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FRIDAY, NOV~4BER 18, 1988' <br /> <br />allow such members to leave their vocational workstations, when on duty at <br />work, to respond to general City fire alarms; and, when the volunteers are <br />off-duty and can respond, they are not qualified nor permitted to operate <br />(i.e., drive) the City's fire trucks in the event additional fire-fighting <br />equipment is needed from the stations. In response to Councilman McClain's <br />query, Chief Reeves anticipated that the advent of the Egll emergency <br />dispatching center will permit greater flexibility in the usage of his paid <br />manpower. Reference was made to the transition (during former City Manager <br />Kent Mathewson's tenure) from an all-paid fire department to the combination <br />paid/volunteer system now in use as well as to the effect of Federal <br />"wage-hour" standards which came into existence several years ago (under which <br />the City's paid firemen work no more than 204 hours every twenty-seven days), <br />plus the fact that the department's former nine-men shifts were reduced by the <br />City Council at that time to eight-men shifts (or one less fireman per shift). <br /> <br />In conclusion, Chief Reeves cited the effect of fire-fighting ability (or lack <br />thereof) upon fire insurance ratings applicable to Martinsville, the <br />probability of a NFPA "1500" standard becoming a part of the "OSHA" manual, and <br />the fact that fire-fighting--which, of necessity, requires extensive training <br />and special devotion-,is deemed the most hazardous occupation in the United <br />States. <br /> <br />After viewing a "video" of the City's Fire Department personnel in action at a <br />recent fire, this meeting was concluded and Mayor Oakes declared this meeting <br />adj ourned. <br /> <br />W. ~~Clerk of Council <br /> <br /> <br />