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Home My WebLink AboutFire and Emergency Services Minutes - March 3, 2020 Cape Breton Regional Municipality Fire & Emergency Services Committee Tuesday, March 3, 2020 10:06 a.m. Council Chambers 2nd Floor, City Hall 320 Esplanade Sydney, NS Deputy Mayor Ivan Doncaster called the meeting to order. Present: Deputy Mayor Ivan Doncaster, Chair Mayor Cecil P. Clarke Councillor Eldon MacDonald Councillor Amanda McDougall Councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger, Vice-Chair Staff. Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer Chief Michael Seth, Director of Fire & Emergency Services Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk Deputy Fire Chief Gilbert MacIntyre, Operations Deputy Fire Chief Chris March,Volunteer Coordinator,Training&Prevention John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Allan Clarke, Manager of Parks, Grounds & Buildings Volunteer Fire Chief Jim Prince, Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant Angela Ross, Recording Secretary Also Attending: Councillor Steve Gillespie Councillor George MacDonald Absent: Councillor Kendra Coombes (On Leave) Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 2 of 8 Summary of Decisions Roll Call 1. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve Minutes from: ➢ Fire & Emergency Services Committee—September 11, 2019. Carried. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion to approve the March 3rd, 2020 Fire & Emergency Services Agenda and Addendum as presented. Carried. 3. REPORTS: 3.1 Director/Fire Chief Report: Motion that staff be directed to provide a report to Council on the potential acquisition of the NSCC Marconi Campus Trades Facility, once deemed surplus, and the associated budget implications. Carried. Motion that staff be directed to prepare an Issue Paper regarding the weaknesses and threats referred to in the Director/Fire Chief's Report dated February 26, 2020, and report back to Committee as soon as possible. Motion Carried. 3.2 Operations Report: Deputy Fire Chief MacIntyre provided a report on the operations of the Career Fire and Emergency Services. For Information Only. Continued... Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 3 of 8 Summary of Decisions (cont'd): REPORTS (Cont'd): 3.3 Report - Volunteer Coordinator/Manager Fleet, Training & Prevention, Public Information Officer and A/Manager Emer2ency Management Division: Deputy Fire Chief March presented the Volunteer Coordinator/Manager Fleet, Training and Prevention Report. For Information Only. 3.4 Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association Report: Motion that staff be directed to write a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs Chuck Porter, inviting him to attend a meeting of the Fire & Emergency Services Committee to have a discussion around the Provincial funding for the Volunteer Fire Service. Carried. 4. C.B. Regional Fire & Emer2ency Service Issue Paper, Establishing CB Regional Fire Chaplaincy: Motion that a recommendation be made to Council for approval, adoption and implementation of a Fire Chaplaincy for the Cape Breton Regional Fire & Emergency Service. Carried. ADDENDUM: 5. Relocation of Sydney Fire Station#1 -Request for Comprehensive Briefing by Staff: There was discussion on the relocation of the Sydney Fire Station 41. For Information Only. Adiournment CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 4 of 8 Roll Call 1. Approval of Minutes: Motion: Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor McDougall, approval of the Minutes from: ➢ Fire & Emergency Services Committee—September 11, 2019. Motion Carried. 2. Approval of Agenda: Motion: Moved by Mayor Clarke, seconded by Councillor McDougall, to approve the March 3, 2019 Fire & Emergency Services Agenda and Addendum as presented. Motion Carried. 3. REPORTS: 3.1 Director/Fire Chief Report: Fire Chief Michael Seth, Director of Fire & Emergency Services, provided an update regarding his experience since taking on the leadership role as the Director/Fire Chief of the CBRM Fire and Emergency Services Department and discussed the following as outlined in his Report: • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Meetings/Committee/Association Involvement After the presentation, Mayor Clarke welcomed the new Fire Chief and discussed the future use of assets at the Trades Facility at the Marconi Campus after the NSCC Marconi Campus is relocated to the waterfront. Mayor Clarke advised that following discussions with Minister Mombourquette and Minister MacLellan and a walk-through of the Trades Facility with officials from NSCC, it was thought that the facility would possibly be a great future use for the Fire Service fleet maintenance. The Mayor added that a formal request to the Province would have to be made once the property is deemed surplus, as well as team discussion and next steps. Continued... CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 5 of 8 REPORTS -Director/Fire Chief Report(Cont'd): Fire Chief Seth commented on the concept of the NSCC Trades Facility and explained that after a walk-through of the facility sees opportunity to move some operations that will allow the development of longer term relationship with all departments in CBRM and develop some items from the SWOT analysis. Deputy Chief March advised that the NSCC Trades Facility would be excellent for fleet, heavy and medium duties and storage for all divisions of the Fire Service. Fire Chief Seth advised that he has not yet read the Manitou Report and noted he first wants to evaluate the CBRM Fire Service based on his education and experience before moving forward. Further discussion included the following: • Nova Scotia Power building lease agreement • Grant system that supports alleviating competition between fire departments • Grant structure and area rate After discussion, the following motions were put forward: Motion: Moved by Mayor Clarke, seconded by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, that staff be directed to provide a report to Council on the potential acquisition of the NSCC Marconi Campus Trades Facility, once deemed surplus, and the associated budget implications. Motion Carried. Motion: Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor McDougall, that staff be directed to prepare an Issue Paper regarding the weaknesses and threats referred to in the Director/Fire Chief's Report dated February 26, 2020, and report back to Committee as soon as possible. Motion Carried. Continued... CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 6 of 8 REPORTS (Cont'd): 3.2 Operations Report: Mr. Gilbert MacIntyre, Deputy Fire Chief, provided the Committee with an update on the following: ➢ New Chief hired ➢ Labour Management/OHS ➢ Regional Hospital Panel Upgrade ➢ Station 41 ➢ New Station ➢ New Collective Agreement ➢ Medical First Responder ➢ New Hire Competition ➢ Meetings and Committee Involvement After the report, discussion included the following: • New Hire Competition - how the hiring of four new firefighters fits into the current budget • Labour/Management • Sydney Service and the tax rate • Area rates • During budget deliberations, explain fire area rates • Ensure there is proper data and risk profile and how to match resources to risk • Analysis of what is needed in the volunteer service moving forward • Bring people together and share information For information only. 3.3 Report - Volunteer Coordinator/Manager Fleet, Training & Prevention, Public Information Officer and A/Manager Emer2ency Management Division: Mr. Chris March, Deputy Fire Chief, presented the Volunteer/Training & Prevention Division and Emergency Management Division Report as outlined in the staff Report dated March 3, 2020 which included: ➢ Volunteer Coordinator ➢ Training ➢ Prevention ➢ Fleet ➢ Emergency Management Division Continued... CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 7 of 8 REPORTS - Report - Volunteer Coordinator/Manager Fleet, Training & Prevention, Public Information Officer and A/Manager Emer2ency Management Division (cont'd): After the report, discussion included the following: • Data Collection and paging system • Update on damage to truck in Reserve Mines • Capital budget for the Fire Fervice • EMO position timeline For information only. 3.4 Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association (CBRFCA): Executive Chair, Volunteer Fire Chief Jim Prince, provided an update from the Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association as outlined in the report dated March 3, 2020, with updates on the following: • The Regional Chiefs' executive has met and welcomed Chief Michael Seth. • The Chiefs' Association members have currently developed a plan to acquire Heavy Rescue Training. • CBRFCA Data Communications • Cape Breton Regional Fire Station numbering and the idea of perhaps instituting station numbers throughout the 34 volunteer departments • Requirement for Specialty Services funding for volunteer fire departments • Area Rates and Grant systems • CB Regional Fire Chaplaincy After the report, Committee discussion included the following: • Funding for high angle rescue • Fire service needs to be considered for more provincial funding • Specialty services coverage • Boundary coverage per station Motion: Moved by Councillor McDougall, seconded by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, that staff be directed to write a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs Chuck Porter, inviting him to attend a meeting of the Fire & Emergency Services Committee to have a discussion around the Provincial funding for the Volunteer Fire Service. Motion Carried. CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes March 3, 2020 Approved June 29, 2021 Page 8 of 8 4. C.B. Regional Fire & Emergency Service Issue Paper, Establishing CB Regional Fire Chaplaincy: Motion: Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, that a recommendation be made to Council for approval, adoption and implementation of a Fire Chaplaincy for the Cape Breton Regional Fire & Emergency Service. Motion Carried. ADDENDUM: 5. Relocation of Sydney Fire Station#1 -Request for Comprehensive Briefing by Staff: Councillor Eldon MacDonald introduced the issue and asked for an update on the relocation of the Sydney Fire Station. Committee members and staff discussed the following: • The need for a Public Consultation process • Role of the Fire & Emergency Services Committee • Dillon Consultants • Selection process of the location of the new Fire Station • Meetings had with the HAT and other local business interests regarding the proposed location • Consultations regarding parking and the parking replacement plan • Growth and related noise in the downtown • Update on the work on the Sydney Fire Station • Study provided by IAFF The Clerk confirmed that the RC4 Committees Policy contains the Terms of Reference for the Fire & Emergency Services Committee, noting that this is a policy of Council and any amendments to the Policy would have to be approved by Council. Adiournment at 12:08 p.m. Deborah Campbell Ryan Municipal Clerk