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Minutes 06-14-04 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM C, WEST WING, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2004 AT 10:00 A.M. Present Tom Balfe, Chairman John Bebensee, Vice Chair Barbara Madden, Secretary Julianne Alibrandi Mark Bobich Bill Coup Dominic DeMauro Glenda Hall Franz LaFontant Carisse LeJeune Brenda LeVant Chris Mitchell Glendon Morgan Barbara Scott Tim Valentine Parks Recreation City Clerk Risk Management Utilities Library Finance/Warehouse Public Works Engineering City Manager Communications Development ITS Police Fire/EMS Absent Eric Falstad Dorothy Mack Golf Course Human Resources I. Call to Order Chairman Balfe called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. II. Roll Call The Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. Division Chief Valentine announced that Kevin Nuggent would be replacing him on the Safety Committee. Chairman Balfe will add his name to the distribution list. II1. Acceptance of Minutes of May 10, 2004 Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida June 14, 2004 Motion Bill Coup moved to accept the minutes. Motion seconded by Glenda Hall and unanimously carried. IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program A. Video Members viewed a video entitled Back Injury Prevention - Lifting Safely V. Old Business A. Fire Drills Chairman Balfe reported that he received some information from Deputy Chief Rodger Kemmer regarding fire drills. A meeting had been set up, but was postponed because Deputy Chief Kemmer could not make the meeting. Chairman Balfe anticipates having more information at the next meeting. B. "Proud to be a Safe Worker" Awards Ms. Hall reported that Alberto Freeman and Alex Carrion, when leaving the Public Works Compound after lunch, came upon a small fire burning in the mulch at the entrance to the Compound. They got out of their truck and tried to stomp it out. However, when the fire kept smoldering, they went back into the Compound and filled a 5-gallon bucket with water to thoroughly douse the smoldering much. This easily could have become a major fire considering the current dry conditions. Their quick response and continued follow through is to be commended. A copy of the Award was presented to the Secretary for inclusion with the minutes of the meeting. Vice Chair Bebensee noted that this had occurred three times at the Beach over the past couple of years and inquired if there was something that could be done about it. Chairman Balfe reported that the irrigation in the areas referred to by Vice Chair Bebensee was improved to alleviate the dryness. Chairman Balfe was not aware of any problems in these areas since the irrigation was improved. Ms. Hall stated that they are being directed to irrigate less in order to conserve water and the City wants staff to use more plants instead of turf. As a result, there are more areas that contain mulch instead of turf. Chairman Balfe reported that the Parks staff has been working with the Utilities Department to install Iow volume irrigation to alleviate the dry conditions. Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida June 14, 2004 Ms. Hall recommended that the City send out reminders that smoking is allowed in designated areas only and all lighted materials must be put out in approved receptacles. Chairman Balfe pointed out that smoking is prohibited in all City vehicles. Mr. Bobich reported that a contractor, who was working at the Boynton Beach Boulevard Extension project, was in the process of unloading a track hoe from a lowboy trailer and had the boom slightly elevated for stability. As he unloaded the equipment, the boom caught the overhead FPL wires that feed power to the City's Lift Station #356 that services most of the southeast section of the City. As soon as the lines were severed, the emergency generators came on automatically. Brent Allen and Cliff Rockey were working in the area and witnessed what was taking place. The lines started sparking and were bouncing against the fence of the lift station. Mr. Allen and Mr. Rockey immediately kept everyone away from the area and the tractor operator drove his vehicle to block the entrance to the marina to keep people out. They proceeded to block off the entrance to NE 6th Court at Boynton Beach Boulevard to keep people out. Mr. Allen called FPL to report the incident and the pump station personnel who also responded. Mr. Allen and Mr. Rockey stayed at the site until FPL arrived and turned off the power to the lines to make the area safe. Mr. Bobich pointed out that these two employees did an excellent job in keeping the area cleared and people out. He will provide a copy of the Safe Worker Award to Chairman Balfe and the Secretary as soon as it has been prepared. (Received by the Secretary on Thursday, June 17~h and filed with the records of the meeting.) C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings Chairman Balfe reported that Mr. Magazine has updated matrixes, and they will be sent to the members shortly. (Ms. Alibrandi E-mailed the updated matrixes to members on June 14, 2004.) D. Defensive Driver Course Ms. Alibrandi reported that Ms. Webb informed her that the program should be up by the end of the Summer. E. Incident Review Board Referrals None VI. New Business A. "Departmental Safety Issues" B. Pigeons at City Hall Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida June 14, 2004 Chairman Balfe reported that Richard Fiege, of Facilities Management, received a memo from one of the City's Building Inspectors stating that the Building Division was concerned about the pigeons located on the second floor of City Hall and outside the office windows of the City Manager and his staff. Mr. Fiege purchased an ultrasonic bird repeller that gives out sounds of pigeon predators, and he feels that it is working. A flyer on the bird repeller was passed around for members to view. Mr. Fiege is considering ordering a larger model with four speakers. VII. Announcements VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, July 12, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. IX. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:35 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) (June 16, 2003)