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APPENDIX � Study Committee Notes and Inter�iews We began our study with a commit- tee meeting on May 28, 2002 to dis- cuss the scope of our study. A list of questions was prepared t.o submit to Fire Chief Gasaway. Hc answered 21 of our questions with cicar and concise written answers and also sent supporting documenls. A list of follow-up questions and thc follow- ing meetings were sel up. August 20, 2002 Met with: Tim O'Neill, Assistant T'ire Chief Tim informed us lhat our cmer- gency PSA (Prim�ry Service Area) ambulance is located in Vadnais Heights. He (as well as Chief Gasaway) recommends a combina- tion full-tirrie/volunteer firefightcr team with 7-9 people on cali 24 hours/day. Full-time firelighters would be cross-trained in EMS and firefighting; they still would not bc able to transport, only stabili�e and administer emergency procedures. St. Pau] Dispatch receives a11911 calls that are then directed to Roseville_ St. Paul is contracted lo respond to haza�-dous materials cal.Js. Twenty percent of Roseville residents are 6.5 and over. At pres- ent, tk�e rire Department has about 900 calls per ycar. The pay is low, but he fccls tnost volunteers want a better rctirctncnt plan_ The Roseville Fire Department Strategic Plan is a written document explain- ing thc rationalc and priorities of lhe Firc Dcpartmcnt. According to the Stralegic Plan outlined in the publicalion, cach 911 call would be answered by policc, firefighter/para- medic, and then Cransported by Allina ainbulance. Octoher 8, 2002 Met with: Koseville Police Chief Carol Sletner Also attending: Firc Chief Richard Gasaway Police are the ]st respanders l0 911 calls. Police are in the comtnunity all thc tiroe, and usually 2 cars respond to calls (includes CPR & defibulator). Response time is usu- ally within four minutes. There are 46-49 policc in Roseville's deparl- menl. All are full-time aff'icers. Policc cannot transport. Carol sug- gests we takc a position based on a national st.andard. October 23, 2002 Met with: Neal Beets, Rasevilie City Manager The question of pay rates for volun- leer firefighters was raised. The Ci�y is doing a Compensation Study £or all city employees, including firerghters. Empioyees of the city are neilher encouraged nor discour- aged to become volunteer firetight- ers. He suggeslcd shortening the time to vesl for pension benetits, and to pay markct. rate to volun- teers. Neal is in favor of a combina- tion fue deparlment, meaning some fiill and some voluntcer part-time firefighters. All full-timc people would be cross-lraincd as para- �nedics and firefighlers. With this scenario, three separate groups could respond to each call—first responder police, paramcdic/fire- fighters, and ambulance (Allina) with paramedics. Other opLions would be contracting with St. Paul, though loyalties may be to St. Paul and not Roseville_ Met with: Chris IVIill�r, Roseville City Finance llirector Chris cxplaincd that Roseville con- tribuled $250,000 to the Fuerght.er's Pcnsion Fund in 20U2, aboul $150,000 bcing state aid. This amounl is nol chargcd to the Fire llepartment Budget. When asked the cost of hiring 2 cross-trained paramedic/firefighters, he told us about $120,000-$140,000 per year. At the present time, beginning vol- unteer firetighters earn $7 per hour. Raising the starting pay to $11 per hour would cost the city about $340,000. There are presently four volunteers who are also city etnployees including the Nire Marshal and Fire Inspector. They do not go "off the clock" for the city when on fire calls. (The expectation is to make up time missed for fire calls.) The T'ire Chief decides on the nnrnber of calls/hours firefighters must respond (presently 30%). He suggested hiring at least some full- time firc�ghtcrsll:MT personnel, increase pay for volunteers with extra pay for weckcnd duty and change the pension vcsting tixne to 5-7 years. December 77, 2002 Met with: Jim '1'schida with thc Roseville Firefighters Relief Assaciation and ltetired Firefightcr Jim Bodsg�u-d One of thc bencfits of volunteer firefighLers is thcir retire►nent fund. (Full-lime Crc persoa.nel such as the Nire Chief are not covered by this fund.) To be vcstcd, 10 years of service are needed. At retire�nent, the iu-efighters can take a lump-sum payment or an annuity atnount. The fire relief fund is funded by ci .ty and state contribu[ions. For[y-eight retired firefighters from Roseville are presently drawing from the fund_ There is a shortage of volun- teer firefighters in Roseville. It is especially hard to find daytime vol- unteers. The housing market here is not as affiordable, and starting pay is law. Physical and medical exams are more stringent, and few employ- crs let etnployees leave work to answcr calls. Training required for starting volunteers is eight hours/wcck for six months_ Recommendation:s include more League of Women Voter RoMaFH 19 Roseville Fire Department 2003 & Beyond