Wilton Fire Commission
Minutes of Regular Monthly
Fire Department Headquarters

March 1, 2005

Present:		Commissioners Richard McCarty and J. Casey Healy
Others:		Chief Paul Milositz, Fire Marshal David Kohn; Captain Bill Cesareo; Firefighters Glenn Johnson, Gary Fuoco, Joe Bisenius, Jeff Locher and Tom Cassin; Wilton Bulletin reporter Julie Weisberg and Wilton Villager reporter Noelle Frampton

1. Call to Order: Chairman McCarty, noting that a quorum was present, called the meeting to order at approximately 1835 hours.
2. Approval of Minutes and Review of Monthly Reports
   1. The Commission reviewed the Deputy Chief's report dated March 1, 2005 and the attached Volunteer Participation report. Chief Milositz advised the Commission that all shifts were concentrating Truck 5 driver training and that Truck 5 will officially go in service in early March. In response to a question posed by Mr. McCarty, Chief Milositz confirmed that the recall item on Truck 5 had been repaired. Chief Milositz also reported that the Training Committee had held its first meeting. The Training Committee is Chief Milositz, Deputy Chief Peters, Lt. Czarnecki and Firefighter Carlson.
   2. The Commission reviewed the Fire Marshal's Monthly Report for February 2004, which report noted there were no investigations during the month. Fire Marshal Kohn advised the Commission that inspections had slowed with Fire Inspector Meehan out recovering from surgery on his back. Mr. Kohn reported that an evacuation exercise had been conducted at Town Hall. Thereafter, the Commission reviewed and discussed Fire Marshal Kohn's Memorandum dated March 1, 2005 regarding Code Enforcement Fee Schedules. The Commission instructed the Fire Marshal to draft a fee schedule for the Commission's review. Chief Milositz reported that charging fees for certain firefighting and rescue services had been the topic of recent meetings of municipal fire chiefs. He noted that the Town of Fairfield has begun to charge for response to motor vehicles accidents. Commissioner Healy requested that the Chief distribute to the Commission for review Fairfield's fee schedule.
3. Old Business
   1. Budget for fiscal year 2006 - Chief Milositz and Chairman McCarty reported that they had attended a working session of the Board of Selectmen that was held on February 23, 2005. It appears that the Board will cut one of the two staff vehicles requested by the Department. The Board did not discuss the Commission's request for a lift. Chairman McCarty reported that he reminded the Board that the Commission would like to develop a vehicle replacement plan versus the current practice of driving vehicles until the wheels fall off, to wit: Ladder 1. Mr. McCarty also reminded the Board that two engines that were due to be replaced in 2006 fiscal year budget had been postponed to the 2007 budget; thereby pushing the envelope on the life expectancy for those engines established by the vehicle manufacturer. He further advised the Board that the cost of engines on average increases by 6% a year.
4. New Business
   1. Budget for fiscal year 2005 - The Chief reported that the Department appears to be on budget through the first two quarters of fiscal year 2005.
5. Adjournment: At approximately 1910 hours the Commission ended the executive session and upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting was adjourned.

The next regular meeting of the Commission will be held on April 4, 2005 at Fire Department Headquarters.

Respectfully submitted,

J. Casey Healy
Secretary - Fire Commission