CENTRAL OHIO JOINT FIRE DISTRICT BOARD MEETING MINUTES

September 12th, 2007

A regular meeting of the Central Ohio Joint Fire District Board was held on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at the Centerburg Town Hall, located at 49 ½ East Main Street, Centerburg, Ohio.  The following were in attendance:

Board Members                                                                     Staff

George Shaw, Chairman                                              Diane Clippinger, Clerk

Phil Haberman                                                              Chief Joe Porter

Patti Frazee                                                                   Jennifer Springer, Knox County

Chip Welch                                                                     Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

Harold Cochran

Public

Firefighter Dave Grumney                                                         Donna Church

Firefighter Brent Spearman                                                       William Church

Brooks Church                                                             Stephen Burger

Chief Tom S. Stewart, Orange Township                                 

The regular Board meeting of the Central Ohio Joint Fire District was called to order by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the regular meeting on August 8, 2007 were presented for approval.  Chief Porter noted two corrections which needed to be made.  Under accounts payable, the cabinet was for the engine, not the medic and under Chief Porter reports #5, GFCI breakers were installed.  Mrs. Frazee made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected and Mr. Welch seconded the motion.  In the affirmative:  Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Warrants were presented for the Boards approval and signature. Mr. Welch made a motion to approve the warrants presented; Mrs. Frazee seconded the motion.  In the affirmative:  Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 

PUBLIC

Chief Tom Stewart, Orange Township, spoke in regards to Dr. William Kramer, Kramer and Associates, and the forecast proposal Dr. Kramer prepared for his District.  Orange Township had Dr. Kramer prepare their forecast two years ago.  Chief Stewart indicated the Central Ohio Joint Fire District should be prepared to follow the forecast proposal which could mean a substantial financial obligation.  He noted Dr. Kramer would re-visit the District in a year, at no cost, to analyze the progress a district has made.  Chief Stewart indicated the fire chief of a district should be included in the process.  Orange Township had interviewed four different companies before deciding on Dr. Kramer, which they have been satisfied with.  The ISO rating of Orange Township has improved due to completing several suggestions from the forecast proposal.  Chairman Shaw noted Centerburg Village had hired Dr. Kramer to complete a disaster preparedness plan.  Chief Stewart indicated he would go through the process again, but noted the District should be prepared to follow the plan if investing the time and money.  The Board thanked Chief Stewart for his time.

CONTINUING BUSINESS

• Vacant Land – Chairman Shaw noted he had contacted a real estate agent.

NEW BUSINESS

• DVD Presentation –Chief Porter presented the DVD Pride and Ownership, which addressed fire/EMS services in today’s world.  Chief Porter stressed to the Board, the District consist of very dedicated personnel who work hard and well together.  Chief Porter indicated several employees of the District work on their time off, without compensation.  Chief Porter asked the Board members to contact him direct should they have any issues with the District, so he could personally address and resolve such issues.

CONTINUING BUSINESS

• Forecast Proposal – After discussion by the Board, Mr. Haberman made a motion to not hire Dr. Kramer to prepare a forecast proposal for the District and Mr. Welch seconded the motion.  On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none.  Mr. Welch suggested the Board contact local fire chiefs to assist the Strategic Planning Committee prepare their own forecast for the District.  Chief Stewart noted he would like to be included.  Firefighter Grumney indicated the same.  Chief Porter will schedule a meeting with those who wished to be included, along with the Strategic Planning Committee

NEW BUSINESS

• Acceptance of Rates – Mr. Haberman made a motion for the following resolution and Mr. Cochran seconded the motion. On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 

Resolution 09-01-2007

RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR.

(BOARD OF TRUSTEES)

Revised Code, Secs. 5705.34 – 5705.35

________________________________________

            The Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Knox County, Ohio, met in regular session on the 12th day of September, 2007 at the office of the Centerburg Village with the following members present:

 Mr. George Shaw                    Mr. Porter Welch                     Mr. Harold Cochran

             Mr. Phil Haberman                  Mrs. Patti Frazee

            Mrs. Haberman moved the adoption of the following Resolution: 

RESOLVED, By the Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Knox County, Ohio, in accordance with the provisions of law has previously adopted a Tax Budget for the next succeeding fiscal year commencing January 1st, 2008; and

WHEREAS, The Budget Commission of Knox County, Ohio, has certified its action thereon to this Board together with an estimate by the County Auditor of the rate of each tax necessary to be levied by this Board, and what part thereof is without, and what part within, the ten mill tax limitation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Knox County, Ohio, that the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission in its certification, be and the same are hereby accepted; and be it further

RESOLVED, That there be and is hereby levied on the tax duplicate of said District the rate of each tax necessary to be levied within and without the ten mill limitation as follows;

SCHEDULE A

SUMMARY OF AMOUNTS REQUIRED FROM GENERAL PROPERTY TAX APPROVED BY BUDGET COMMISSION AND COUNTY AUDITOR’S ESTIMATED TAX RATES.

  FUND                                  AMOUNT                             AMOUNT TO BE                COUNTY AUDITOR'S

                                                APPROVED BY                    DERIVED FROM                  ESTIMATE OF TAX

                                BUDGET COM-                   LEVIES OUTSIDE                 RATE TO BE LEVIED

                                                MISSION INSIDE                10 M.LIMITATION             INSIDE      OUTSIDE

                                                                                                                                                10 M.         10 M.

                                                                                                                                                LIMIT        LIMIT

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Fire District                                                      $667,731.24                                 5.50

Bond Retirement                                                   27,668.76

_______________________________________________________________________

Totals                                                               $695,400.00                                5.50

SCHEDULE B

LEVIES OUTSIDE 10 MILL LIMITATION, EXCLUSIVE OF DEBT LEVIES.

                                     FUND                                                                                Max. Rate               Co Auditor’s

                                                                                                                                Authorized               Est. of Yield of

                                                                                                                                To be Levied            Levy

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     

    FIRE -Levy authorized by voters on May 2, 2006,             5.50                  $695,400.00

               not to exceed 3 years – (2006-2008)        

               (Replacement)

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of this Board be and she is hereby directed to certify a copy of this Resolution to the County Auditor of said County.                                                     

Mr. Cochran seconded the Resolution and the roll being called upon its adoption the vote resulted as follows:

Mrs. Patti Frazee, yes                           Mr. George Shaw, yes              Mr. Porter Welch, yes 

Mr. Harold Cochran, yes                      Mr. Phil Haberman, yes    

Adopted the 12th day of September, 2007.

Diane Clippinger

Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Knox County, Ohio.

CERTIFICATION OF COPY

(Original on File)

The State of Ohio, Knox County, ss.,

            I, Diane Clippinger, Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Joint Fire District, in said County, and in whose custody the Files and Records of said Board are required by the laws of the State of Ohio to be kept, do hereby certify that the foregoing is taken and copied from the original minutes now on file with said Board, that the foregoing has been compared by me with said original document, and that the same is a true and correct copy thereof.

WITNESS, my signature this 12th day of September, 2007.

            Diane Clippinger

            Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Knox County, Ohio.

REPORTS

Strategic Planning Committee – Nothing to present.

Personnel Committee – Nothing to present.

Audit Committee – Nothing to present

Chief Porter – (also see Chief Porter’s report)

• FEMA Grant – The District was not awarded the FEMA grant, which would have assisted in the purchase of a new engine.
• S.O.G. Changes – Chief Porter presented several S.O.G. changes to the Board for their approval.  Mr. Haberman made a motion to approve the presented S.O.G.s and Mr. Welch seconded the motion.  On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 
• Termination – Mr. Welch made a motion to terminate Firefighter Frederick Farr, based on Chief Porter’s recommendation and Firefighter Farr’s not meeting the Districts’ requirements.  Mr. Cochran seconded the motion.  On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 
• New Hire – Mrs. Frazee made a motion to hire Mr. Stephen Burger to a volunteer position and Mr. Brooks Church to a part-time basic EMT position ($8.11 per hour) and Mr. Welch seconded the motion.  On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none.   The Board welcomed Firefighter Burger and Firefighter Church to the District after Chief Porter swore them in.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mrs. Frazee made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:40 p.m. to discuss Chief Porter’s annual review and Mr. Welch seconded the motion.  On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 

Mr. Cochran made a motion to adjourn out of Executive Session at 9:40 p.m., with no action taken, and Mr. Haberman seconded the motion.  On roll call in the affirmative:  Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none. 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Central Ohio Joint Fire District, at 9:41 p.m., Mr. Welch made a motion to adjourn the meeting until the next regular scheduled meeting on October 10th, 2007, unless called upon for urgent business, and Mr. Haberman seconded the motion.  In the affirmative:  Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Haberman, Mr. Cochran and Mr. Welch.  In the negative:  none.