April 25 2019 Board Meeting
/
Department Of Emergency Management
and 911 Communications
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 115
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
Telephone (910) 798-6920
Fax (910) 798-6925
sstill@nhcgov.com
Steven Still
Director
Memorandum
To:
Public Safety Communications Center Policy Board Members
From:
Steven
Still, Director
Subject:
April 25, 2019
Date:
April 26, 2019
A Public Safety Communications Center Policy Board meeting was held on Thursday April 25, 2019 at 116 Conference
Room, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Glen Rogers Tim Burgess
Steven Still Jerry Brewer
Cindy Hewett Frank
Blackley
Jason Bishop April McKeithan
Steve Mason Timothy Corbett
Guests
Debora Cottle, NHC EM & 911 Karen Benton, NHC EM & 911
Chris Hewett, NHC EM & 911 Zac Whicker,
NHC EM & 911
Gia Long, NHC IT Tomashia Robinson, NHC IT
Jennifer Smith, NHC Fire Jennifer Price, NHC IT
Jessica Nester, NHC Fire Mike Sorg, WPD
Rodney Dawson, WPD
The
meeting was called to order at 10:03 am.
There was not a quorum so items were discussed but February Meeting notes were not voted on or approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
Freedom and Central Square
Acting Chairman Rogers asked if there were any updates on Central Square and Freedom. Gia Long stated that they have launched test 18.5.
They have scheduled testers in the environment through the end of April. Schedule production for May.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there were any more questions about Freedom and
Central Square; there were none.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there was any other old business for discussion; no one had any.
NEW BUSINESS
Acting Chair Rogers asked Steven Still
to update the Board about anything new occurring with Federal Point and how the backup center move was working out. Steven stated if everyone was not aware, there was an anonymous email
sent out to various individuals and entities about the dissatisfaction of the backup center. The management team from New Hanover County met to discuss the options for relocating the
center back at the primary 911 site.
The management team discussed expediting repairs to accomplish the move back to the primary center, hopefully by July 1, 2019. The repairs would
include the generator, UPS’s, and the transfer switch.
The noise issue in the backup center will be hopefully alleviated by moving 3 of the consoles at the backup center to the supervisor’s
office at the backup center. IT has 3 computers they are installing to help the noise issues that were mentioned. 911 Admin and IT will be installing those starting today.
Cindy
Hewett asked Steven if Motorola was going to clean up unneeded items in the closet at the primary center. Steven said he would make contact to see if they would schedule that clean-up.
Cindy stated that she was hoping that it could be organized better than it is now.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there were any questions for Steven about the backup and primary center
repairs; there were none.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if anyone had any items for new business; no one had any.
OTHER ITEMS AND REPORTS
9-1-1 Center
Acting Chair Rogers asked Steven if he could update everyone on 911. Steven stated the advertisement has been posted for the 911 Director position.
They have completed scoping microwaves replaced for the towers. They discovered significant damage to wave guides and plan on repairs May 10th through May 13th and the install on
microwave complete by May 17th. During the installation there will be intermittent drops and they are not anticipating complete outages.
Steven also stated a new tower has gotten
substantial progress to go forward with the backing of Representative David Rouzer.
Steven said there have been no new reports of additional issues with communications. Please keep
in mind to complete the google form provided for reporting issues.
Steven informed the Board that they were notified that UNC-W encrypted their channels through Wireless. The Board
nor Emergency Management were informed. If anyone needs access to these channels they will have to check with Wireless/Motorola to get access to them. The charge for the update will
be to each entity requiring access.
Steven stated there was a fiber drop on Thursday, April 18, 2019 due to Mastek cutting the line. The line(s) were cut about 3pm and a team was dispatched
to Brunswick County to handle the incoming calls for 911 for New Hanover County. The lines were out for approximately 8 hours before service was restored.
Acting Chair Rogers asked
if the microwaves were for the phones as well as the radios. Steven said no, it is only for the radios.
Steven said they are conducting interviews right now for telecommunicators.
They are hoping to hire 8 people from the current applicants.
Steven informed the Board that there will be a full Hurricane Exercise May 13 through May 16. The emergency operation
manual has been rewritten. The City of Wilmington staff will be training with New Hanover County people. Law and Fire will be in the JIC as a part of the exercise. Any days needed
for a makeup class will be announced for those who could not attend the exercise.
Cindy Hewett stated that someone also plugged in a rogue device, believed to be a router, plugged in
on Thursday, into New Hanover County’s network at Federal Point. Cindy asked that it is mentioned to staff that this is not acceptable. There is only supposed to be network devices
on the network.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there were any questions for Steven or his staff; no one had any.
IT
Acting Chair Rogers asked for an update for IT. Cindy Hewett asked Gia Long to update the Board on Optima. Gia stated the vendor and hospital are testing. The interface may be
set up for early to mid-May, 2019.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there were any questions for IT. No one had any.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there were any other questions or comments.
Steve Mason stated they have moved back to the main fire station. They have sealed the roof at the fire station. Wilmington Fire will be moving into the new Station 5 in two to three
weeks; hopefully they will have a CO by May 13, 2019. Wilmington Fire has completed the new maps and response zones.
Acting Chair Rogers stated since the communications issues are
in hand that we will now move back to a bi-monthly meeting; the next meeting will be June 27, 2019.
Acting Chair Rogers asked if there were any other questions or comments. No one
had any.
Meeting adjourned at 10:53 a.m.