Fire Services Review Special Committee - Minutes - 06/25/2024

PHONE: 860-442-0553
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD oOey woew. water fordct.org
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
Fire Services Review Special Committee Minutes—Special Meeting June 25, 2024
Members Present: Robert Tuneski (BoF); Susan Driscoll (RTM); Richard Muckle (BoS); Mike Howley (Director, Fire Services);
Tom Martin (Captain, WFS); Todd Patton (Chief, Goshen Fire Co.); Steven Sinagra (Director, Emergency Management)
Members Absent: Matthew Keatley (RTM); Mark Greczkowski (WAS Director of Operations); [RTM Public Protection & Safety
Committee appointment thd]
1. Call to order: Chair Tuneski called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Public comment: None.
3. Previous Minutes: Motion by Muckle, second by Driscoll, to approve May 29, 2024, minutes as presented.
Voice vote: Unanimous Motion passed.
4. Consideration of FSRSC’s charge from the RTM (6/7/21):
a. 2022 Call volume update: Brief discussion on volume, medical versus fire/accident, and mutual aid. Martin noted that
historical response times don’t accurately reflect current response times, due not just to reduced staffing but also due to
increased traffic over the years from development and traffic pattern changes. Sinagra offered to assist Martin in pulling
data from new software program that can provide details, including reporting the responding station and the incident’s
district, to answer committee’s concerns and public questions about impact of new staffing and WAS arrangement.
b. Active volunteer participation/trends: Howley noted that active participation declining, except in fire police and shared
the latest quarterly volunteer incentive program report that showed quarterly payments to all qualifying volunteers by
name. He agreed to provide an updated version that will include number/types of incidents and certification status for
each responder, but would like to submit it with coded entries, rather than names, to protect volunteers’ privacy.
c. Vehicle rating update: Tuneski asked Howley to prepare a vehicle rating update, extrapolating information from the
latest fleet management plan to highlight apparatus inventory, ages, condition, replacement plans.
d. Remaining areas of discussion: Request for those representing specific groups (i.e., paid and volunteer firefighters,
emergency management, WAS) and elected officials to reach out to colleagues for suggestions, concerns to address.
5. Next meeting: Consensus to tentatively schedule next meeting for July 23 at 5:30p.m.
6. Adjournment: Motion by Muckle; second by Driscoll, to adjourn at 6:54 p.m. Voice vote: Unanimous.
Submitted by
Susan Driscoll, FSRSC Secretary
encl: Sinagra/Radio System

FUP TREN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATERPORD., CY On388-2886
Steven Sinagra
Emergency Management Director
204 Boston Post Road
Waterford, CT 06385
dune 25, 2024
Fire Services Review Special Committee Members,
The Town of Waterford néeds to replace its existing public safety radia system due ta age, The
typical life of a radio system today is approximately 7-10 years. Waterford’s radio system is end-of-life
and can no longer receive important software updates. Replacement parts are also no longer
manufactured. The Town of Watarford Emergency Management Department and Finance
Department are seeking funding aid through various State of Connecticut and Federal sources.
The Town of Waterford has two basic choices in considering its replacement options. One is to build
another stand-alone system that only has capabilities within the borders of Waterford and has no
interoperability with surrounding town, state or federal agencies. The second option Is to build a
system that is capable of connecting to the State of Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network
(CLMRN). This option will give Waterford public safety the ability to communicate with partner
agencies that are on the system, as well as statewide communication. Preliminary cost estimates
show that building a stand-alone system will cost more than bullding a system that will connect to the
CLMRN.
The Town of Waterford has partnered with the State of Connecticut Telecommunications System
(CTS) Unit on this project which will provide regional benefits well beyond the Town of Waterford.
CTS is comprised of several subsystems that are integrated into a statewide communications
network. The CTS Unit operates under DESPP's Division of Statewide Emergency
Telecommunications (DSET) and provides land mobile radio as well as other interoperable
communications for the Connecticut State Police. CTS manages over 65 sites across Connecticut to
support equipment in the subsystems. Waterford has five antenna tower sites that would greatly
enhance the State of Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network (CLMRN} in Seutheastern Connecticut,
The towns of East Lyme, Groton City, Groton Town, Ledyard, Montville, New London, Norwich,
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital Paramedics, Connecticut State Police, and other State of Connecticut
departments will benefit from the expansion of the system, The Town of Waterford schools will also
use this system to communicate during any potential school emergency,
There is a large amount of defense and industrial infrastructure as well as transportation in the region
that will benefit fram the interoperability that this system will bring to public safety. The Millstone
Nuclear Power Station in the Town of Waterford as well as the U.S. Navy Base, General Dynamic’s
Electric Boat, Piizer, Interstate 95, Interstate 395, Amtrak and the Providence & Worcester Railroad
are just a few. The Town of Waterford’s public safety services respond outside of town for mutual aid
to several surrounding communities. The installation of this system will provide communications
interoperability between Waterford and other agencies in our region that does not currently exist
during emergencies and major events/disasters.
There is no question that the current system must be replaced, There is a great deal of redundancy
with the CLMRN and the aforementioned benefits that make the CLMRN the best option for the Town
of Waterford. The Emergency Management Department is moving forward with the goal of building a
new radio system that will integrate with the CLMRN.