MABAS Special Communications Committee
Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. at Lisle-Woodridge Fire Station 1. Present were committee members: Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; John Lozar, Ducomm; Dave Riddle, Channahon; Bill Bouma, Mount Pleasant; Bob Mierop, Bollingbrook; and Jerry Tonne, Lombard.
D/C Tonne reported that he discussed the Division 15 frequency relocation with ITTF Communications Committee Chair Jeff Rodrigues. Mr. Rodrigues indicated that funding should be available to assist with frequency related changes. A meeting was scheduled last week between ITTF Chairman Chamness and Mr. Rodrigues. More information should be forthcoming.
It still appears that changing Division 15 to 154.310 is the best option. Chief Maplethorpe and Mr. Lozar will work with Chief Riddle to switch Minooka & Channahon over for a test period, followed by relocation for the other departments. Mr. Lozar will work on STAs from the FCC for Plainfield, Troy & Lockport. (Channahon & Minooka have base station authorizations on 154.310.)
D/C Tonne discussed the continued use of IFERN by medical helicopters. I was agreed that the message in our advocacy statement needs to be presented to all fire departments and aero-medical services. It was recommended that representatives of this committee attend a meeting of the aero-medical association.
(Note: Chief Dato and Deputy Chief Tonne have been invited to attend the meeting of the Illinois Association of Air and Critical Care Transport on September 9th in Rockford.)
Chief Maplethorpe reported that at the July 24th MABAS Executive Board meeting, President Reardon assigned responsibility for the MABAS.org website to the communications committee. He requested that a procedure be developed that controls website content. D/C Tonne reported that his discussions with Chief Reardon indicated that he would like the Communications Committee to be the clearinghouse for the website and approve its content. Chief Maplethorpe reported that he spoke with Chief Freeman of Lisle-Woodridge FPD prior to the meeting and he has approved hosting of the site on Lisle’s server. A/C Rauter will coordinate the site. It was the consensus of the group to accept the responsibility.
Chief Maplethorpe reported that the Executive Board has requested that the Communications Committee research the feasibility of teleconferencing the quarterly Executive Board meetings to various locations throughout the MABAS service area. Discussion ensued about using IEMA’s network as well as the community college video conference network.
Chief Maplethorpe distributed a copy of a
letter from President Reardon to Chief Greg Smith of LaPorte, Indiana
concerning their use of 154.265 MHz.
A/C Rauter, via e-mail, suggested that our committee develop
a “white paper” or advocacy statement concerning the ITTF’s funding of the
Starcom21 project. The consensus of those present was that MABAS should take a
position that Starcom21 will not resolve interoperability issues for most
Illinois fire departments. Mr. Lozar was asked if he could work with A/C Rauter
to draft the document.
(Note: This topic was discussed with Tom Medford, Co-Chair of the ITTF Communications Committee and he recommended swift action regarding this issue. Also, Chief Randy Justus, MABAS’ representative to the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System [ILEAS], has reported that Sheriff Mel Messer of Ogle County has requested that ILEAS and MABAS prepare a joint position concerning Starcom21.)
The meeting adjourned at 11:58 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2003 at 1000 hours at Lisle-Woodridge Station 1. Please mark your calendars.