Okay. So what your -- your testimony is that we can cut 37 budgeted paramedic positions because they're not going to be hired in FY '10. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: If you place that money in the overtime category.
Okay. So let's go -- Madam President, can I just follow this line just with respect to overtime? 65 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
Can you show me where the overtime is in the budget detail? DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: On 57.
Okay. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: You have uniform overtime, $4,258,000.
Okay. So this doesn't -- where is the comparison for -- this is just -- I don't see for budgeted -- you don't have any overtime budgeted? DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: It's right on that page.
Yeah, I see annual salary, July 1, 2009. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: Down at the bottom, it's -- you can see a comparison of different years.
Oh, I'm sorry, okay. Give me a second here. 66 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET So in FY '08, overtime was 3955. You had more vacancies than you have today; is that correct? DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: We have more vacancies...
In paramedics and firefighter-EMTs. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: Okay. I'd have to double-check it.
Okay. And so now, it -- you're asking for more than you had in FY '08 and FY '10 in overtime. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: We're asking for less than we estimate in FY '09.
Sure, but in the FY '09 rebalancing, the whole purpose of eliminating the engine companies was to bring us $8 million in overtime savings. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: But not in this division. This is in the EMS Division.
This is just overtime for EMS. Okay, okay, got it. 67 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: And as you can see, we're going down in '10 from '09. If we did it the other way, take out the budgeted positions, then our request for overtime would more match the '09 number.
Okay. So that's $900,000 more. DEP. COMM. BEATRICE: Yes.
Okay. Well, there's room there for a a couple million dollars of savings. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, gentlemen. DEP.
In the 68 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET backdrop of the discussion around the closings and the -- well, first of all, let me say thank you because your department has always been --
Councilwoman, I don't think the stenographer can hear you.
Surely. Your department has always been responsive to the eight-week citizen forum that we have, and I appreciate the presence there and the information you provide. As a result of those forums where I learned and heard from seniors, particularly seniors in high-rise buildings -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
-- their unreadiness and fear of not being taken care of in the midst of the worst crisis that we could image. So my first question is: How often are fire drills held in 69 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET senior-citizen buildings where they're high-rise buildings and where you have disabled senior citizens? What's the Department's policy? COMMISSIONER AYRES: The Fire Prevention Division has a high-rise team, and they actually go in and they set up with each individual building what the escape plan is, the evacuation plan is. And also during that time, it is set how many evacuation drills will be had.
Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER AYRES: So it could be situational.
Okay. So it's the responsibility of the district fire departments to confer with those heads of those senior-citizen buildings to ensure that that happens. COMMISSIONER AYRES: They work in conjunction with Fire Prevention Division teams.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: So they all 70 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET collaborate together, they work together, they go in and make sure there's evacuation plans for each and every building and that there are drills.
And what type of accountability is in place to ensure that that is actually happening? What kind of checkpoint measures are in place to ensure -- 'cause these are the actual complaints that I've received from the senior citizens who are quite afraid and have complained, quote, we haven't had a fire drill in X-number of months. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Well, the first thing that should happen is, that complaint should -- they should voice that complaint to the Fire Department.
Okay. Put it in writing, register it in writing, and send it to you. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Exactly. Get it to the Fire Prevention Division. And what we would do is go out to that building or to that agency and find out 71 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET exactly what's going on. And we would make sure that is done.
What type of training or retraining happens in terms of readiness of the worst kind of disaster we could have? COMMISSIONER AYRES: One of things we have, we have Ready One Pennsylvania, Ready One PA, which is operated through our emergency -- Office of Emergency Management. And we have a system that's set up to actually notify different buildings, the residents, of what's happening, what they could actually do to prepare themselves.
Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER AYRES: And that's a ongoing function by our Office of Emergency Management.
How often is that tested? COMMISSIONER AYRES: How often --
How often 72 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET is that system tested? COMMISSIONER AYRES: I couldn't tell you that, how often it's tested. One of the things that's happening now, as we're building out in Ready PA, Notify PA, all of the things that we're doing to get that done, we're pushing that forward. So I couldn't give you that exact information.
But it's a work in progress. COMMISSIONER AYRES: It is a work in progress.
What kind of dots are connected to 3-1-1? COMMISSIONER AYRES: I beg your pardon?
What type of dots connected to 3-1-1? COMMISSIONER AYRES: It is connected as far as calling 3-1-1 to find out a bout Ready Notify, Ready PA, or anything in the Fire Department, all a citizen needs to do is dial 3-1-1, and we 73 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET have, if you will, questions that are already programmed into 3-1-1 to get them to the information that they need.
Okay. You talk about saturating high-risk areas with smoke alarms. How does that happen? Discuss that briefly -- 'cause the clock is always ticking -- how that happens. COMMISSIONER AYRES: One of the things that we've done in the Philadelphia Fire Department is to continue to identify areas by census tract --
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: -- where there are high amounts of fires.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Where are your communities that are below the poverty level, at or below.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: And we target those areas to make sure that smoke-alarm education is given out in those areas. 74 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
What linkages exists with PHA? COMMISSIONER AYRES: A very close linkage with PHA. We've done programs with PHA. Currently, we are doing a program with PHA. And as far as sprinkler systems in homes, we've given out all types of education and information with PHA. We work very closely with them.
What is this hazmat response exercise? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Hazmat response is hazardous materials --
Oh, okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: -- is what it references.
Oh, okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: And those exercises are done on an annual basis so that not only the citizens and the businesses are prepared, but also our firefighters and police officers are prepared to support any type of a 75 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET accidental or a man-made event.
Thank you for your breakdown with regards to professional services. We don't have to go through that, 'cause it's plain and understandable. (Timer bell rings.)
So let me just underscore my number-one concern, and that is: Ensuring that seniors that are in high-rises, that are disabled, particularly those who are deaf, 'cause I was at a meeting of nothing but deaf citizens, and this was the number-one issue they had concerns about. So in the next round, I need to hear specifically what are the measures taken to assist those who can't see and those who are deaf. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Okay. We will talk about it.
You're 76 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET welcome. Commissioner, would you please provide us with a three-year comparison for EMS that shows the built positions and the overtime for FY '08, FY '09, and FY '10. I assume you do not have that information at hand now. COMMISSIONER AYRES: (Shakes head.)
All right. Would you please provide that information in writing. Thank you. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, Commissioner and company. DEP.
Good morning. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Good morning, Councilwoman. 77 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
I too want to thank you for always being there and being readily available for questions or projects. You've been so very helpful. I want to ask you just a couple questions regarding the police stations -- the firehouses, I'm sorry. You know, the average citizen just sees a firehouse, and they just think it's a firehouse. I mean -- and that if a fire breaks out, that firehouse is who comes out to put your fire out. And, you know, I always thought that. And this morning, I was talking to one of my staff people on the way in, and they certainly thought that. Can you tell me, what does a average firehouse have? Because when you start to break it down in a engine company and a ladder company, I just thought that any firehouse could come out and put a fire out. Is that true? COMMISSIONER AYRES: That's true. You have firehouses that have 78 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET single engines, firehouses now that have single ladders. We have firehouses that are double -- have a engine and a ladder. Some firehouses have medic units. Some firehouses have a battalion chief. Some firehouses even have a division chief, but there are only two of those.
So what does a firehouse need to be? I mean, what does it need to have in order to put a fire out? Does it need -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: A firehouse --
It needs a ladder, it needs a engine? COMMISSIONER AYRES: No. The action doesn't take place at the firehouse.
Right. COMMISSIONER AYRES: The action takes place at the emergency.
Right. COMMISSIONER AYRES: And at the 79 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET emergency, we supply the engines and the ladders and the rescue units to supply that service to the citizens in need.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: So the most important thing to look at is the event, where's it happening, the fact that you get a engine, a ladder, a medic unit, a battalion chief to make sure that that incident is taken care of.
And so, in some cases, the engine or the ladder may come from a different firehouse? COMMISSIONER AYRES: That is correct.
Okay. But as long as it ends up on the scene, correct? COMMISSIONER AYRES: That is correct.
Okay. Well, it gets more confusing, especially with a double ladder or a single ladder or whatever it is that you said. But I guess 80 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET the most important part is what ends up being at the scene of the fire. COMMISSIONER AYRES: That is correct.
All the equipment that's needed, okay. Okay. Can you provide the Chair with a list of firehouses and actually state whether that particular house has a engine or a ladder. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
Now, if you have a firehouse that doesn't have a engine or a ladder, then what does that firehouse do? Or do you have any like that? COMMISSIONER AYRES: No, have a -- our firehouses have engines and ladders, chiefs and medic units.
So every firehouse has one or the other. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Well, some have both, actually.
Yeah, I 81 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET understand that. But it has to have one or the other. COMMISSIONER AYRES: That's correct.
Okay. And let me hurry up. I have a couple more questions. Are Philadelphia citizens or visitors entitled to an ambulance service? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes, we provide ambulance service to citizens, to visitors, to all here.
But the key word here is "entitled." Are they entitled to an ambulance? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes, if you call 3-1-1. DEP.
No, no, no. 21 Councilwoman, good morning. Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety. Focusing as a lawyer on what you're saying, I think your question is: 82 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET Is there a legal right to an ambulance?
And the answer to that is no. 6 However, we have made a commitment to provide the best service in this city. And so, we provide the service, but there is no entitlement to a ambulance; there's no Constitutional right to it. But we provide the service. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Thank you.
Okay. So how many calls -- how many calls do you get per day? Do you keep that kind of information of how many calls you get per day for ambulance? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes. We do track it.
Okay. And can we get that information? Plus do you have people that abuse calling you? I mean, we have -- sometimes we have people that call my 83 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET office every day, particularly at certain times of the day. Maybe they've gotten up and decided to feel pretty good, and they just call you up, I mean, just for no 6 particular reason or for reasons. Do you have people that, like, for example, maybe call you instead of calling a taxicab to get to the doctor, or whatnot? And if you do, then what are you doing to cut down on those calls? 'Cause I'm sure that that -- (Timer bell rings.)
Or runs. Do you actually do a run there? I'm sure that costs money. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes. We have quality control, where we have a look at a system. If we see a certain number of calls, we'll check to find out if that's a person with a chronic illness, who periodically have to have a medic unit. Or we'll have a situation where -- one's being investigated now -- 84 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET where a person is irate with some other person, and they call in false alarms.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: We examine that, we go after it, work with police. And, hopefully, this other person's going to be getting arrested shortly. But we have all types of situations like that.
Okay. But at least it sounds like you're aware of them, and it's not something that you constantly run out to and it becomes a little bit cost-effective. COMMISSIONER AYRES: It's something that we would like to have out of the system, so we monitor it.
Thank 85 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner, I would just like to go back and follow up on a point that we discussed earlier. Even though fire services, emergency services are exempt from the new cellphone legislation about talking on a handheld unit, that we all agree that talking on a phone, radio, and driving for a for a long period of time is not a good thing, we'd agree to that, right? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
So I just want you to keep that in mind in your decision-making process on the chief's aides. Even though they're exempt, that that is -- that could be a problem, driving, talking, doing all those things. COMMISSIONER AYRES: We'll consider that, sir. 86 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
You talked about the recruiting chief that you have, the recruiting chief that goes -- the battalion chief that's recruiting paramedics? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yeah. He monitors the recruitment. And he does a lot more than that, trust me.
Okay. Well, I'm focused on that piece. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Okay.
Could you provide -- and I don't want to beat it to death, I don't want to go back too far, but could you send the schedule for, let's say, mid-2008, for the year, of places that that recruiting has occurred. And I'd like to see where he's planning to go so that, in my work, I can communicate to people that there will be a recruiting seminar for paramedics at a particular location. But I'd be interested to see where that has already occurred and, going 87 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET forward, where it's going to occur. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes. We'll send you that over.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you again, Madam President. If we were looking at a 24-hour clock -- and this is partially expanding upon Councilwoman Miller's question -- when are you most busy for fires? Is there a pattern of when calls occur? Either for EMS -- separate EMS and then separate fire calls. COMMISSIONER AYRES: For EMS, we're most busy from 8 to 8 in the evening. And some days between 8 and 11:01 in the morning, especially weekends. Our busiest days are Thursday, Friday, 88 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET Saturday night. For fires, we're -- we get quite a bit fires -- quite a few of our fires in the -- at night.
So from -- 7 is it true that from 11 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 8 most fire deaths occur? 9 DEP.
11 p.m. to 10 7 p.m.? 11 COMMISSIONER AYRES: We get a majority of fire deaths nationally -- I think that's a national stat. But sometimes it varies, it varies. We have had multiple deaths in the afternoon and in the evening.
But statistically, is there a pattern that suggests -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: That's correct, statistically.
And so, is there a plan being put forth by your department as to on EMS calls and to -- is there a plan by which that you deactivate 89 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET certain EMS units during certain times of day? And what do you base that on? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes, there is. It's called System Status Units. And what we base that on is measuring and identifying the largest volumes of calls. We identify those time periods, and that's where we concentrate our resources.
And it's my understanding that there is a study also that may be used to redeploy EMS units as to deal with volumes of calls during particular times a day? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yeah. We constantly monitor that, we monitor it. And whenever there's a change required, we'll make the change.
In light of the fact that a lot of people -- and we're losing -- and I would hope that you use this stat as well, that we're losing a lot of our hospitals; in particular, emergency rooms; in particular, certain parts of City are experiencing that. Selfishly, in 90 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET the 4th District I have one hospital; it's Roxborough Hospital. So as you start to deploy and redeploy these EMS, sometimes it is the only expedient way for a person suffering from a heart attack to get Point A to Point B, which is a hospital. And are you taking that into account as you start to formulate a master plan for redeploying these units? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Absolutely that's a part of our master planning.
So I should not expect anything being reduced in certain parts of my district based on the fact that we have a farther way to go and less hospitals than other districts, correct? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We will look at each and every criteria.
I was trying to get you on the record, but you're good. All right. Okay. But you'll look at it and take that into account. 91 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET COMMISSIONER AYRES: Absolutely, Councilman.
All right. Another question. And this is somewhat of a capital question, but while I have you, is it not true that diesel fuel is pretty hazardous to our health? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Diesel fuel is hazardous.
Is it also true that most of our trucks are diesel? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Let me correct that. The diesel fuel emissions, I believe, is what we're talking about --
Correct, correct. COMMISSIONER AYRES: -- just for the record. Yes, they're hazardous, and our trucks do use diesel fuel.
How are we doing with providing proper ventilation in some of those firehouses? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We're doing 92 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET good. Two things that -- two programs that we currently implementing. One is the addition of a emission-cleaning tool or a instrument that's being placed on each and every one of the pumpers and the ladders to reduce the diesel fuel emissions. And, two, the point source capture systems that's being put into each and every fire station currently.
What are the health impacts of exposure to diesel fuel by way of lung ailments? Are you familiar with any of them? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes. They are various. And studies show that breathing diesel fuel has a impact on your health.
And are firemen disproportionately impacted by those emissions and those a result -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: Well, I think that --
-- as opposed 93 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET to other departments? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Any workers that's exposed to diesel fuel would be more impacted. It's like if you don't work in a environment where there's diesel fuel emissions, you will be less impacted.
Okay. I'm telling you, you guys -- you have been hanging around with Councilmembers way too long. You answer questions artfully. (Timer bell rings.)
What I'm getting to is: I want to know how we are going and how we are progressing with providing those ventilation systems inside fire stations where our brave firefighters, on the way to save someone else's life, are being -- putting their lives at risk by inhaling these diesel emissions. COMMISSIONER AYRES: We have Phase I and Phase II of the installation project that's currently ongoing. We expect Phase I and II to be completed by 94 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET June 30th. The program is currently being crashed, the project is being crashed to provide installations in all stations hopefully by June 30th. Outside of that, the August -- mid-August is the long-term goal for completion of the entire project.
I understand also you have a pretty good health insurance policy, and a lot of your guys actually get some of the best health care around of other -- compared to what we in Council may get; is that true? COMMISSIONER AYRES: That's true.
And we want you to have it because you face greater risks. I don't have to inhale diesel fuel every day, and so we're glad that you have it. And as we start to talk about '10, '20, and '30, it should never include things like that, your health benefits. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Thank you, 95 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET sir.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Other than go back and forth on this, if you could provide the following to the Chair for inclusion in testimony, and assume that it will become a part of the record and that it's the same as your testimony before Council: For FY '09, please provide the cost, including fringe, for all unfilled paramedic and EMT positions. Please also provide the cost of covering the work that was to be performed by these positions through overtime. And please provide the same analysis for FY '10 based on current vacancies in these positions and your estimations regarding the number of these 96 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET vacancies that you will fill during the current year. And, finally, explain with roughly the same number of people why overtime is going to increase in Fiscal '08 versus Fiscal 2010 in the Emergency Medical Services Division. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes, sir.
Can you tell me, does -- is there a -- does collective bargaining or anything like that cover the number of battalion chiefs and captains we have, or is that at the discretion of the Department? COMMISSIONER AYRES: It's a management right. We look at the budget and we supply the resources that we get.
Okay. So can you explain to me what a battalion chief does very quickly. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Very quickly? A battalion chief is responsible for a geographical area. He or she actually has several firehouses that are 97 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET directly under their command. They are responsible for them administratively as well as responsible for the training and all of the other things that go on within that, their own fire safety district. They're responsible for ensuring that inspections are made, hydrant, building, other inspections. They're responsible for ensuring that the staffing levels are adequate so that when the doors open at 8 o'clock, 6 o'clock at night, all of the members, the men and women, are prepared to go into service and to work. They also are responsible for critiques. They have a job, they'll come back, they'll look at the job, make sure that there's a process improvement in place. They're responsible for making sure that they give them their performance rating, things like that. And they are responsible for going on the fire ground at an event, 98 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET whether it's hazardous materials, whether it's a house fire, a building fire, a high-rise fire, excavation of someone entrapped. Whatever it is, they take command of that scene until relieved of that command, and they ensure that all of the resources are pointed towards, one, a schedule outcome, protection of life, protection of property, protection of the environment.
So what would be the impact -- how many -- so how many stations does the average battalion chief cover? And I assume there are equal numbers in each shift during the day of battalion chiefs or -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: No, not equal. They vary with various firehouses. It could be from five firehouses to six firehouses.
Okay. So if we eliminated, let's say, ten battalion chief positions, how would that impact -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: I 99 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET apologize. Could you repeat your question.
If we eliminated ten battalion chief positions, how would that impact, you know, service to citizens who are in need of EMT personnel or a fire engine or a ladder company coming to their house? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We would not be looking at eliminating ten battalion chief positions.
I didn't ask you if you were looking at it; I asked what the impact would be. COMMISSIONER AYRES: The impact of relieving ten battalion chief -- of reducing ten battalion chief positions would be enormous on the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Why? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Because I just explained what you need from each one, and you would not have the command function that you need. 100 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
How many fires are there at a time in the City? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Well, it varies.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Sometimes it's no fires at all.
Right. How many fires on average at a time? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Excuse me, sir. (Commissioner Ayres confers with staff off the record). COMMISSIONER AYRES: Please?
How many fires on average at a time? COMMISSIONER AYRES: On average at a time?
Yeah. I mean, what's the most number of fires that you've ever had at one time? (Timer bell rings.) COMMISSIONER AYRES: I'd have to look that up. 101 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
Okay. So basically -- we'll come back to this, but the battalion chiefs that work during the day have an administrative role, and the battalion chiefs that work in the evening pretty much have a role of covering fires; is that -- or do they also have an administrative role? COMMISSIONER AYRES: They do administrative work as well. They do some of things we talked about -- training, ensuring that -- planning is a very big function for battalion chiefs. It's just one of the things that you need. You need battalion chiefs. It's a reason for having that job function there. It's a job function that's critical to fire service delivery in any municipality or township.
Do we have more or less battalion chiefs per number of stations and firefighters than our peer cities? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We have 102 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET probably close to the same.
And you have looked at that? COMMISSIONER AYRES: No, I would look at it, I could look at it. I have not examined each and every one of our peer cities.
Yeah. COMMISSIONER AYRES: I would say that it's comparable.
So you don't think the Fire Department's top-heavy. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Absolutely not.
Okay. I think citizens would like to see more money for firefighters. But we'll come back to this line of questioning, Madam President. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney. 103 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
Thank you Madam President. Commissioner, at the tail-end of the Street Administration, you, Brian McBride, and Mayor Street himself went on a tour of a number of firehouses relative to capital-improvement issues, including the issue that Councilman Jones raised relative to emissions, diesel emissions. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes Councilman.
Could you give us an idea as to what progress has been made on those station improvements and what are the ongoing plans to keep the station houses liveable? Some of the sites we have seen, as you know, were deplorable conditions -- bad windows, we had mice in some and some (indiscernible). Can you give me a status report on what was accomplished and what our plans are for keeping these places liveable work environments? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes. With 104 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET the budget that was available and the prioritized list that was established with Public Property, we went into the stations that were the worst and started to try to make improvements. As you know, some of 'em are electrical improvements, some are just basic structure because of the older firehouses, some roofs, heaters, things like that. We took care of the life-safety issues first in those firehouses that we went into. We've received money from PICA to go forward and also money that's budgeted in Capital to continue to move forward to fix and repair those stations that we can. And also in a longer look, hopefully, at some point, we'll be able to have a master plan where we look at even building other fire administration stations. But we've moved ahead and we've got some of those firehouses in --
Are you in 105 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET consultation with the Capital Office, or are you doing it internally? Or what's the -- you're trying to address the issues talked about at the end of the Street Administration, but how about, going forward, what are the plans to continue maintenance? 'Cause, you know, the difference between this work environment and every other in the City is that is actually a house where people live, as you know. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes, it is.
And, you know, some of the conditions that we saw were not house-worthy. COMMISSIONER AYRES: We are in consultation with Capital and with Property. And one of the things that we're doing is, we've prioritized that list and looked at those things that we'll be able to get over the next five fiscal years.
If it's not too inconvenient -- and I know you get a 106 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET lot of requests for information, but if you could give me an update on the places that we looked at, what was done, and what the plan is for the future. DEP.
Thank you very much. Just a word of compliment to the Department, both the Fire Department and the Police Department. Yesterday, I participated in a 10-K race for the Donor Dash, which we had honored in Council on Thursday. At the end of that race, sadly, we lost a 19-year-old young man from a high school in South Philadelphia. Your people were on the scene immediately, were acting in an extremely professional, courteous, and very understanding manner. It was sad that we lost a child, but it had nothing to do at all with your people's ability and activity, along with the Police Department that was there to offer actually comfort 107 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET and help to all of these children who were there, witnessing the loss of their friend. So, in addition to the professionalism that your paramedics and battalion chiefs -- actually, a battalion chief who was on the scene, who was very, very helpful, so there are duties that battalion chiefs perform, and he was performing well yesterday. Along with that, the Police Department were very helpful in moving young people to the hospital and getting family members -- I mean, it was just a tragic situation that was unavoidable, something that was God's will. But I just wanted to compliment both departments on their courteous and compassionate and professional way in which they handled the situation. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Thank you, Councilman.
Thank you. COMMISSIONER AYRES: It was one 108 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET of the saddest reports that I read, was the fight for this young man.
It was a bad day, but you guys helped make it as less bad as possible. Thank you. DEP.
My time's not up. I just have one other -- is my time up?
Oh, okay. Thank you. We've had discussion in the past in here relative to ear protection, hearing protection for firefighters. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
I know that many firefighters, because of the proximity that they sit in the cab of their equipment to the sirens, that, you know, deafness is an ongoing issue. I know we've had discussion in the past that this ear protection or 109 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET hearing protection was kind of something we should be negotiating or arbitrating. And I found problems with that in the past because, again, we wouldn't arbitrate the use of a helmet 'cause it's safe. Why we would be arbitrating the use of hearing protection. And is there some way we can kind of look at those areas? In this very difficult financial time, these kinds of items do go a long way in helping to show that the government is concerned about their workers. And where are we with the ear protection? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Currently, we have four pumpers that we just purchased. They are outfitted with the fill-com hearing-protection systems. We are piloting that program. Two have been delivered, and we're expecting two more deliveries.
Are we just looking at the acquiring of that equipment 110 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET as a result of new apparatus purchases? (Timer bell rings.)
Or is there some way we can retrofit existing engine and ladder companies? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We're looking at the retrofit, and it's going to be about 5,000 per truck, but we are actually looking at not only bringing the new ones in as they come, but to retrofit back.
It's an understandable expenditure relative to the person's health going forward. And I'd appreciate it if you could continue to try to expedite or accelerate that equipment purchase. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes, sir.
Thank you, Madam President. 111 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET I'd like to revisit and probe a a little bit more about special provisions or standard operating procedures involving seniors and those who are visually- or hearing-impaired. What is the standard operating procedure for drills for where we have senior citizens? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Uh --
Is there a written policy that exists? COMMISSIONER AYRES: No. It's from building to building.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: It depends on the configuration, it depends on the level of care that's provided.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Whether assisted living versus a senior-citizens apartment, those types of things. And it's -- again, our institutional teams are going to those buildings and assist them with setting up 112 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET all of the planning, the evacuation planning, those types of things. Also going in and assisting with the preventive measures.
Side of that equation. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Burn prevention, fire prevention, all of those things.
Okay. So let me make sure that heard you. The level of care drives the number of types that drills happen as such, or the number of times that inspections around drills happen; is that what I'm hearing? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
Okay. And where is there a record where you report back, indicating that a drill has taken place in this building for this level of care of seniors, disabled, hearing- and visually-impaired? Where's there a record of that? 113 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET COMMISSIONER AYRES: What I would have to do is get that from Fire Prevention and make sure that you get that information.
If you could forward that to the Chair. COMMISSIONER AYRES: I will absolutely make sure that that's forwarded to you.
Okay. 'Cause my thinking is that the onus should not have to be on seniors to reduce the (indiscernible) we haven't had a drill. If there's a standard operating procedure that there should be a drill every six months or every three months based on the level of care of that building, then that procedure should be in place and well understood not only by folks on your side of the equation but by the building managers of those buildings. How does one become a fire service representative? COMMISSIONER AYRES: One of 114 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET several ways. The easiest is to go to your local fire station. You can receive a -- an application. They need to be 5 years old, they need to be a Philadelphia 6 resident, and you have to have access to 7 e-mail. 8 One of the things that happens 9 is, our Fire Prevention Division actually 10 e-mails all of the fire safety 11 representatives, the different activities 12 that's going on in the area, and also the 13 seasonal fire prevention messages to get 14 those things out. 15
Okay. 16 Let's switch back to the visually- and 17 hearing-impaired. I'm just trying to 18 reflect on the session I did with the hearing impaired citizens. Is there some type of phone or some type of mechanism, some type of equipment that's used for those who are hearing-impaired? And how does that work? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Well, we just entered into a project with Temple 115 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET University. And what we did was, we worked with them with a grant to purchase smoke alarms for hearing-impaired. And what that does is, when that smoke alarm goes off, there's a radio transmission that goes to a device under the person's pillow. And also, for those that are only hearing-impaired, a strobe light that goes off to help wake them up so that they can escape their home.
Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Much the same as if a regular smoke alarm goes off. So that's one of the programs that we just entered into with Temple University.
And so, are there linkages with the hearing-impaired community? Are there limits on that? Is that open to any and everybody who has a family member -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: It's limited because of funding.
Sure. COMMISSIONER AYRES: But we have 116 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET applied to the national -- excuse me we've applied to the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program to get monies so that we could supply more of those smoke alarms. They are very, very costly.
Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER AYRES: So we're trying to expand the program and, hopefully, at least support some families.
Okay. So I will look forward to the report that stipulates how often drills are had in facilities where you have high levels of care for seniors and the disabled and the hearing- and visually-impaired. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
Thank you for your testimony. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, 117 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET Madam President. I have a couple of more questions. Commissioner, I'm sure you're aware that there's a lawsuit that may require the Fire Department to provide the services that are being cut. What is the Administration's plan if the lawsuit goes against the City? Do you have a Plan B? COMMISSIONER AYRES: I'm not sure. I'm not sure which lawsuit you're referring to.
Well, I think the firefighters union has instituted a lawsuit to restore some of the cuts. COMMISSIONER AYRES: That would be a legal matter. DEP.
Right. The basic answer to that question would be that whatever the direction of the court would be is we would obviously follow. The majority of the one that is currently before the Supreme Court talks 118 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET about whether or not we would have to do certain -- take the analysis and kind of redo everything in the beginning rather at the end. But we are proceeding right now well within what our attorney has told us we can do. So we're going forward.
Okay. And my second question -- but I just thought of something too. We had a hearing once about the earplugs that the firefighters use -- do you remember that hearing, Jim? How was that issue settled? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Well, the issue was settled here in Council. One of the things that we're doing, as you heard from Councilman Kenney, is moving forward to supply the hearing protection for the firefighters.
Okay. So it's different from what you were using back then. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
Is it 119 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET better? COMMISSIONER AYRES: I believe they were talking about the plugs that were utilized previously in the firehouse, and we're moving onto the units that actually cover the whole ear.
Okay, great. All right. And would you discuss the new hours, the new schedule under the reorganization? And what are the benefits? Do you have any data or research on the physical or psychological effects of this 12-hour, three-days- straight shift? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Okay. The shift change, I believe, you're talking about is the paramedic shift change. That shift change is based on a legal matter, a lawsuit that was filed by the paramedics against the City of Philadelphia and won. One of the things that we have had to do is to modify the shift in order to avoid the excessive cost for overtime 120 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET that would be incurred in the same schedule. Right now, what we are doing is preparing to make that shift. And as far as the psychological effects and all of those types of things, we currently run a shift exactly like that in our Fire Communications Center. One of the things that we found is, while it was a change, that it was something that was good for some and not so good for others. There are issues that are being worked out between the City and the union currently, but the shift is two days on, two days off; three days on, two days off; two days on, and then three days off with every other weekend off.
Well, that sounds like quite a bit. So in one month, I notice you can have two weekends off. But every couple of days, your shift changes? And is it 12 hours? COMMISSIONER AYRES: No, a steady shift. 121 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
It's a steady shift? COMMISSIONER AYRES: Day works and night works.
I'm sorry. Say that again. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Paramedics will be working steady shifts -- either day work or night work.
Okay. And is that just paramedics, not firefighters also? COMMISSIONER AYRES: No, it's just paramedics.
Just paramedics, okay, okay. So is the data -- is the effects negative effects or is it -- what's the data cite? What's the research? And if it is bad for some, then are you able to switch them around? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We have a process in place for folks that have hardships to actually look at how to help 122 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET them resolve those and to give them time to resolve those. The Department and the union's currently working through that process.
Okay, all right. So there is a possibility that a shift could be modified if you have a hardship. COMMISSIONER AYRES: Yes.
Okay, all right. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. How many of Philadelphia's fire facilities don't have fire protection systems? COMMISSIONER AYRES: I will have 123 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET to check. I know we have smoke alarms in all of our facilities. We're looking at -- that's one of the improvements in the Capital. I'd have to look that up for you.
Well, the answer is 30. And on July 1, 2008, PICA approved money for adding them to 10 facilities. Can you explain why that's 11 not been done? 12 COMMISSIONER AYRES: I couldn't 13 say why it hasn't been done to this date. 14 I will look into that. That's something 15 that's important to me as well. 16
Okay. Well, also, 15 roofs were in need of substantial replacement. How many of those roofs have been repaired? COMMISSIONER AYRES: It is in planning, and I can't tell you exactly how many has been done.
Zero is the answer, because none of the PICA money has been called on. 124 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET Can you explain why you have money appropriated for eight months and you're not spending it for things like fire-detection system and roofs for our firefighters? DEP.
Commissioner, I'll take that. Councilman, like everything else, when you have the money, once the money has been approved, you then have to go through the process of actually putting it into place. I know that on both of those issues, both Capital Improvements and also Public Property have people working to make sure that we comply with the various budgetary necessities of getting the money spent. You have to design it, you have to implement it, and you go forward. Once the -- just Step is the money is appropriated. Step is planning it, and Step would be implementation. So I believe, if I remember the testimony from Public Property, they 125 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET indicated, and I believe Gary Knappick would correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that over my desk, I saw that they were in the planning process to spend that money, and I would anticipate it would be spent probably within the next, you know, fiscal year. But I know that the money is there and I know that we're planning to spend it.
All right. Well, let's talk about potential life- safety electrical corrections such as ground (indiscernible) interrupt, emergency lighting, exit signage, and circuit overload, which were identified as being needed to be done in fire stations. DEP.
All of that is in the planning. And I believe that a couple of those things have actually been let, but I'll have to get back to you which ones and which stations have already been approved, especially the ones on the roofing, 'cause I know that I 126 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET saw that that was actually being let as well. I'll provide it to the Chair.
Thank you. The money's available. Let's get to work. DEP.
And it's been available for eight months. And it's, you know, maybe I need to send L&I there so that, you know -- I mean, it seems silly, but we shouldn't have potential life- safety electrical corrections needed at our fire facilities.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney for a point of information.
I would appreciate it if we could get from Public Property the process, the legal process, we need to follow in order to appropriate, 127 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET design, and award bids, 'cause I would like to know the context in which we're talking. I recognize -- 'cause I was involved in this from the last administration -- the timeliness and critical nature of getting the work done. But I do believe if Public Property could provide us with what the constraints are legally and whether or not eight months is in fact a long period of time when it comes to governmental appropriation, design, and the award of bids. If they fell down on the job I'd like to know, but I suspect, from my experience here, it's a more lengthy process than any of us like. So I just would like to know, if there's criticism relative to the eight months, just what the context of that criticism is in fact. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Madam President. I'll provide a little bit of 128 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET context for the Councilman. These defaults and problems were recognized in a 2007 PICA report. And if the City didn't take direction at the time to go bid them out, it's a mistake. These things cannot survive after they've been in the light of day for two years. So I look forward to seeing what Public Property has to say about this as well. Madam Chair, I can't recall if my time was up or --
Okay. Sorry. So if you could please just provide the Chair kind of a more detailed written description of the duties of the 48 battalion chiefs just so I can compare that to other cities. There are 48 battalion chiefs, 292 captains, and it seems, you know -- COMMISSIONER AYRES: It's only 11 per shift. 129 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET
11 per shift. COMMISSIONER AYRES: It's only 11 per shift.
Okay. COMMISSIONER AYRES: The other positions are in needed administrative positions.
Administrative positions? COMMISSIONER AYRES: That is correct.
And that's something that can't be done by civilians? COMMISSIONER AYRES: We'd have to look at that.
Okay. Why don't you look at that and also answer that question. COMMISSIONER AYRES: We will.
Thank you. Mr. Gillison mentioned the rebalancing of the Fire Department. That's something that we talked about last year at the budget hearings and something 130 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET that's been talked about, and I believe there were even some proposals during the Street Administration. Can you tell me what's been done with respect to rebalancing the system in terms of population shifts and et cetera? COMMISSIONER AYRES: As far as the fire response and looking at education, we monitor that on a regular basis. As far as looking forward to a long-range strategic plan and a study that would be needed for that versus analysis, we plan on entering into a contract as we go forward to actually look at that. It takes a longer period of time than just, of course, just an analysis to get that done. So we're looking at it as part of our strategic planning. DEP.
And I will add, Councilman, the idea is to take not only the criteria over the last obviously six months to eight months. There has 131 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET been a need to do the analysis in order to bring us to where we are today for fiscal reasons. The idea has always been to maintain a level of playing field for safety, but it is long overdue. And I will agree with you that it is long overdue that we have a full strategic analysis and plan for the Fire Department. We plan on entering into that. I know that I've had discussions not only with the Fire Command, but I've also had discussions with the union about participating in what that plan would look like so that we would be looking together in addressing the strategic plan for Fire. This is not something that we are talking about that is, you know, something that's going to be done in one or two months. Most places that I've looked at and most of the companies that I've had talks about with from around the country indicate that this is somewhere along the order of a 9- to 18-month 132 4/20/09 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - FY '10 BUDGET processes. And the quicker we can get to it -- and it looks like I'll be able to do something after July 1st, given everything else that I hope will happen between now and July 1st, but we look to hope to have something going out for things sometime after that time. That's all we can -- that's basically where we are.
So there's money identified in the budget for this study? DEP.