Minutes 08-14-06
MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON
AUGUST 14,2006 AT 10:00 A.M., IN THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM,
BOYNTON BEACH CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
Present:
Mark Bobich, Chair
Chuck Magazine, Vice Chair
Catherine Cherry-Guberman
Chris Mitchell
Tim Calhoun
Hoyt Johnson
Mike Landress
Dorothy Mack
Glendon Morgan
Barbara Scott
John Bebensee
Karen Abramson
Utilities
Risk Management
City Clerk
Development
Public Works
Finance/Warehouse
Fire Rescue
Human Resources
ITS
Police/Code Compliance
Recreation and Parks
Library
Absent:
Regenia Scott
Eric Falstad
City Manager
Golf Course
I. Call to Order
Chair Bobich called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
II. Roll Call
The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present.
III. Acceptance of Minutes of 07-10-06 Regular Meeting
Motion
A motion was made by Vice Chair Magazine to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Johnson
seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Vice Chair Magazine also noted the date on the
agenda should be August 14, 2006 and not September 11, 2006.
IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program
Mr. Landress reported they have a new position, filled by Ray Altman, who would conduct
training sessions. They will have something ready for the next meeting.
The committee discussed conducting training at various locations with adequate parking such as
the Hester Center or a municipal facility. Mr. Landress noted there has been some fire training
at Utilities.
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V. Unfinished Business
August 14, 2006
A. Fire Drills
Mr. Landress reported some training has occurred in Utilities.
B. Proud to be a Safe Worker Awards
Vice Chair Magazine announced in the fall, the City will be distributing the Safety Awards. He
requested if the members knew of any employee who did anything extraordinary from a safety
standpoint, to write them up and let the committee know. The information would also be put in
the newsletter.
C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings
This item was heard with Item D.
D. Defensive Driver Course
Vice Chair Magazine requested employees needing training should be directed to him. He
reminded the members the Defensive Driving course only needed to be completed every three
years and not on an annual basis.
E. Incident Review Board Referrals
There were no referrals.
F. Lightning Detection Policy
Mr. John Bebensee distributed information regarding what the Recreation and Parks
Department currently has for lightning detection. He also distributed information, which was
used as an adjunct for the 30/30 rule. Vice Chair Magazine advised he had a policy he would
be distributing at the next meeting. Mr. Bebensee reported the new 800 mhz system is working
very well. With the old system, they were receiving a lot of false readings.
VI. New Business
A. Safety Footwear Review
Vice Chair Magazine indicated there has been an issue raised about the safety footwear with
the Fire Department's Fire/Life Safety Division. The question was whether those individuals
should be receiving the safety shoe allowance. Vice Chair Magazine explained in the past, the
Fire Department did not want to be part of the safety shoe program. Now that there is
reimbursement, however, there are some individuals who now want to participate.
Vice Chair Magazine explained there was a uniform policy for the Fire Department. He asked
whether Fire and Life Safety provided the uniform, if employees needed to purchase the
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Safety Committee
Boynton Beach, Florida
August 14, 2006
uniform or whether there was reimbursement or an allowance for the uniform. Mr. Landress
responded the uniforms were provided in the same way the operations personnel were. Vice
Chair Magazine thought this could be double dipping if the Fire Department provides the
footwear based upon the uniform needs. In that instance, he explained, to pay for shoes
seemed inappropriate.
Mr. Landress will discuss the issue at an upcoming fire meeting later in the day and would
request the Fire Marshall contact Vice Chair Magazine about the matter. This item will be
continued to the next meeting.
The safety shoe allowance for new employees was also discussed. Utilities had several new
employees start after the allowance was issued to the current employees. Chair Bobich
contacted HR and Vice Chair Magazine, and asked if he should compile a list, have the
department director sign off and then submit to HR, Risk Management and then the Finance
Department. A recommendation needs to be made on the issue. Additionally, some employees
were not full time employees and did not get an allowance. Some employees were also no
longer probationary employees.
Vice Chair Magazine explained part of the concern was if an employee comes to work mid-year
between payment of the allowance, they may wind up getting twice the allowance in a matter
of a few months. There was discussion if the employee was on the job less than six months,
the second check should not be given. The shoe allowance checks are issued in July. Nothing
in the bargaining unit contract indicated pro-rating a check. As a draft policy recommendation,
the board agreed that for new employees starting after issuance of the checks, a list would be
formulated of those employees and their corresponding positions, signed by the department
director and forwarded to the HR director for transmittal to the Finance Department for
payment. If an employee starts work in November, they would not get another check until
July.
B. Safety Manual Review
Vice Chair Magazine indicated he was out last week and will bring the matter back at the next
meeting. Each member will be assigned a chapter to review.
C. Departmental Safety Issues
Vice Chair Magazine advised the City was continuing with the Safety Newsletter. He requested
feedback on the newsletter and indicated some employees have not received the information.
Some of the board members explained they routinely distribute the Safety Bulletins. Vice Chair
Magazine reported there would be some trinkets for distribution at the next meeting with the
motto, "Safety is a Team Sport", however the company misspelled the word "Risk" and used
the word "Rick" Management. He explained they were trying to expand their marketing on
safety .
VII. Announcements
There were no announcements.
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August 14, 2006
VIII. Next Meeting Date
The next meeting is Monday, September 11, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.
IX. Adjournment
Motion
A motion was made by Mr. Landress to adjourn. Ms. Mack seconded the motion that
unanimously passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Catherine Cherry-Guberman
Recording Secretary
081606
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