MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES

Morris County Fire Prevention Association

Morris County Fire Prevention Association
P.O. Box 96 
Ledgewood, NJ 07852

Minutes of the June 1, 2005 meeting

President Rich Heimbach called meeting to order at 10:05 AM

Secretary's Report  - No Report

Treasurer's Report  - No Report

NJ Division of Fire Safety  -  (Also see attached)

" Working on better interaction with DFS inspectors in local jurisdictions
" New quarterly newsletter to be distributed to all LEA's
" Monitoring section now down to 1 person
" Codes Council looking to adopt NJ version of IFC by year end
" Reminder - NJUFC prohibits storing lighter fluid over charcoal supplies in mercantile stores
" Notification and Response Guideline for State Fire Investigative Unit distributed.  (See attached)
  
County Fire Marshal Report

" Still seeking approval for assistant. 
" 4H Fair scheduled for weekend of July 22 - 24.  Looking for volunteers and handouts.
" M/M, 2nd and passed to allocate $1,300 for supplies for this year's supplies for 4H Fair which includes unexpended funds authorized for last year.
" M/M, 2nd and passed to provide handouts which include mission statement of the County Fire Prevention Association and a list of active towns that are members of the Association.

Code Advisory  - Progress

Forest Fire Service  - No Report

State Fire Prevention Association / Presidents report

Rich Heimbach to meet with a Fire Commissioner on 6/2/05 to discuss general concerns of the fire service including:
" Possible repeal of new law requiring a fire extinguisher prior to selling a house.  Note, the rules for this law are being promulgated.  No enforcement criteria established yet.  Fire service, in general, is against this new law which circumvented the proper channels prior to its enactment.
" Tenure protection for Fire Officials and Inspectors has yet to be finalized.
" Limited availability of Local Assistance from the DFS.  Anyone desiring better local assistance support should submit a letter to Rich on their department letterhead requesting same.  He will  hand deliver to the Commissioners during one of their meetings.
" NFIRS reporting is sporadic throughout the state.  There should be equitable enforcement throughout the state or provide further incentives to support the ongoing maintenance of the system.

Master Planning  - No Report


Pub Ed

" The poster contest is slightly behind schedule.  Still waiting to obtain several addresses in order to mail the winners savings bonds.  Subsequent publicity arrangements to be made.

Trailer

" Fund raiser golf outing to be held again.  Brochures available on web site.  Looking for support, hole sponsors, etc.
" The Freeholders have shown interest in assisting with this project.  They had some questions regarding its ability to accommodate people of diverse cultures or physical disabilities.

Legislation

" Distributed two final adoptions pertaining to new LHU category for retreat lodges and authorization for DFS to conduct investigations involving firefighter death or serious injury.  The latter mandating notification of the Division within 4 hours.

Bylaws  - No Report

Lecture / Presentations  - No Report

Old Business

" Dues are slow in coming.  Applications are available on the MCFPA web site.  Each individual member must be listed on the application in order to properly process it.

New Business / Open Forum

" Looking for support from membership in requesting that the County Fire Marshal Office be put back under Law and Public Safety instead of Finance. 
" Effective May 16, 2005, the responsibility for licensing, regulatory, and enforcement activities for residential health care facilities was transferred from the Department of Health and Senior Services to the Department of Community Affairs.
" Although the DFS has some investigators to assist with fire cause and origin investigations, the Prosecutor's Office is not always responding.  There exists a need for additional qualified arson investigators.

Good and Welfare

" Sympathy cards to be sent to Otto Miller and Mike Pellek for passing of wife and mother in law respectively.
" Mark Kiempisty from Joshua Marcus Group reviewed his various fund raising and handout products.

Adjourned  -  11:30 AM

ADDITIONAL NOTE!!!!!

Only 7 people have sent in dues or vouchers this year!!!

The next NJ Fire Safety Commission meeting will be held on July 20th at the Beach Haven Emergency Operations Center.

The next County President's meeting is scheduled for August 5th at the Middlesex County Fire Academy.