HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire and Emergency Services Minutes - January 18, 2023 Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Fire & Emergency Services Committee
Wednesday,
January 18, 2023
10:00 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 Darren O'Quinn
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
Bruce MacDonald, Manager of Emergency Management Operations
Volunteer Fire Chief Rod Beresford, Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs'
Association
Krista Dove, Administrative Assistant—Fire Services
Sharon MacSween—Senior Administrative Assistant
Angela Ross, Recording Secretary
Absent: Councillor Steve Parsons (Regrets)
Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
January 18, 2023 Approved March 8, 2023 Page 2 of 4
Summary of Decisions
Roll Call
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion to approve the January 18, 2023, Fire & Emergency Services Agenda as presented.
Carried.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve Minutes from:
➢ Fire & Emergency Services Committee November 10, 2021.
Carried.
3. Election/Selection of Vice-Chair:
Councillor Glenn Paruch was declared the Vice-Chair of the Fire & Emergency Services
Committee.
4. REPORTS:
4.1 Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emer2ency Services Report:
An update on Phase 1 of the Sustainability of the Fire Services in Cape Breton Regional
Municipality Action Plan was presented.
Chief Seth advised that the new format for the regulation and accountability of the Fire
Service has been drafted and will be presented at the next Fire and Emergency Services
Committee meeting, along with an Issue Paper on Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment.
4.2 Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association Report:
The Manager of Emergency Management Report was presented.
For Information Only.
Future Committee Meetings:
The Fire and Emergency Services Committee will meet bimonthly and the next meeting is
scheduled for March 8h at 10:00 a.m.
Adiournment
Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
January 18, 2023 Approved March 8, 2023 Page 3 of 4
Land Acknowledgment
Roll Call
1. Approval of Agenda:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, to approve the
January 18, 2023 Fire & Emergency Services Committee Agenda as presented.
Motion Carried.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, approval of the
Minutes from:
➢ Fire & Emergency Services Committee—November 10, 2021.
Motion Carried.
3. Election/Selection of Vice-Chair:
The Chair called for nominations for Vice-Chair of the Fire & Emergency Services Committee.
Councillor Glenn Paruch nominated Councillor Gordon MacDonald for Vice-Chair; Councillor
Gordon MacDonald declined the nomination.
Councillor Darren O'Quinn nominated Councillor Glenn Paruch for Vice-Chair. Councillor
Paruch accepted the nomination.
Hearing no further nominations, nominations ceased, and Councillor Glenn Paruch was
declared the Vice-Chair of the Fire & Emergency Services Committee.
4. REPORTS:
4.1 Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emer2ency Services Report:
Fire Chief Michael Seth reviewed the Action Plan included in the agenda package and provided
an update on each motion of Council.
Continued...
CBRM Fire & Emergency Services Committee Minutes
January 18, 2023 Approved March 8, 2023 Page 4 of 4
REPORTS -Fire Chief/Director of Fire & Emer2ency Services Report (Cont'd):
After the Report, Councillor Gordon MacDonald raised a Point of Information which resulted
in the speaking time limit rules being relaxed for discussion on the following items.
• Data Collection and lack of substantial documentation
• Volunteers transitioning into career positions
• Hiring and recruitment
• Differences between qualified and certified
• Governance and registration process for volunteer departments
• Budget considerations for volunteer firefighters
• Imperial Oil response
• Fire recruitment in Halifax Regional Municipality vs. CBRM
• Training and EMO
Chief Seth advised that the new format for the regulation and accountability of the Fire
Service has been drafted and will be presented at the next Fire and Emergency Services
Committee meeting, along with an Issue Paper on Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment.
4.2 Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs' Association Report:
Volunteer Fire Chief Rod Beresford provided an update from the Cape Breton Regional Chiefs'
Association as outlined in the Report dated January 11, 2023 included in the agenda package.
After the report, discussion took place regarding the lack of response to the request for data and
ideas to improve data collection.
For Information Only.
Future Committee Meetings:
Deputy Mayor Edwards advised that going forward, the Committee will meet on a bimonthly
basis and the next meeting will be scheduled for March 8h at 10:00 a.m. He noted that the issue
of data collection will be brought forward to a future meeting for ongoing discussion.
Adiournment at 11:06 a.m.
Deputy Mayor James Edwards Deborah Campbell Ryan
Chair Municipal Clerk
/acr