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1991.01.14_PSSAB_Minutes_Regular G � TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH �./ PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MINUTES Monday, January 14, 1991 9. 30 A.M. Chairman Harold C. Chambers called this Regular Meeting to order in Commission Chambers at 9: 30 A.M. The Chairman noted for the record that Vice Chairman Arthur G. Eypel and Regular Member Dennie Freeman were also present. Upon MOTION by Mr . Freeman/Mr. Eypel , the Minutes of the Regular Meet- ing of December 14, 1990 were unanimously approved . NEW BUSINESS Review Out-of-Town Meetings re Alternative Fire/Rescue Services In light of Chairman Chambers ' presentation to the Boca Raton City Council at their Workshop Meeting on January 7, 1991 not receiving a favorable response from that governing body, Mr . Freeman noted that the initial meeting he and the Chairman had with then Assistant City Mana- ger Rick Witker , Fire Chief Jack Withrow and other City fire depart- ment personnel on December 18, 1990 was extremely productive and it was the Boca staff' s suggestion that the Town' s proposal be presented to their City Council . Mr . Freeman then read into the record the Palm Beach Post article regarding the Chairman' s appearance before the Boca Council (attached to and made part of these minutes) . Citing a section of the article that referred to communication between one of the Boca Council members and the Town' s Mayor , wherein it was reported that the Mayor had said the entire Commission did not support the Board ' s approach to Boca, Mr . Freeman expressed displeasure, if this reporting was factual , and noted that the Board had been instituted by the Town Commission by majority vote and had approached Boca with majority approval of the Commission . Mr . Freeman reiterated his feeling that the Town would be better served by a contiguous neighbor , i .e. , Boca Raton or Delray Beach. Chairman Chambers agreed with Mr . Freeman' s assessment of the initial meeting, saying the Boca officials involved had recognized the Town' s proposal as a means of system-wide enhancement on a cost-only/no profit basis . He repeated it had been the Boca staff ' s suggestion that the proposal be presented to their Council . The Chairman also noted that during the course of the initial meeting he and Mr . Freeman were ad- vised by Chief Withrow that Boca would not require sprinkler retrofit- ting , which would have represented a savings of $3-4 million to the owners of condominiums in several of the Town' s buildings which are af- fected by the County retrofit ordinance. Public Safety Services Advisory Board Regular Meeting - Minutes January 14, 1991 Page 2 of 3 u Referring back to the newspaper article and the alleged communication between the Town ' s Mayor and a member of the Boca City Council , Mr . Eypel said he would think it inappropriate for any member of the Town Commission to interfere with what the PSSAB was trying to accomplish in fulfilling their responsibility to the Town . The members unanimously concurred with Mr . Eypel in this regard . A brief recess was called by the Chairman at 9: 55 A.M. and the meeting was reconvened at 10: 05, at which time the Chairman stated that during the recess he had been able to contact David Harden, Delray Beach City Manager , and was to have a brief meeting with Mr . Harden this morning at 11: 00 A.M. . During this meeting, Chairman Chambers said he would endeavor to get Delray staff recommendation to make a presentation to the Delray City Council . In this regard the Chairman noted that an initial meeting with Delray staff, including Mr . Harden and Fire Chief Kerry Kohen, had been productive and the officials in attendance did not seem disinclined regarding the possibility of providing fire/rescue to the Town . Recapping a meeting on December 20, 1990 with Palm Beach County Fire/Rescue staff, which was attended by himself and Chairman Chambers, Mr . Freeman noted for the record those in attendance from the County: Herman Brice, Fire/Rescue Chief Randy Shepherd of Chief Brice' s Office Kathy Owens, Coordinator Frank Robinson, Finance Mr . Freeman also noted that among items discussed at this meeting were a possible 2. + % contract cost increase next fiscal year and second re- sponse time from the County, which was stated by their officials to be anywhere from 17 to 25 minutes. He added that the County officials did acknowledge that having fire/rescue services provided to the Town by either Boca or Delray would improve second response time to approxi- mately 7-8 minutes. It was the CONSENSUS of the members that all initial meetings with out- of-town entities regarding fire/rescue services had been very produc- tive. OTHER BUSINESS In a discussion generated by Chairman Chambers ' question to the members as to what should be reported to the Town Commission regarding the pos- sible dissolution of the PSSAB, Mr . Eypel replied that he would like to see the Board, or some form of it, continued in the event that no fire/rescue alternative can be put into place and the Town is left to deal only with the County. In this way, he continued , the interests of the taxpayers could be represented as regards contract negotiations. 'public Safety Services Advisory Board --Regular Meeting - Minutes January 14, 1991 Page 3 of 3 The possibility of the Town establishing its own fire/rescue department was briefly touched on, with the Chairman suggesting that perhaps Mr . Freeman and Mr . Eypel could look into this, using information supplied in the cost proposals from Boca and Delray. A brief discussion took place wherein the members expressed concern re- garding increased County costs next fiscal year and again affirmed their position that the Town would be better served by either Boca or Delray, both of which, should it be possible to contract with either , would provide fire/rescue services on a cost only/no profit basis. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, and to accommodate Chairman Chambers' meeting with Delray Manager David Harden at 11: 00 A.M. , the meeting was adjourned at 10: 20 A.M. , with the members agreeing not to set a future meeting date at this time. dmt i APPROVE:c- ar d._ a Arthur G. Eypel , Vice hairman J Dennie Freeman ATTEST:! DATE: G f PALM BEACH POST January 8 , 1991 Boca- rejects fire-rescue for Highland By JENNY STALETOVICH man Al Alford said. "What are you going to want next, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer and why didn't you annex years ago?" BOCA RATON — City Council members Monday Council members said providing a rescue unit scoffed at a request from Highland Beach to provide would not benefit Boca Raton and would be an added fire-rescue services to the small beach town. cost to taxpayers.Councilman Al Travasos also said he Highland Beach now pays $900,000 a year to Palm had talked to Highland Mayor Joseph Boulay,who said Beach County for the service,said Town Commission- the entire'1'own Commission did not support the move. er Hal Chambers,who appealed to Boca Raton council Boca Raton fire officials have prepared a cost members. The town would like Boca Raton to move a report but not taken a stand on the proposal, Corn- rescue unit to a fire station next to its Town Hall for mander Bruce Silk said. In their report, fire officials faster and cheaper service to residents. said providing the unit would cost at least $118,100 to "It might be good for us and good for you," operate the first year and $1 million to pay staff. Chambers said. Highland Beach entered a nine-year contract with But council members rejected the idea. the county in October for fire-rescue services. Ilowev- "You wanted our water. You wanted our fire er, town commissioners have until February to back department. Now you want our fire-rescue," Council- out of the deal. 'r I I I