SAFER 2021 Annual Board Meeting Minutes
June 4, 2021 – AllStar Fire Equipment Office
Board Members present: President Scott Quinn, Past President Keith Gurrola, Chuck Seely, Tracy Rabe, Russ Snider, Rob Szczepanek, Gabe Sayegh (Vender Liaison), Scott Hudson, Jeff Wilkerson,
I. Opening Comments:
President Quinn welcomed the board of directors back after a challenging “COVID-19” year. He related the LAFD experiences dealing with agency specific “Health and Wellness” to the operation of the public vaccine program.
Keith shared recent Fillmore FD milestones including positional changes and planned expansion.
Gabe related the manufacturing and supply chain experience they are observing. He advised many suppliers are having problems getting staff to return to work after the pandemic “shut-downs”.
Tracy advised she is continuing to update the SAFER social media sources with up to date meeting information. She related the most recent email fan-out had large numbers who “opened and read” the content.
Scott Hudson related recent events at the Hemet FD.
Russ Snider updated recent apparatus orders and academy graduating 47 firefighters – all free from COVID -19 during the process.
Rob Szczepanek related the agency had no deaths from COVID-19 in his agency, but had several occurrences of Valley Fever in their brush resource crews. They are adding a third crew with CalFire funding (paid crews) – these resources will be called “HOTEL” crews to differentiate between inmate crews. They will be receiving two “Firehawk” Helicopters soon. Related some electrical utility companies and smaller agencies are contracting with “Private Companies” as well as receiving funding to increase local resources.
II. Open positions:
Keith Gurrola motion:
Extend the 2021 Officer / Board Member elections to 2022 election cycle by December – Odd for one year, even for two years, with the exception of the Treasurers position (which needs to be filled immediately)
Motion was seconded by Jeff Wilkerson
Board vote was unanimous AYE
a. President
b. Vice-President
c. Treasurer
d. Board
e. Board
III. Challenges:
President Quinn related SAFER needs to rebuild / reinforce board membership. He wants to see consistency, “fired-up” programs / meeting attendance.
The issue of “12 monthly meetings vrs < meetings” was briefly flown as a possibility.
IV. Meeting calendar 2021 – 2022
Potential Venues:
ü Barona Casino
ü Huntington Beach FD
ü Pachanga Casino
ü Anaheim FD
ü Carlsbad FD
ü Orange FD
ü Fillmore FD
ü San Diego City FD
ü Ventura City FD
ü CalFire – Ben Clark
ü Long Beach FD
ü Santa Fe Springs – (December?)
Scheduled Meeting Venues:
· June 2021 – Downey Fire Department
· July 2021 – Newport Beach Fire Department
· August 2021 –
· September 2021 –
· October 2021 –
· November 2021 –
· December 2021 – Santa Fe Springs (?)
Possible Meeting Program Topics:
§ Homeless encampments
§ Solar Panels
§ Mental health
§ 1st Amendment issues
§ Electric Vehicles / Hazards
§ Sleep Deprivation
§ “Boyd Street” Fire – (LAFD Incident)
V. Next meeting
June 18th, 2021 - Downey Fire Department
12222 Paramount Blvd., Downey
VI. Nominations and voting
See Chief Gurrolas motion / vote above.
VII. Closing Comments:
Scott Quinn related LAFD’s recent experiences / Issues:
ü Personnel deaths related to COVID -19
ü Integrating “city staff” into Civil (Disaster) Worker positions with respect to COVID-19 preventive measures
ü NGO’s (non-governmental organizations). The issues observed when CalOSHA received a complaint regarding PPE / Procedures from within CORE organization. Discussion on what an agency can do to guide / direct an NGO regarding personnel / staff “Illness / Injury Prevention”.
ü FF’s & PM’s etc. Operate under Pathogen Standard
ü CalOSHA has extended their investigation “window” from six to eight months.
ü They will be holding a funeral for a member who passed away from cancer.