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06 26 2008 Board Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER 230 Government Center Dr, Suite 185 Wilmington, NC 28403 Phone: (910) 798-6922 Fax: (910) 798-6925 E-mail: bhewlett@nhcgov.com Brenda Hewlett Acting Director Memorandum To: Public Safety Communications Center Policy Board Members From: Brenda Hewlett, Acting Director Subject: June 26, 2008 Board Summary Date: July 10, 2008 A Public Safety Communications Center Policy Board meeting was held on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM in the Emergency Operating Center, 220 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina. MEMBERS PRESENT: Sterling Powell Donnie Hall, Excused MEMBERS ABSENT: Brenda Hewlett Ron Jordan, Excused Michael Core Dennis Cooper, Excused Jan Kavanaugh Sharon Kane, Excused Andre’ Mallette Larry Bergman, Excused Tom Eason Warren Lee, Excused Jerry Brewer Genia Boswell William Younginer Robert Matheson Leslie Stanfield Wayne Pearce Jon Rorie GUESTS:Debora Cottle, NHC Public Safety Communications Center Tom Hood, Wireless Communications/Motorola Jason Adams, Wireless Communications Chairman Powell called the meeting to order at 10:05 A.M. Chairman Powell introduced the new Fire Department Chief, Jon Rorie from Carolina Beach. Chairman Powell asked if everyone had reviewed the May 22, 2008 minutes and if anyone had any questions, comments or changes. Chairman Powell asked if there was a motion to approve the minute, Mike Core made a motion and William Younginer seconded. Motion approved. Old Business: Chairman Powell stated that there was not anything new on an update for the radios. Chairman Powell asked if there were any questions or comments regarding the Public Safety Center Budget. Chairman Powell asked if there was a motion to approve the budget, Tom Eason made a motion and Robbie Matheson seconded. Motion approved. Chairman Powell asked if there was anything else under Old Business. New Business: Public Safety Communications Center: Chairman Powell turned the meeting over to Brenda. Brenda wanted to remind everyone that the July meeting was the election of new officers. Monday (June 30) Carolina Recording will start installing the new recorder for the center. This is going to be a nice change of not having to spend a lot of time searching for information when requested. Chairman Powell reminded everyone of the elections and that anyone wishing input between now and next month for Chairperson or Vice-Chair, send an email (or to Lynn to forward). Chairman Powell informed everyone that there are a couple of trial programs going on in 9-1-1 such as the coded dispatch for fire. Chairman Powell asked if anyone had any input on that and Genia stated that she got input from Chief Jordan and asked that he be called on his cell. Some field people said there are inconsistencies with the program. Some get codes without plain text and some get the plain text and don’t get codes. That is the biggest problem; consistency. City Fire doesn’t have the EMS codes so sometimes they don’t know what it is and Chairman Powell that it was very important to get clear text. Chairman Powell asked if there was a time limit placed on the trial and Brenda said that there wasn’t. Chairman Powell wanted to know if it could be a trial basis until the August meeting and Brenda told him that was possible. Chairman Powell asked that everyone be aware that the meetings were open and anyone could attend and if there were concerns or issues, they could be brought up at the August meeting. Chairman Powell asked that the agencies encourage anyone that has any input to come in for the discussion. Chairman Powell asked Leslie about the redundant fiber path and asked if it was squared away and she informed all that it was. Chairman Powell asked if Wireless had their move in to their new location and they had, they had their open house and appreciate everyone that joined them. There is a new technician that has started working with them and you may see him. His name is Allen and he came from the Marine Corps and has an extensive background. Leslie wanted to know if everyone remembered the outage from a storm last year that was caused by a single point of failure between this building and the tower out back. We have replaced or added equipment so that we not only have redundant fiber paths but redundant equipment in both places. It will quickly be brought back up if there is a similar occurrence. Mike stated that if it occurs again and the P25 loses connection to the zone control but the redundancy will keep the radios happy and it will get to the site trunking. The people in Carolina Beach are only talking to people in Carolina Beach and not to the console. Fail soft will come if the controller is lost. End users will have one particular repeater and it will be shared with other groups, hopefully non-emergency services. Chairman Powell reiterated that everyone have a backup plan. Patching is another option in an emergency plan that seems to work well. Brenda asked that everyone ask to try patching so that they are familiar with it. Brenda stated that the agencies had one department to work with and they (the telecommunicators) have ten different consoles they need to learn and rotate through. Sometimes the information is forgotten if they have not rotated back through that console and it takes them a little longer to patch. Jason was asked a question about patching and if they (the telecommunicators) have to come off a console to do a patch or if that was something that if they were more familiar that it just takes a few seconds. Brenda informed everyone that it did take just a few seconds. Chairman Powell asked if the Verizon/Alltel merger was going to affect anyone and Leslie said no, she had talked with them about this. It will take about six months to finalize everything and that will be when you see your Alltel bill change to Verizon. For anyone that does not know, Verizon’s price has gone down on the air cards and it should be reflected on your bill and if it doesn’t let Steve Cain know. Leslie informed everyone that Jan has been working with Wrightsville Beach on the PDA’s. Michael said that as far as he knows, they like them. Jan said that she hasn’t heard from anyone about them. Chairman Powell reminded everyone about the elections next month. Chairman Powell adjourned at 10:34 A.M.