City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: March 4, 2003

Item No.: 26

Recommendation: Informational.

Background: This is a response to Mayor Dale Richards' Common Council Report dated 1/21/03 requesting the blue ribbon committee to formulate a proposed mission statement and timeline to study the merits of utilizing volunteers/paid-on-call personnel to assist the Oak Creek Fire Department.

THE BLUE RIBBON VOLUNTEER/PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS STUDY COMMITTEE has been formed and has held their first meeting on February 6, 2003 and subsequent meetings on February 13, and February 20, 2003.

Citizen appointments are as follows:

Chair: Carol Grundy, 9280 S. Nicholson Road

Aldermanic Rep: Ald. Richard Bolender, 3715 E. Ryan Road

Firefighter Union Rep: Steve Wilding (ex officio member)

Members:

Allen Rayeske, 9257 S. Nicholson Road

Barb Erdmann, 2211 E. Grewen Drive

Kevin Kratt, 2101 W. Oakwood Road

Tracy Peters, 10038 S. Nicholson Rd.

Dimity Grabowski, 3110 E. Elm Road

Jim Kahle, 7966 Lake Pointe Dr., Franklin

Our proposed mission statement is as follows:

"Our Mission is to study the feasibility of utilizing volunteer/paid-on-call firefighters to assist the Oak Creek Fire Department and to reduce annual overtime pay out without compromising safety and services to the residents of Oak Creek."

The following is a list of items being studied and reviewed (but may not be all inclusive) to complete our mission:

(a) scheduling; (b) methods of operation; (c) comparison information with other communities, (d) response time on calls (ambulance and engines); (e) education and certification; (f) cost of equipment; (g) liability insurance coverage/workmen's compensation; (h) volunteer/paid-on-call compensation.

Due to availability of members only two meetings are planned for March. I expect that it will take through May, possibly part of June to complete the research, analyze the data and prepare a report for the Council.

Prepared by:

Carol Grundy, Chair

Respectfully submitted,

Robert L. Kufrin

City Administrator