brooks adjourned the meeting at 10:30am.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan M. Pinette
Staff
MEETING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 29th JOINT MEETING Sunday River 4-5:00pm
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO MEETING IN APRIL
Monday, May 1st ANNUAL MEETING State House 9:00am
Monday, June 5th MEETING TBD 9:00am
Monday, July 10th MEETING Public Safety 9:00am
Monday, August 7th MEETING Public Safety 9:00am
Monday, September 11th MEETING Public Safety 9:00am
Dates of Interest-
March 29, 30 and 31 2017 Joint Conference, Sunday River
May 1 Annual Meeting-Election of Fire Commission Officers
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