April 2011

NOTICE  OF  PUBLIC  MEETING  OF  THE

LINDEN  VOLUNTEER  FIRE  DISTRICT

 

 

PURSUANT TO THE A.R.S. 38-431.02, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE LINDEN FIRE DISTRICT AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE BOARD WILL HOLD A MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 AT 5:00 P.M. AT THE LINDEN FIRE STATION, LOCATED AT 6884 ARIZONA HIGHWAY 260, LINDEN, ARIZONA.  THE BOARD MAY VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WHICH WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS CERTAIN MATTERS AS INDICATED ON THE AGENDA.

 

THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.   CALL TO ORDER.  (PAUL WYATT)

 

2.   ROLL CALL AND CONFIRMATION OF A QUORUM.  (CAROL LEWIS)

 

3.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE BOARD MEETING DATED  MARCH 9, 2011.

 

4.  CALL TO THE PUBLIC.

     CONSIDERATION AND LIMITED DISCUSSION OF COMMENTS AND

     COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC.  THOSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE

     BOARD NEED NOT REQUEST PERMISSION IN ADVANCE.  ACTION TO BE

     TAKEN AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO

      DIRECTING THE STAFF TO STUDY THE MATTER OR RESCHEDULING

     THE MATTER FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE.

 

5.  FINANCIAL REPORT:

     A.  COUNTY TREASURERS REPORT

             B. WARRANTS SIGNED

 

6.  DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON EVALUATIONS OF CHIEF AND  

     DEPUTY CHIEF.                                                    

 

7.  DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE CHIEF.

 

8.  DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON APPROVAL OF DISCUSSION ON  

     FEASIBLITY OF CONSOLIDATION WITH HEBER/OVERGAARD.

 

9.  DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON LINE OF CREDIT FOR 2011/2012.

 

10.  DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON PROPOSED BUDGET 2011/2012.

 

11.  CHIEF'S REPORT

                A.  MONTHLY CALL OUTS

     

11.  BOARD MEMBER REPORT

 

12.  ADJOURNMENT

 

A COPY OF AGENDA BACKGROUND MATERIAL (WITH EXCEPTION OF MATERIAL RELATING TO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS) IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE LINDEN FIRE STATION, 6884 ARIZONA HIGHWAY 260 LINDEN, ARIZONA.  ANY AGENDA ITEMS TO BE ADDED NEED TO BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING 15 DAYS PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING AT THE LINDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT.

 

DATED THIS 8th DAY OF APRIL, 2011.

 

CAROL LEWIS, DEPUTY CHIEF

LINDEN FIRE DISTRICT

 

 

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, by contacting Carol Lewis at 928-537-1101.  Request should be made at least 24 hours in advance to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

LINDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT

Regular Board Meeting

April 13, 2011

 

 

The April 13, 2011 Board Meeting of the Linden Fire District was called to order by the Board Chairman Paul Wyatt. 

 

Roll was called and Board Members Paul Wyatt, Kay Perkins, Brian Shields, and Loran DeWitt were present.  Confirmation of a quorum was established.  Chief Troy Maloney and Deputy Chief Carol Lewis and fire fighters Ryan Turner, Kevin Marie, Lucas Guy were present.  Also present were Gary Holdcroft, Dewayne Saxton, Marilyn Price, Betty Dierich, Darcy and Scott Rathburn.

 

The minutes of the March 9, 2011 Board Meeting were sent to the board members and Paul asked if there were any corrections or additions to them.  Loran made a motion to accept the minutes as written, and Kay seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous and the minutes were approved and accepted as written.

 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

Marilyn Price, resident of Linden, stated her property was devaluated 10% and would appreciate the board considering lowering the taxes for Linden Fire Department.   She stated that with the levy going down from 2.73 to 2.54 last year, her taxes still went up.  Many in the Linden area are on a fixed income and can’t afford an increase in taxes.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Carol reported the balance to date in Navajo County –Wells Fargo, National Bank of Arizona (payroll) and the Contingency Fund.   Each board member was given a copy of each bank register with receipts available.  Copies of the monthly reports with the bank statement registers and all financial transactions, minutes and agenda were in the board members packets sent to them the week prior to the board meeting.  Receipts of all financial transactions were available for the board members to review and warrants were signed. 

 

Carol reported to the board the file on petty cash.  This was set up with the recommendation from the auditor.  He audits this file and has found this in compliance in the past years.  This file is available for the board members and will be at any time, and at each board meeting with the receipts of expenditures.

 

Mr. Saunders recommended, in the audit two years ago, that we keep the ladies auxillary account totally separate from the department.  Each has their own board, accounts, and reports are filed annually for the auxillary.  It was important to keep this account, as it is a 501 3C, and that is essential with obtaining some grant funding.

 

EVALUATIONS

Brian asked this item to be on the agenda.  He feels the Chief and Deputy Chief need to have evaluations.  The firefighters are given evaluations in June, and Brian would like those done at the same time.  Brian made a motion that the board give the evaluations to Chief Maloney and Deputy Chief Lewis, and the Chief will give them to the Captains, and the Captains to the firefighters.  Loran seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

 

 

 

 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE FIRE CHIEF

This was on last months agenda on the Chief’s report and approval was given.  There was a misunderstanding that this would be an informational item only, however, it was a decision of the board which needed to be an agenda item with discussion and possible action for leave of absence with pay.  Because of that, the approval last month was invalid.  (This was advised by Jason Moore, County Attorney.)

 

Chief stated that he gave the wrong information, as he thought he had time, however after he read his contract it states he does not receive vacation time until after his first year.  He has been asked to participate in a once in a lifetime event with his brother in Moab, Utah in filming with a magazine, and would like to have that time.  He felt with all the extra time he has given that he has accrued it.  He is asking for 5 days paid vacation for this event.  Brian made a motion to give the Chief 5 days off with pay April 18-22, 2011, and Loran seconded the motion.  Paul and  Kay both had mixed emotions, as the contract needs to be honored, and it is taxpayers money.  The vote was taken and it was unanimous in favor of giving the Chief 5 days paid to be with family.  The motion carried.

 

FEASIBILITY OF CONSOLIDATION

This also was on the Chief’s report last month, and needed to go to the vote of the Board.  Brian made a motion to let the Chief be involved in discussion about consolidation with Heber/Overgaard, and Kay seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.  Loran reminded that the vote was discussion only, and that the board makes the final decision.

 

LINE OF CREDIT

The paperwork was sent to Linden Fire District from the Navajo County Treasurer’s Office, and Wells Fargo on the Line of Credit for 2011-12.  It is in the amount of $100,000.  The department has not had to use this in the past, however it may be good to have in place.   Loran made a motion to enter into this Line of Credit agreement for $100,000 and Brian seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.  Paperwork was signed and will be sent to the back to Navajo County Treasurer’s Office.

 

PROPOSED BUDGET 2011/2012

Each board member was given a comparison sheet on the budgets for the last 3 years, along with tax levys and how much the budget would be at the different levys.  The assessed evaluation went down approximately 10% and will do the same next budget year.  The Chief recommended we maintain the same budget as there are needs to be met and costs are rising.  The board asked what the levy would be, and as on the paperwork, it would be 2.83.   Paul asked how much the taxes would increase on a $100,000 home.  Chief stated approximately $29.00.  A concern that has been asked by the taxpayers is if the Fire Department raises taxes, along with the county, the school, the college, etc. how much is the overall taxes being raised.  This is a concern of the board.

 

Other Items discussed:

Changes in line items for 201.4 Employee Health Insurance – each employee increase of  $200 a month, take from line items 201.1,  Volunteer wages, 201.2 EMS wages, and 201.3 Training wages, as there are no longer volunteers and expenses; Discussion on where to make cuts – Chief stated we could cut overtime, training, with shift swaps; It is necessary to purchase a new engine as our equipment is not adequate, Engine 711 is over 10 years old and is a liability.  Brian asked how much it would cost to fix Engine 2 in Timberland acres, and Chief stated it would not be cost

 

 

 

effective as it is a 1984.  It would cost more than it is worth.  A new truck would be around $300,000 to $400,000. 

 

Kay asked about the liability.  Chief stated with the automatic aid  agreement, we need to honor that agreement with adequate equipment.  Chief stated that we could make cuts on overtime, by bringing in reserves; doing shift trades while at training; seminars.  Building repairs are a necessity.  

 

Betty Dietrich stated it would be hard for her to pay higher taxes, and how would they put out a fire in her two story house.  Chief assured her it could be done, and that a ladder truck is in our automatic aid from Show Low.

 

Tax money comes in the end of May.  It was recommended that we wait to see what we have left at the end of the budget year.  A town meeting will be set to get public input.

 

Paul made a motion to accept the Proposed Budget as written at 2.83% contingent upon tax money received in May, as we may take the levy down.  Loran seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

 

There was discussion on having a town meeting and invite the residents to voice their opinion.  This will be set up in the next few months before the budget is adopted.

 

CHIEFS REPORT

      A.  Monthly call outs:  1 automatic aid; 1 wildland-mutual aid; 8 EMS; 2 alarm; 2 public assist; 8           assist invalid; 1 MVA; 2 wildland;

      B.  Tenative date for a town meeting was discussed for Saturday, June 11, 2011.

      C.  Wildland Training was April 16^th and 17^th at Fools Hollow.  Linden Fire Department personnel participated.

 

BOARD MEMBER REPORT

There were no reports at this time.

 

 

 

 

There being no further business at this time, Loran made a motion to adjourn and Merwyn seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous and the meeting was adjourned. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Carol Lewis, Deputy Chief

      Linden Fire District