Fire Services Review Special Committee - Minutes - 01/17/2023

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Fire Services Review Special Committee = S ° Et]
Minutes—Special Meeting January 17,2023 2a\ U Sx
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Members Present: Robert Tuneski (BoF), Richard Muckle (RTM), Greg Attanasio (RTM), Susan Drisebtt Rea
Rob Brule (Bes), Michael Howley (Director, Fire Services), Steven Sinagra (Emergency Mgmt), Marl Grecakiluski (VAS)
Members Absent: Tadd Patton (Chief, Goshen FC), Tam Martin (Captain, WES)
1, Call to. orders. Chair Tuneski called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
2. Public. comment: None
3.. Approval of previous. minutes: Motion by Attanasio, second by Muckle; to approve December 13, 2022, minutes as
presented. Voice vote: Unanimous.
4, Cansideration of FSRSC's:charge from the RTM (6/7/21): Discussion focused on the areas noted In-agenda:
A. OSWfirehouse statement: Chair Tuneski distributed a draft statement/interim report (attached).on the OSW
firehouse and asked members to review for discussion at next meeting, Director Howley reported that while the tarp
seems to.be.doing its job, problems. continue to-arise: new roof issues, with anticipated mold issues; sewer. line
backups-into the building; yet another heating pump failure; and the boiler remains.a serlous concern.
Consensus to adapt wording of executive summary of draft to get the Issue on the RTM’s February agenda, then
follow up at April RTM with backup informatian gleaned from the draft. Muckle recommended that when. the
presentation is made to: the RTM, it should be suggested that the building cammittee include FSRSC members. Brule
concurred, adding that he would have a Selectpersan serve th his stead} encouraged the Chair to ask Town Attorney
for legal. review of draft béfore FSRSC’s next meeting; ard suggested that the statemerit presenters disclose to RTM
that there will inevitably be emergency repairs needed before final design/construction of a replacement building.
Members weighed in on language changes; conserisus on this edited version:
"The Ad-Hoc-Fite Services Committee recommends ta.the RTM, that die ta the extensively deteriorated
condition of the Oswegatchié Fire Station; that it be replaced with anew building; and-recammend that
the RTM establish a building committee to oversee its design and construction.”
Motion by Attanasio, second by Muckle, approve the statement revisions and-authorize Chair ta present to RTM.
Voter 4-0-1 (Abstain-Driscoll) Matton passed.
B. Projected staffing by firehouse: Howley shared initial versions of response time data he is gleaning fram the
previous software and the system adapted two months ago. He noted that tweaking Is still needed to extract the
requested data and hew reports will be available at the next meeting, Chait asked whether the response times fell
within recommended guidelines; Howley. stated that the times do.comply but the-data doesn’t not show the number
of responders at each incident. Attanasio asked if it was possible to break out EMS response times.so.that.committee
can confirm that appropriate apparatus Isin the right spot. Howley will break out that data; he noted that Fire
Services {s:'In.good shape with apparatus, just added/upgraded rescue tools, and responds:as WAS support to Just
over 1000 Priority 1. rescue calls in a year. Attanasio reiterated ‘his request for respanse data showing times to get
froma staffed.station in one district ta-an incident in a different district.
WAS Director Greczkowski- reported that. WAS responded:to more than 3500 rescue calls. last year and that WAS has
2-person units staffed at two stations; OSW has 24-hour coverage; COH is'staffed for 16 hrs/day (8am-midnight),

FSRSC Minutes 01/17/23 page 2 of 2
B. (cont’d): Chair asked for status on the request for by-station deployment of projected staffing so that FSRSC can
request cost projections from the Finance Director, Howley reported that he is building the database, which includes
correcting erroneaus records and compiling data that was missing when he came on board. He noted that the three
bustest stations currently are Jordan, Cohanzie, and Oswegatchie and expects additional staff wauld be assigned
there first, since having just one individual on duty is not satisfactory or advisable. New developments on Rt 1 and Rt
85 support that, but proposed development in the near future warrant annual reviews of both recommended staffing
numbers and most effective placement of full- and part-time firefighters. Howley also explained that revisions
Proposed for the volunteer incentive program—which are focused on earning points for certification training—
acknowledge the 160-hour commitments by volunteers and could help In recruiting.
Brule noted that since he took office, he has never gotten a phone call because “an ambulance never showed up.” He
stated that WAS and WFS have a complementary arrangement that worked well in the past and |s still working well,
and that his support for hiring three new firefighters is not because WAS is not doing their job. {Brule left at 6:50pm
due to scheduling conflict.}
C. Radio, pagers update: Hawley reported that funding request for new pagers for volunteers was approved. He
noted that communications upgrades are at the beginning of a lengthy process; Fire Services had the immediate
need—with safety issues due to different kinds of equipment being utilized; and that he and Sinagra (Emergency
Mgmt) are working together on this initiative and Greczkowski (WAS) supports the direction they're heading,
D. Late-breaking issues: None brought forward. .
E. Deliverables: Committee reviewed list of information requested and/or received ta date (attached). Chair
confirmed by consensus that FSRSC is not charged with overall review of Fire Services aperations policies that are not
codified in ordinances, but rather address any problems that are brought forward regarding the policies. Howley
noted that coples of operations policies are now available at each firehouse,
5. Next meeting: Set for February 14, 2023, subject to availability.
6, Adjournment: Motion by Muckle; second by Driscoll to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. Voice vote: Unanimous.
Submitted by
Susan Driscoll, FSRSC Secretary
encl: Deliverables, Jan 2023
Draft 4 Interim Report/Statement

DELIVERABLES
Requested Information Requested | Status/Date Rec'd
WAS response data by district Jan 2023
Phasing of staffing growth projections by Dec 2022 | Being compiled
firehouse, by year
5- or 10-year Emergency Mgmt staffing plan | Dec 2022 | Working with union an schedules
Data on impact of development in past Dec 2022 | Being compiled
12 months on Dispatch calf volume
Fire companies’ bylaws Nov 2022
Response times from staffed firehouses to | Jul 2022 Partial/data being extrapolated
incidents in each district
Vv | Home/business development growth Jul 2022 Aug 2022 {Planning Dept info)
projections
Y | Current housing/census/ Jul 2022 Aug 2022
demographics data
Response times and call type/location stats | Jul 2022 Jan/Feb 2023
v | FY22 volunteer incentive analysis Apr 2022 | RTM PP&S Committee revising
program
Vv | Fire Services Org chart Apr 2022. | May 2022
v | OSW Engineering Report Apr 2022 | Nov 2022
Jan 2023 update

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee interim Report, January 2023
Executive Summary
The Ad Hoc committee in a 3-0-1 vote recommends to the RTM, that due to the deteriorated condition
of the Oswegatchie Fire Station and the physical and psychological impedance ta work and living caused
by existing repairs to the structure the fire house be replaced with a new building pursuant to certain
design considerations, to be determined independently, and existing legat action underway between the
Town and the Oswegatchie Fire Station.
Ad Hoc Committee
At the 6/7/21 meeting, the RTM voted to established an ad hoc committee with the follow
“To review issues including performance, policies, and staffing and present their findin,
recommendations of any changes needed to enhance public safety, creating a steeri
strategic plan....” The committee is bipartisan, composed of the fallowing memb
charter:
¢ Rich Muckle, RTM
« Greg Attanasio, RTM
« Susan Driscoll, Public Protection and Safety Council
* Robert Tuneski, Board of Finance
* Robert Brule, Board of Selectman
Assisting the committee is a technical advisory panel m he fa tawing Fire Services
representatives:
e Mike Howley, Director of Fire Services
e = Steve Sinagra, Emergency Manage
« Mark Greczkowski, WAS Manager
« Tam Martin, Full Time;
The committee has me nthly, sire plate, inputs for discussion have been received from
testimony of the adi i
Services Director; leg: use tours and meetings with fire chiefs. The committee
views its jab to revj jstill the information provided to permit development of positians
The, le Fire Station, fire service staffing, the relationship between volunteers
and dd methads to establish and maintain effective communication have been
identifie fag discussed and addressed by the committee.
Introduction
This document serves as an interim report to document some of the key findings of the committee and
recommendation for the Oswegatchie Fire Station.

Fire Services Ad Hac Committee Interim Report, January 2023
Relevant Findings
The findings from the legacy studies and curre
maintenance of 5 separate Fire Stations.
e
At the first meeting, April 2022, the Director of Fire Services stated that five fire stations are
currently necessary to address the fire risk for Waterford, and that the locations for the Town
are adequate. He further concluded that the Oswegatchie Fire Station should be replaced with
a new structure.
Reference 1a, Final Report on Fire Service Study, Waterford Fire Commission, June 2001,
recommended that “the present fire stations be used with the current system w hich uses staff
primarily composed of volunteers...for the delivery of fire and emergency services’
“clasing, cansalidation, or relocation of fire stations cauld passible (ly) lead to
volunteer participation”, The report also concluded that “The Town of Wate
continue to maintain the system of five fire statians as long as there is a
participation...”
Reference 1b, the Board of Fire Commissioners Long Range Pl
Plan dated February 26, 2007 concluded that “the current
itte ig Range
fiv@fire stations are
mes outlined in the
q s ditions, areas in need of immediate remediation, and
general issues ing. Fyjs study recommended not saving the original Oswegatchie
1928 structure gllateral result inferred that complete replacement of four wings
mpendium of three separate studies from 1995, 2001, and 2007 analyzed
ant topics (locations of fire stations, staffing make-up, and staffing levels), and
‘ontemporary response history to justify the report’s recommendations.
seve
provid
The most current structural inspection of the Fire Station, “Temporary Framing Inspection,
Report #1”, October 31, 2022 prepared by J,M. Albaine Engineering LLC, Is attached as Appendix
A. The firm found that “although the structural shoring is intact, acknowledged risks to the
building from lateral loading such as that from a severe storm or hurricane”. This is a current
and significant risk.

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee /nterim Report, January 2023
With the exception of one comment made at the November meeting, unanimous support for
replacing the Oswegatchie Fire Station was evidenced in testimony of the public and the
advisory council. This single comment was predicated on not having a longer-term plan that
addresses the entire fire services enterprise, staffing, service, fire station location, etc. This
recommendation decouples one of the elements of a tatal plan allowing topics (staffing,
volunteerism, communication) to be addressed individually to the greatest extent possible.
* The testimony was often very emotional and emphatic, citing safety concerns,
dismay for the absence of a current plan to replace the building, and highlighting
current state of disrepair and the absence of action did not properly reflect Tg
respect the Fire Services Department. Most recently (December 13 meeti
resident, Wayne H. Gilpin, detivered a lengthy impassioned speech rega
the Oswegatchie Fire Station. His written remarks were submitted
attached as Appendix B.
Table 1 summarizes some of the mast significant issues identified and réfayantg the*Bire Station
integrity.
ISSUE Me
Leaky roof, original 1928 structure Cogtinued co Ruildinigand equipment, wood rot
Leaky roof, 1985 addition (flat roof) in@fnal wall"Qamageewodthrot, mold
Créétes impedt t tdiuse of kitchen and women's bathroom,
Jost of traini , limits access of certain apparatus. If
Structural shoring and bracing throuhout fhomprothiged stygtture collapses, It might pull a portion of the
building cond floor: he 1960 and 1985 wings’
Damaged / splintered rafters |
structure
collapse, inadequate lateral support of 1960 / 1985 wings
Loose abandoned and exposed and
properly supported p
Wood rot
Original boiler exceeded
parts, limited numb
service It}
Potential loss of heating, catastrophic fallure leading to
personnel harm and building damage
Additional cost to repair / renovate
Increased cost upon renovation
Reduced structural integrity
Factor IV* rating (required for Fire Stations) [Increased cost upon renovation
*11/20/14 Feasibility Study, Oswegatchie Fire Station Waterford, CT, Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc.,
Planning / Architecture / Interlor Design, 225 Oakland Road, Studio 205 South Windsor, CT 06074
Reference 2, Chapter 5, page 3, paragraph 7
Table 1.- Summary of Most Notable Issues with Oswegatchie Fire Station

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee Interim Report, January 2023
Pictorial examples of the items fisted in Table 1 are provided in Figures a-p to help illuminate significance
and severity.
ak area in flat roof area, 1985 wing
Figures d-e. Internal area of leaky 2018 wing

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee Interim Report, January 2023
Figured fg, Internal damage from flat roof area
gures h-}. Shoring in kitchen and women’s bathroom

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee Interim Report, January 2023
Figures k-l, Shoring in 2018 wing and day room

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee Interim Report, January 2023
Figure n. Example of no sill plate
Picture p, Example of ins&g
Discussion
It is possible that the existing structure can be further repaired incrementally to keep it aperational. This
could lower future capital improvement costs, but potentially increase the annual cost of operation for
the Town. The overall risk associated with building operation and habitabillty would be marginally
improved with each repair. Estimates to fully restore the original condition of the building were not

Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee Interim Report, January 2023
requested by the committee, but the consensus was that the cost to restore to original condition and
retire the existing risk would be competitive with replacement cost.
The committee instead, recommends that Waterford residents, our Fire Services Department, and our
paid and volunteer firefighters are better served by replacing the Oswegatchie Fire Station with a new
fire station. Although the cost to fully repair the issues identified in Table 1, and restore the building to
full operability may be an option, there are additional issues which will require consideration and cast (if
they can be accommodated). These primarily are associated with the future use of the structure as It
pertains to: 1. Providing additional utility, as a potential location for Waterford ambula rvices 2.
Complying with currant building codes which in some cases are grandfathered. 3. Comply
current NFPA standards; and 4. Addressing future staffing needs including gender, nu
employment status (part / full time / volunteer}. Ail of these issues can be more simp!
lowest impact as part of the design process for a new fire station.
Furthermore, a decision to replace the existing Oswegatchie Fire Station d
action on related issues brought before this committee or the Town, as §
building committee using information feed from this committee and fi
recommendations on fire station staffing and additional utility of
this way, greater efficiency is achieved at the Ti
parallel, and action can be initiated (e.g. establ
the full execution of this Cammittee’s charge.
Reference 1
Fire Services Study, 2018
Reference 1a, Final
Reference 1b, the Ba
February 26, 2007
11/20/14 Fe j Study, Oswegatchie Fire Station Waterford, CT, Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc.,
ture / Interior Design, 225 Oakland Road, Studio 205 South Windsor, CT 06074
Salvage of original 1928 structure, Chapter 5, page 1
“Mt is our opinion that trying to salvage this building will not be in the best interests of the project”