APRIL 2021 – Minutes

MEMBER MEETING – April 14, 2021 2:31 – 3:10 PM VIA ZOOM

ATTENDEES

agenda

1. Introduction
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Adoption of February 2021 AGM Minutes
4. Finance Report
5. Special Resolution
6. Old Business
   FACP Labels – Victoria Fire Dept
   Committees
7. Facilitated Discussion on Member Ideas and Association Direction
8. New Business

1.  OPEN MEETING AND INTRODUCTIONS: Colin
2.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA
3.  ADOPTION OF AGM MINUTES

Murray 1^st. Steve 2^nd. Unanimous.

4.  FINANCIAL REPORT

$1,964.12 as at April 13^th in account. Still a few more dues to go in. Colin explained the desire to improve the web site and tidy up details. We now have the funds to hire a web designer to help create the members only area on the web site. Also an update that we’re interested in having folks add information

5.  SPECIAL RESOLUTION FOR BYLAW CHANGES

The following By-Law changes are proposed regarding Membership and Membership Categories

The changes are meant to update and clarify Membership categories regarding:

• voting and non-voting categories
• encompass the complete Fire Protection Industry not just Fire Alarm
• include Gulf Islands
• clarify employees of the Corporate Members

Persons entitled to become a member

3. The following are entitled to apply for the following classes of membership:

a. Any corporation, company, partnership, or proprietorship may apply to become a Voting Member and is presently

i.  commercially engaged in Providing Fire Protection and Life Safety Services on Vancouver Island and/or the Gulf Islands;
ii. holding a valid business license in a municipality or city on Vancouver Island and/or the Gulf Islands;
iii. maintains a fixed place of business in a municipality or city on Vancouver Island and/or the Gulf Islands;

always provided that any person that is a partner, employee or officer of a voting member corporation, company, partnership or proprietorship shall be entitled to participate in association meetings, committees and functions in a non-voting capacity.

b. Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, or proprietorship may apply to become a non-voting member:

i. that supports the objectives and purposes of the association and is not otherwise commercially engaged in Fire Protection or Life Safety or

ii. is a student or apprentice enrolled in a recognized education program, or

iii. Commercially engaged in Providing Fire Protection and Life Safety Services with a valid business license and fixed place of business not on Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands, or

iv. anyone that the directors may otherwise deem acceptable for membership

c. Any individual in the employ of a Municipal, Provincial or Federal department providing Building, Fire, Electrical, Safety Inspection, Prevention, Permitting, or Approvals. may apply to become a non-voting member.

d. Any individual member who has made a significant contribution to the association and/or fire protection and life safety as determined by the membership and duly voted by the membership as a voting Lifetime Member.

Membership Classes

4. The following shall be the classes of Membership:

VOTING MEMBER (CLASS A) – Any corporation, company, partnership, or proprietorship as described in 3(a) may apply to be a voting member.  With fees payable as determined annually by the Membership.

Each organization will be entitled to one (1) voting Membership per corporation, company, partnership or proprietorship, and needs to designate a representative who holds that vote before a vote is held.

NON-VOTING MEMBER (CLASS B) – Any individual. corporation, company, partnership or proprietorship as described in 3(b) may apply to be a non-voting member.  With fees payable as determined annually by the Membership.

NON-VOTING AHJ MEMBER (CLASS C) – Any individual as described in 3(c) may apply to be a non-voting member.  With fees payable as determined annually by the Membership.

VOTING LIFETIME MEMBER (CLASS D) – Any individual as described in 3(D) may be a voting LIFETIME member.  With NO fees payable.

Discussion:

3.d. – Should Lifetime members have voting rights? To vote in the Lifetime Members, add to bylaws that it requires a 2/3 vote of members present. Vote on what stands and make additional changes in the future.

RESOLUTION:

Resolved:
That the Bylaws of the Vancouver Island Fire Protection Association be amended as follows:

That “Persons entitled to become a member” and “Membership Catergories” be removed.

That the newly drafted “Persons entitled to become a member” and “Membership Classes” be inserted as attached.

A full copy of the newly drafted Bylaws are attached and include the amendments.

VOTE: Yes – 8, No – 3, Abstain – 1. The Resolution has passed by 2/3 of members present.

6. OLD BUSINESS

a. City of Victoria Fire Alarm Control Panel Stickers

Brad from Victoria Fire Dept brought this to our Association several months ago. They see value of putting a FACP sticker on the door of the room that contains the panel to make it easier for the fire depts to find the room in an emergency. Tim has created a draft with the lettering and the VIFPA logo.

Megan shared that this is specifically for the fire depts, who have access to the key vaults, so direction on how to get into the room is not required.

These stickers would be available for purchase by members of VIFPA.  Logos for individual companies is a bit much. Maybe provide the stickers to the Fire Prevention Officers for installation on sites. They don’t want full responsibility for placing them though. Megan is happy with the sizing and colours.

Looking at vinyl stickers to ensure waterproofing but keep cost down. VIFPA logo appears too large. Could use a horizontal logo instead. Look at polling the various jurisdictions to see if they want them. Send to Darrin at FPOABC to see if they’re interested/supportive.

b. Committees

A reminder that we are also eagerly seeking Committee members:

     1. Finance Committee

        •    Currently Tim and Murray.  May include 2 more as need arises.

        •    Responsible for the financial portion of the organization.

     2. Membership Committee

        •    Accepting volunteers

        •    Responsible for membership recruitment, retention & membership benefits

        •    Likely combined with the Promotion Committee during early stages

     3. Promotion Committee

        •    Accepting volunteers

        •    Responsible for providing advice and counsel on matters of Association Public

              Awareness and Promotion.

        •    Likely combined with the Membership Committee during early stages

     4. Education Committee

        •    Accepting qualified volunteers

        •    Responsible for providing advice and counsel on matters of Public and Member

              Education, Codes and Standards Development, and AHJ Liaison

Discussion regarding the various proposed committees. Finance is doing great but would like more help with Membership and Promotion. This will allow us to connect in local communities and extend our reach. Then we’re looking for qualified members to become part of the Education and AHJ outreach committee.

Expressions of interest:

Education – Chris – Viking Fire, Steve – Pacific Coast. Adam – Complex Fire as a Non-member is willing to help as well. Dean is more interested in the suppression side of things. This is for public and member education and then there is still the AHJ liaison. Would be good to have an AHJ on the committee so that information is vetted before going to the members. Megan will discuss with Brad to see who they could nominate.

7. FACILITATED DISCUSSION TO GATHER MEMBER IDEAS & ASSOCIATION DIRECTION

We really didn’t know where this would go when we started, especially given Covid-19. We’d love to have feedback from you on what you want to see and how you can benefit from what we do. Also soliciting for topics people would like to discuss or learn about in the future.

1. Engineering training and discussion, especially for those who are new to the industry. Great to have the support.
2. A Discussion Board for folks to share thoughts and ideas. We need to market that more. Perhaps Steve can be a moderator.
3. A discussion on monitoring, new installations, and the requirements.
4. Fire smoke dampers on new construction and the thought process on how they are to operate. Engineers are specifying them, but there are a lot of unknowns. Mention that BCBC Code Interpretations has three bulletins on the topic. This also brings up S1001 issues as well. Mechanical Engineers need to be providing the full specs on all electro/mechanical dampers.
   
   (Extended discussion regarding smoke dampers and relays…see audio and video recordings for details)

What benefits could VIFPA provide to technicians?

1. Safety – too many techs are entering the field and not getting the training. It’s not a Red Seal trade and they’re not getting the basic training in fall arrest, confined spaces, hazardous materials, hearing protection, etc. in hopes of eliminating some of the safety hazards that they face daily. Do connect with WorksafeBC.
2. Code & standards reading and interpretation training – many don’t get the basics of this important area and how to use them.
3. Teaching techs what NOT to touch – 347V tag to advise them that there are certain electrical things they shouldn’t be touching. Being aware of unidentified breakers and what areas are above your pay grade if you don’t have a Red Seal electrical ticket.
4. Permitting procedures – how to properly process a project.
5. Fire Alarm Training for Electricians – needs to be taught. CFAA National has declined to move forward with Camosun. Most journeyman electricians know extraordinarily little about fire alarm systems. Viking is moving forward with only journeymen electricians will be hired at fire alarm technicians nationally. 

Other thoughts…

VIFPA has been committed to moving forward with minimum training requirements – CFAA was discussed at the January meeting with Suzanne Alfono, Exec. Director CFAA, and Terry Lake, BC Chapter President.

Adam can build a lesson plan to provide technical training, just needs to know the topics.

Who are we targeting with training? Existing or new techs/electricians? Internal or external? What’s our desired outcome? What are we trying to accomplish? Original VIFPA idea was setting a higher bar and a minimum level of expertise.

One area is continuing ed for existing techs. The other is for new people that is more in depth. We all currently have people at different levels of education and training. Some has come from manufacturers. A lot of education comes from in house training by senior techs and is hands on in the field.

We can see how other provinces are dealing with life safety and we’re literally not measuring up. Anyone can print out tags and hang them up on equipment. There should be more oversight. Technicians have so much placed on them with regards to expectation to do it right, but they’re not getting the training and support needed.

It would be better if we had as many training opportunities available on the Island as possible. There should be a diversity of classes. We could be a model for advanced education, instead of so far behind everyone else. Maybe a handbook that tracks what the techs are learning.

8. New Business

Pacific Coast has had someone breaking into buildings and attempting to access the fire alarm panels. No one else appears to have experienced this, but everyone will keep an eye out.

CFAA was running an 8-week backlog on recertification. Now up to 3 – 4 months. This is affecting some businesses and stopping them from getting their business insurance renewed. This inability to get their re-certification in a timely manner is a serious issue.

Put a New Member welcome page – add them for one month after signing up.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 2:30 PM via ZOOM

CLOSING: 4:25 PM