HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire and Emergency Services Minutes - March 8, 2023 I Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Fire & Emergency Services Committee
Wednesday,
March 8, 2023
10:01 a.m.
Council Chambers
2nd Floor, City Hall
320 Esplanade Sydney, NS
Deputy Mayor James Edwards called the meeting to order.
Present: Deputy Mayor James Edwards, Chair
Councillor Gordon MacDonald
Councillor Glenn Paruch, Vice-Chair
Councillor Steve Parsons
Councillor Darren O'Quinn
Staff. Chief Michael Seth, Director of Fire & Emergency Services
Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Deputy Fire Chief Chris March, Operations
Deputy Fire Chief Craig MacNeil, Support Services
Bruce MacDonald, Manager of Emergency Management Operations
Deputy Platoon Chief Allan MacLeod
Captain Donnie Whalen
Krista Dove, Administrative Assistant—Fire Services
Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant
Angela Ross, Recording Secretary
Also
Attending: Councillor Eldon MacDonald
Absent: N/A
Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 Approved June 21, 2023 Page 2 of 7
Summary of Decisions
Land Acknowledgment
Roll Call
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion to approve the March 8, 2023, Fire & Emergency Services Agenda and Addendum
as presented. Carried.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve Minutes from:
➢ Fire & Emergency Services Committee January 18, 2023.
Carried.
3. PRESENTATION:
3.1 Imperial Oil Limited Spill: Operational Overview - Lessons Learned:
An operational overview was provided on the Imperial Oil Limited spill and the lessons
learned.
For Information Only.
4. REPORTS:
4.1 Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emergency Services Report:
The Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emergency Services Report was presented.
For Information Only.
4.2 Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment:
Motion that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality provide the necessary authority for Fire
Service administration to ensure that all CBRFES VFDs participate in the development and
implementation of a regionalized volunteer firefighter recruitment process. Carried.
Continued...
Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 Approved June 21, 2023 Page 3 of 7
Summary of Decisions (Cont'd):
REPORTS (Cont'd):
4.3 Manager of Emer2ency Management:
The Manager of Emergency Management Report was presented.
For Information Only.
4.4 Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association Report:
Deputy Mayor Edwards advised that Rod Beresford, Volunteer Fire Chief, was not able to
attend the meeting and that any questions related to his report can be directed to Chief
Beresford by phone or email.
For Information Only.
4.5 Fleet Information Requested:
An update on the Fleet Information request was provided.
For Information Only.
ADDENDUM
5. SERVICE AWARDS 2023:
Motion that a Committee be established for the purpose of planning and organizing a service
recognition celebration for those career and volunteer firefighters who meet a service award
and merit level. The celebration would be held at a venue large like Centre 200 for
dinner/dance awards celebration. Carried.
Adiournment
Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 Approved June 21, 2023 Page 4 of 7
Land Acknowledgment
Roll Call
1. Approval of Agenda:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, to approve the
March 8, 2023 Fire & Emergency Services Committee Agenda and Addendum as presented.
Motion Carried.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, approval of the Minutes from:
➢ Fire & Emergency Services Committee—January 18, 2023.
Motion Carried.
3. PRESENTATION:
3.1 Imperial Oil Limited Spill: Operational Overview - Lessons Learned:
Bruce MacDonald, Manager of Emergency Management, provided an operational overview on
the Imperial Oil gasoline spill in Sydney's North End and discussed the lessons learned within
the scope of Fire Service only. He reviewed his presentation and highlighted the following:
• Background information on the incident
• Successes
• Incident Command and Control
• Support by the J.A. McCurdy Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Truck
• Drone support by Hazmat Team
• On-scene/interagency communications
• Information Sharing
• Exercise Participation
• Opportunities
• Moving Forward
• Summary
Continued...
CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 Approved June 21, 2023 Page 5 of 7
PRESENTATION: Imperial Oil Limited Spill: Operational Overview-Lessons Learned (Cont'd):
After the presentation, the Committee discussed the issue and agreed to relax the speaking limit
rules for the meeting.
Following discussion, Deputy Mayor Edwards thanked Bruce MacDonald for his presentation.
For Information Only.
4. REPORTS:
4.1 Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emer2ency Services Report:
Fire Chief Michael Seth reviewed the Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emergency Services Report
included in the agenda package and welcomed and introduced Craig MacNeil, the new Deputy
Fire Chief of Support Services.
The Committee then discussed the Report.
Deputy Mayor Edwards thanked Fire Chief Michael Seth for his presentation.
For Information Only.
4.2 Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment:
Deputy Fire Chief Chris March reviewed his Issue paper on the Volunteer Firefighter
Recruitment. After Committee discussion, the following motion was put forward:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, that the Cape Breton Regional
Municipality provide the necessary authority for Fire Service administration to ensure that all
CBRFES VFDs participate in the development and implementation of a regionalized volunteer
firefighter recruitment process.
Discussion.-
During
iscussion:During discussion Council and staff shared their thoughts on the motion in regards to the words
"necessary authority". It was agreed that this motion be brought to Council for consideration
and approval.
Motion Carried.
Continued...
CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 Approved June 21, 2023 Page 6 of 7
REPORTS (Cont'd):
4.6 Manager of Emer2ency Management:
Bruce MacDonald, Manager of Emergency Management, reviewed his Report in the agenda
package.
Following Committee discussion, the Deputy Mayor thanked Bruce MacDonald for his
presentation.
For Information Only.
4.7 Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association Report:
Deputy Mayor Edwards advised that Rod Beresford, Volunteer Fire Chief, was not able to attend
the meeting and that any questions related to his report in the agenda can be directed to Chief
Beresford by phone or email.
In response to a question, Director Seth discussed the difference between the Fire service and
Fire Departments as outlined in the Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Report.
For Information Only.
4.8 Fleet Information Requested:
Chris March, Deputy Fire Chief, advised that his Issue Paper in the agenda is in response to a
request made by former CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke in 2018 for a 5-year plan for apparatus. He
provided the steps he took and advised that went back to 2019. He provided the Committee with
details on what trucks were purchased and which trucks were cascaded.
After the report, discussion included the Fleet Replacement Program and how the decisions are
made when trucks are needed by the many numbers of volunteer and career Fire Departments in
CBRM.
For Information Only.
Continued...
CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 Approved June 21, 2023 Page 7 of 7
ADDENDUM
5. Service Awards 2023:
Councillor Steve Parsons expressed the importance of recognizing our long serving volunteer
and career firefighters and then put the following motion forward:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, that a Committee be
established for the purpose of planning and organizing a service recognition celebration for those
career and volunteer firefighters who meet a service award and merit level. The celebration
would be held at a venue large like Centre 200 for dinner/dance awards celebration.
Discussion
Following discussion, the Deputy Mayor called for the vote.
Motion Carried.
The Deputy Mayor thanked the Committee for the great conversation during the meeting.
Councillor Parsons recognized the passing of former Chief of Howie Centre, Nelson Wilson, and
offered his condolences to his family. He suggested that a card of sympathy be sent to the
family.
Councillor Gordon MacDonald recognized March 8h, 2023 as International Women's Day and
shared wishes to all women in CBRM.
Adiournment at 12:46 p.m.
Deputy Mayor James Edwards Deborah Campbell Ryan
Municipal Clerk
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