Call to Order @ 1820 – 20 members and board members present. Companies present: Rainier Wildfire, Chewack, Late Summers, Remsberg, Liberty, LL Meadow, Rainier Medic, JR Wildfire, Early Winters Outfitters, Northern Construction, The General, Peone Logging, Wildfire Services, Advanced Life Systems, Lifeline, Aegis Logistics, Bailey Enterprises. Danielle Sims Secretary.
Minutes from last meeting were sent via email. Motion to approve as viewed Dan Shaw, 2nd Jake Burkhart. All approved.
Treasurers Report: Danielle shared the account balances and explained that is the bulk of our income for the year since classes are paid for at the time they sign up. This will be our income for the remainder of the year. Danielle shared the P&L Summary noting that our classes have not been as well attended as previous years, no questions.
Reed said he was glad the classes were more available. Andre asked if we will have more classes. Danielle explained that classes past June would be available at double the rate according to the Training Policy. Robert asked if classes are scheduled, Danielle said no, they will just be on an as needed basis. Any other questions, Todd shared a statement that we will have a substantial bill from our IT guy so that expense is coming. Danielle shared about our 990 filing status. The penalties that were assessed have been removed. She let them know that we are all set.
• Account Balances – Checking $75,121 Savings $60,123
• President’s Salary – Board approved paying the president for last season. The members commented that they are happy for all his help.
Motion to approve the minutes, Jake, 2nd Dan. All approved.
Training Committee Updates
• Attendance is down. – Reaffirmed that the attendance is down but Reed had said that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We may have a boom late season.
• Should we skip S-230 & S-215 next year? – Not skip S-230 will skip S-215 unless it’s needed. These classes cost us about $4k and we didn’t get close to recovering that fee, but we can absorb that sometimes.
• Danielle found a way to get the discontinued class workbooks printed if needed.
Old Business:
• Committee Reports – Todd shared about our committees and where we plan to focus.
– PAC – Jake is the chair of this committee. Jake asked if he could share about the location requirements before we took volunteers. We need someone for central Washington. Todd shared that a statewide representation would be good. He will share this in an email with the membership. Jake shared what he has done and what his goals are. Reed shared that Okanogan Co commissioners have shown up at fires to try to encourage the teams to keep using local resources. Jake has been trying to get more information about crossing state lines, Farm Labor, MISPA, FLSA. He needs to establish new contacts because of the changes in government. Shaliee said she has been struggling with this. Jake said the certification team in San Franscisco is overwhelmed with the influx of paperwork because their system is not equipped to handle it. Shailee asked if Jake could assist with application and Jake said he is more involved in improving the process.
– Todd shared about the contract side of this and the future requirements for FLC and MISPA. At a past meeting with DOL they explained that anyone who works in agriculture is included. All the solicitations this year included this verbiage. Danielle learned from the CO that it is a national template and it’s up to the contractor to determine if it’s needed for them. The requirement was if you have people who driver other people or ground pounder and if they stay overnight. Todd asked if the Local FD have to have FLC too, they said yes. Todd and Jake have learned that the CO are completely disconnected form the DOL and neither agency checks with the other. Danielle shared that the CO officer will not take a stand on whether you need one or not. Todd shared about a friend in Montana had to show proof that he had just filled out the application and didn’t actually have to show his FLC. Jake said he has some contacts and could send an email. Todd called the WA ST DOL and told them that that we have a Federal FLC and asked if you have to have one for the state. They said yes. So he is in the process of getting a WA ST FLC. He had to show proof of a bond. Jake asked if there was a law or act that required it. Greg said that if you’re in forestry work you need it but if you’re in FF you don’t need it. Faller’s in OR need their FLC but Engines don’t. Jake said be careful about taking someone’s word. Reed said he had to take a test. US Timbercutters got fined $80k. Andre asked about tenders. Todd told him that Tender operators don’t need it currently, but it could change. Tracy asked if EMS is included. Todd said to call CO. Danielle said that he should have already sent the attestation on schedule O because the contracts are closed.
– Medical Services Advisory Committee has been dissolved due to inactivity.
– Legal Advisory Committee – Jake Burkhart has been combined with PAC.
– Fire Defense committee stopped sending Todd notices about the meeting. He asked to be re-invited. He heard back and it was quickly resolved, and he will be included in future meetings.
– DNR relationships and the State Fire Marshall’s office. Todd is going to continue to work on these relationships.
• Plan to Review/Update of By-Laws – Danielle and Todd will begin review these. The board with review and then the membership.
• Code of Ethics accepted and signed by all current members. The board feels it is a pretty good document. At some point the board may review and update it.
• Any other Old Business – No
• Group purchasing (shelters, radios, tires, insurance) – Silke contacted us. Todd is checking with Les Schwab on group tire purchasing. Todd’s insurance company is interested. Jake suggested that part of the PAC all use various CPA or Bookkeepers, he envisions that there would be a local/regional firm that specialized in contract firefighting. Nothing on new radio requirements yet. If you are going to buy a new radio, you will probably need to buy a model 5000. Danielle shared that Jake had mentioned the need for a CPA or Bookkeeper that knew the fire business.
New Business:
• Prescribed burn – Todd sent an email that 4 type 6 engines were called to go to RX in Methow Valley. Jake said there was confusion. The dispatch came from Dist. 6 and then to CWIC. When they got there Dist. 6 was surprised to see them. Top level is making the decisions and then the lower level is having to deal with it. Gordy shared that his team had a good experience but didn’t know they would have to provide their own meals. No peridium if you live within 50 miles. Gordy had to call finance and it felt like they were just one more burden. Jake’s crews were more than 50 miles, so they got peridium. Gordy heard that they planned to use local crews so they wouldn’t have to pay peridium. Jake heard they are going to start using teams which will be very beneficial. More discussion followed and this will be shared with the membership. Jake said we need to advocate for a team to handle these.
• Todd asked if there was any other new business.
• Todd shared from the earlier board meeting about cleaning out the database from old employees or employees that have no training be removed or archived. Danielle found out that we are required to keep records for 5 years. Danielle shared an issue from last year that we thought was resolved but wasn’t where instructors could add employees that aren’t part of their company. She will check with our IT and make sure it is fixed. Danielle shared a process that the members should approve to archive or remove employees. Jake motioned to clean the database of employees, Dan 2nd. Two separate actions – 1. Those that never took any training will be deleted. 2. Those that have had training but are inactive be archived. Todd asked Jake to clarify, Danielle clarified that she would just be deleting user accounts with no records every August. Todd asked for any other discussion. All in favor, motion passes.
• Election of Officers: Todd shared the list of officers that need renewed or added. Greg, Tim and Reed all said they would accept a nomination.
– Greg Bailey’s two-year term as VP is up this spring 2021-2023. – Greg got called to a fire. Reed nominated Greg; Tracy seconded. No other Nominations. All in favor, approved. Greg remains VP.
– EB #1 is Vacant, and we need to fill the seat for the term of 2021-2024.- Todd opened the floor for nominations. Will nominated Jacob Burkhard, Dan Show seconded. Reed asked if anyone else who showed up to the meeting want to be a board member? All in favor, approved. Jacob is now EB#1. Todd asked if we could change the term. Danielle reminded him that it was set up this way, so we have an overlap of board members.
– These two positions 3-year terms are expiring this spring 2020-2023:
– Tim Logozzo EB #3 – Jacob nominated Tim; Reed seconded. All in favor, Approved. Tim is renewed.
– Reed Gracie EB #4 – Gordy nominated Reed, Will seconded. All in favor, Approved. Reed is renewed.
• Membership
– Membership Updates – Danielle shared a couple of membership updates with new contacts. They filled out a new application so the database could be updated. When business change hands, the new owner will have to apply for membership. Todd let the members know that Buck Smith will need to apply for membership when he acquires Liberty Wildfire next year.
– We had not contact from Utting Construction and North Cascades Wildfire so they are no longer members. 4 others sent appeals and were reinstated. Olympic Ambulance changed contact, they sent dues payment, but we never heard from them, and they didn’t sign the COE, so we sent them a letter and returned their dues check.
– New Members – Early Winters Outfitters is re-applying for membership because he lost his membership. Jermaine Allen was supposed to attend. Todd shared that we had tabled his membership a couple of times but since they are not here their application for membership is null and void. Reed asked a question about contacting them, he got contacted just the same as others to attend and he never showed up. Danielle explained the process with Rattlesnake and how long it’s been going on. Todd said we should send them a letter letting them know they are no longer a member. Because of his abuse of the system, he would not get the membership benefits until he is voted in.
– Todd opened the floor to Aaron Burkhart to share why he was applying for membership. He said because he missed the deadline for signing the COE. Todd asked Aaron what equipment he had, Aaron said Todd saw his contract, Todd said just the first page. Danielle interjected that maybe Aaron would like to share for the other members present so they could become familiar. Todd jumped in and said, oh it’s just 4 engines. Aaron did not reply. Todd said it is customary to send new members to the quite room so we could have a discussion. Danielle put Aaron into a room. Todd asked for questions. Gordy said, “Let me get this straight, he lost his membership because he didn’t sign the COE but has been a member for many years”. Todd said yes, he was a member for many years and explained that he along with others were asked to send an appeal and he did not so the board is allowing him to reapply for membership. He has maintained his benefits, so he hasn’t missed anything. Todd asked if anyone had anything to say? Jacob wanted to clarify Aaron being a member for a long time. Gordy didn’t understand what Jake was saying. Jake clarified that the membership was his and that Aaron has only been a member since 2019. Andre commented on what the COE is and that’s it’s not a big deal to sign it so why didn’t he sign it? Todd explained that it was new this year. All voted in favor of allowing him to continue in membership. When Aaron rejoined the meeting, Todd told him that his membership was approved and that he has a one-year probation.
• Any other New Business
Some discussion on how contracts would be opened up in the future at the beginning of the season or mid-season. Kathy Ciais has a concern about EERA with DNR and there paying them more. Andre added that we are different from DNR with our VIPR contracts. Kathy said she sees DNR on State Mob. Andre asked how they can be on both. Todd said if it’s a state fire then the priority will be DNR. If it’s a federal fire, then the feds will ask for DNR help. Kathy said it doesn’t work the way it should. Reed shared that maybe it is just closest, and they will make mistakes. Andre would like to be able to work in their area, but it doesn’t happen. Andre said you can’t sign up for EERA if you are VIPR.
Fall meeting TBD.
Dan asked if there was something in the By-Laws that required member attendance. Todd shared that it used to be a requirement, but we need to look into it.
Motion to Adjourn Meeting, Dan, seconded by Tim. Meeting Adjourned @ 2016 hours.