Virginia Fire Prevention Association, Inc.
P. O. Box 7745
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
703-257-8455
our website: www.vfpa.org

Executive Board Meeting Minutes
Albemarle County Monticello Fire Station
January 22, 2004

Members Present:

Gary D. Huffman, President Jeff Flippo, 1st Vice President Frank Teevan, Secretary/Treasurer Dan Rakes, Director at Large Gene Wills, Director at Large Steve Hall, Area Chairman Dennis Mitchell, Fire Services Board Representative J. D. Mitchell, Technology Committee Chairman Elaine Gall, Regional Engineer – SFMO Emory Rogers, DHCD Rick Boyd, Fire Marshal - City of Manassas, Virginia Danielle Gotthardt, Fire Inspector – Loudoun County, Virginia

President’s Call to Order at 1040 hours:

President Huffman welcomed everyone to the January Executive Board meeting and acknowledged the guests present.

Reports:

Secretary/Treasurer Report

Announcement of line of duty death of Captain Will Seng of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Brother Seng died on December 26, 2003 from pancreatic cancer.
Motion to donate $100 per child to the Captain Will Seng Memorial Fund. (Total is $200) Approved

Motion to accept the minutes from last meeting in October, 2003 in Roanoke are accepted. Minutes will be posted on the VFPA website. Approved

Discussion on replacement names being submitted on dues notices without a complete application. Motion to send a membership application out with dues notices and instructions for new members to complete the application and submit it for approval. Not simply cross out the old members name and insert a new name. Approved

Report on VFPA logo and similarity of the Virginia Forest Products Association logo. Discussion to not take any action at this time but to look into obtaining a trademark for our logo.

Discussion on selling the Apple laptop and related software due to non-compatibility with other software and purchase a Dell laptop with Windows based operating system. Motion to spend $2,000 on new laptop and software. Technology Committee Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer to handle. Approved

Discussion on getting nationally recognized instructors for this years seminars in the spring and fall. Cost was obtained from Dr. Harry Carter for $3,000 for a two day class plus per dieum and for Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn (ret. FDNY) for $6,000 plus airfare for a two day class. The Board’s feeling was positive and approved hiring these instructors. It is felt that we will recover their cost with tuition.

Discussion on the possibility of having a joint conference with the VFPA, VBCOA and the VPMIA in the spring of this year 2004. Board did not approve a joint conference this year due to the short time period for preparation and the question on how the three organizations will fund the conferences and cover any losses in funding. The Board recommended the possibility of a joint conference in 2005 or 2006.

Legislative Committee

The Virginia general Assembly is in session. Jeff Flippo attended “A Day at the Capitol” to meet members. Discussion on several pending bills:

• Bill #68: To include 1% from auto insurance premium in DFP funding.
• Bill #376: To include 1% from auto insurance premium to go to State Police training and retention fund.
• Bill #764: To have the Secretary of Public Safety review the adequacy of service by local fire and police organizations in each jurisdiction in Virginia.
• Bill #622, 1180 and 1203: Christmas Trees – The most desirable Bill is #622 to have the BHCD remedy the current IFC requirements for live vegetative decorations through the normal code process.
• Bill #1203 is proposed to remove all authority from the BHCD to regulate live decorative vegetation in places of worship. Board appointed Jeff Flippo and Dennis Mitchell to compose desirable wording to Bill #622 to encourage adoption by the state legislature and to ask that Bill #1203 be withdrawn.
• Bill #154: To have the DFP Executive Director determine the cost factors relating to supplying training to localities outside of Virginia that request it.
• Bill #451: To give the SFMO the authority to establish procedures for administration of the SFPC and recover enforcement costs from localities that use the SFMO.
• Bill #183: To increase the standards for fire suppression systems in nursing homes.
• Bill #123: To add the VBCOA Director of Regulatory Compliance to the BHCD. (VFPA is opposed).

Code Committee

Emory Rogers from DHCD gave a presentation on the adoption of the 2003 IBC and IFC. Any amendment should be submitted to DHCD as soon as possible. (handouts available).

Rick Boyd, Fire Marshal – City of Manassas talked about the proposed amendment by Manassas to the SFPC to restrict overcrowding in residential occupancies. Much discussion on this topic and recommendations to research existing laws related to rental units.

Discussion on agricultural exemption for assembly use groups. Emory Rogers to contact James City County Building Official for clarification.

IT Committee

Pay Pal account will be set up online so that members can pay for dues, seminars, clothing etc with a credit card.

New Business

The VFPA was invited by the Virginia State Fire Chief’s Association to have a booth at their conference. Board does not support participating at this time.

Next meeting will be on Thursday, March 4, 2004 at 1030 hours in Charlottesville.
(Exact location TBA)

Meeting adjourned at 1420 hours.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Francis J. Teevan
Secretary/Treasurer

January 27, 2004