President Lajoie called the Board of Directors meeting to order at 9:10

Pledge to the flag.  Chief Lajoie gave invocation.

Motion by Chief Weston to go into executive session for the purpose of contract issues. Motion was seconded by Chief Bradley. Motion Passed 

9:40 Open Session 

Communications

Chief Wood provided the cards and letters from Mr. Garry Briese, Judy Marshall, and a letter indicating that the division would have Booth 91 for the conference in 2003.

President Lajoie received a request from IAFC Headquarters regarding a committee appointment for the Task Force Candidate Platform.  The committee will look into issues related to cost of campaigns, why candidates run for office, and other issues concerning the IAFC Second Vice Presidents position.  Chief Lajoie is asking for a volunteer to fill this committee appointment.  After a brief discussion Chief Dio expressed a willingness to serve and would be happy to take the position.  President Lajoie will forward Chief Dio’s name to serve on the committee.

President Lajoie has been informed that Chief McGouldrick will no longer serve on the International Code Council Committee.  President Lajoie has appointed Chief Darrel Fournier, of the Freeport, ME Fire Department to represent the division on the committee.  Chief James Farrell moved to support the appointment, the motion was seconded by Chief Timothy Wall, motion passed.

President Lajoie received a request to support a robotics program from Trinity College.  They would like the division and international to support their project and allow them to use our names as sponsors.  President Lajoie requested that the International Director Chief Roger Bradley bring this topic to the IAFC for their comments and consideration.

President Lajoie presented Retired Chief Otis Wyatt with a letter from the IAFC and a plaque from the Division for his work and years of service on the Constitution and by-laws Committee.

Secretary Report 

Chief Wood presented the written minutes of the annual meeting.  Chief Wood participated in all of the events and meetings required of his position at FRI Kansas, prepared a newsletter and mailed to the membership, prepared for the Board of Directors meetings and kept the records of the Division.  Contacted the speaker and hotels for the division’s seminar on Risk Management being held in RI. 

Treasurer Report

 Chief Wood distributed the treasurer’s report showing that the checking account had a balance of $8,496.20 and that the two CD’s and the money market account had a combined value of $48,896.50 as of 10/31/02 making the total cash available at $57,392.70. A more detailed account of the records are attached.  Motion was made by Chief Michael O’Neil and seconded by Chief James Farrell to pay all bills and to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion Passed

 Report of Committees

President Lajoie reported on the joint conference and passed out the committee assignments.

Chief Wood reported on the one-day seminar and explained that Gordon Graham would be doing a one day seminar in RI, then traveling to VT to do the same seminar there, and then going to MA to do a seminar there.  After some discussion about the three seminars the board’s opinion was that neither of the seminars would interfere with one others do to the locations.  The Board set the price at $100.00 for the seminar, at that time we only had one sponsor. 

Chief Wood reported on FRI International in Dallas. Everyone should get their housing registrations in early if they want to stay at the Division hotel.  We need to make a decision for the breakfast meeting. The two locations are at the hotel or the convention center.

International Directors Report

 Chief Bradley reported on the IAFC expanding revenue sources and programs.  Attached is a handout regarding this topic. The IAFC produced a member advisory expressing their position on IAFF members volunteering for other agencies.  See attached handout.  Chief Bradley passed out a document regarding Annex to NFPA 1901 he reported that our representative to the committee was seeking direction from the board regarding compromise language.  The executive committee reviewed and submitted to the board on November 7, 2002 for concurrence.  The board voted to support and pass on to Chief Von Zehle.  Attached is the handout.  At the last board teleconference there was discussion regarding going from a one-year budget to a two-year budget.  The board voted 7 to 4 to have a staff finalize the proposal for review at the January board meeting.  Chief Bradley abstained due to a lack of enough information to make an informed decision.  On October 18, 19, 2002 Chief Bradley attended the IAFC Strategic Planning meeting in Colorado Springs.  The board at the November 7, 2002 conference call accepted the draft document. Staff will be developing action items for each of the strategies. The action items will be presented at the January board meeting.

Chief Bradley introduced Division Commander Sandra Hillsgrove of the Concord, NH Fire Department.  She is representing The Women Chief Fire Officers and is asking that the division support the organization’s Mission, Values, and Vision Statement.  Attached is the handout.  Chief Bradley made a motion to support the Women Fire Officers Vision/Mission, and Values Statement, the motion was seconded by Chief Wall motion passed.  Chief Thibeault would like it printed in the newsletter.

Chief Wyatt referred to Chief Bradley’s report on dues increases. Chief Wyatt recommends that the board think about what they would like to see for a dues increase, if any, because our by-laws committee member needs direction regarding this issue.  Chief Wall suggested that Chief Brian Hoxsie attend our next meeting.  Chief Hoxsie is the new committee member to the by-laws committee.  President Lajoie will contact him and request he attend the next meeting.

Chief Robert DiPoli Second Vice President IAFC thanks the division board and members for the support he received during his campaign.  He spoke about the differences in the five years with the IAFC.  He reported about his involvement with work groups on legislative issues and how communications of these issues are dispersed.

Chief DiPoli attended the VOSA seminar in Florida and thought it was well attended.  He also attended the ICMA meeting to open a direct line of communications between fire chiefs and city managers.

He spoke about the PAC Fund for the legislative lobbying on the IAFC level.  He believes it is a tool to open a line of communication and support legislators that support the fire service issues on a national level.  He has asked Senator John Kerry from MA to be the keynote speaker at FRI Dallas.  It is all about building relationships.

 State Vice Presidents Reports

Chief Bessette, RI- the State has received funding for the fire academy.

Chief Parow, MA-mention that the Firefighter of the Year awards is given out by the State Fire Marshall’s Office each year. 

Chief Thibeault NH-mentioned the fire academy is developing an out reach program.  They are also putting an addition on.  The NHAFC is looking to set some strategic planning goals.

Chief Farrell ME- reported that the State adopted NFPA 1 as their code.  The retirement system has changed so that an individual could retire and return to work while collecting full benefits.               

Chief Timothy Wall-reported that the State dedicated their firefighter memorial in August at the fire academy in Windsor Locks, CT.  IAFC President John Buckman attended and spoke, as did the International Director Roger Bradley.

 Unfinished Business

Chief Jack Parow addressed the issue of the president staying for two years in office without the members voting on the position.  His original thought on this was that the president would only request to stay on if there was a special project going on, or if the members voted him in another year.  However, the by-laws allow for the president to stay on another year without the members voting at the annual meeting.  He would like to change the by-laws so they would require the president to announce and be voted on at the annual meeting.  After discussion it was the opinion of the board that there is no real reason to have the president stay on for two years.  It has the potential of making a State Vice President wait 12 plus years to reach the position of president.  The Board felt that a one-year term would be enough and the by-laws should be changed to reflect that.  Motion by Chief William Weston and seconded by Chief Michael O’Neil to submit to the membership at the annual meeting a by-law change reflecting a one year term for the office of president. Motion Passed

Proposed By-law Change

Article VIII Officers and State Directors (Currently Reads)

Section 2 Officers: The officers of this division shall consist of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and Director to the International. The president may succeed himself for one (1) additional term.  The first and second vice presidents may succeed themselves for one (1) additional term only in the event that the president elects to do the same. They shall serve until their successors have been qualified and installed into office.

Change to

Article VIII Officers and State Directors

Section 2 Officers: The officers of this division shall consist of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and Director to the International. The president, first vice president, second vice president shall serve a one year term.  They shall serve until their successors have been qualified and installed into office.

The proposed by-law change will be voted on at the Annual Conference Meeting at the Sheraton Springfield Hotel on Thursday June 19, 2003 at 3pm.

New Business

Chief Stanley passed out information regarding IRS laws.  Chief Jack Parow moved to support bill HR 5416 and S3012 that was submitted and passed out by Chief Stanley, the motion was seconded by Chief Brian Thibeault. Motion Passed.

President Lajoie received a free membership package from the IAFC.  The president of each division was given 25 free memberships to pass out to chiefs in the division that are not currently IAFC members.  President Lajoie gave each State Vice-President a few applications for recruiting chiefs in their States for membership. 

Other Business

Chief Bradley spoke about a seminar NH Fire Academy is having on December 7, 2002.  He also reported that the division website is out dated and needs attention.  Chief James Farrell will start to work on the website.  The secretary will forward the information to him and anyone else that would like to have something on the site should contact Chief Farrell. 

Chief Bradley suggested that the division should have a strategic plan workshop. He was reminded that this topic came up at the May meeting and that he was going to contact the IAFC for names of people to help organize the workshop.  The general feeling of the Board is that the division should have a plan in place.

Chief Lajoie had a request from the IAFC regarding a merging of the New England Division States with the IAFC logo for the division.  Chief Brain Thibeault is working on this and is expect to have completed it by our next meeting.     

Next meeting will be February 20, 2003.  Meeting adjourned 14:30                         

Respectfully Submitted,

John G Wood Jr