Foreign Fire Tax Board

FOREIGN FIRE TAX BOARD JUNE 18, 2025 AT 8:30 AM FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS 39 E COLFAX PALATINE, IL 60067-5339 (847) 359-9050 www.palatine.il.us MINUTES REGULAR MEETING 8:30 AM I. CALL TO ORDER President Dale Abbinanti called the meeting to order at 8:31 AM. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT : Firefighter/Paramedic Joseph Duer, Firefighter/Paramedic Dale Abbinanti, Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Loverher, Firefighter/Paramedic Eric Jordan, Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Webb, Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Rothenberg, ABSENT : ARRIVED : Also Present: Fire Chief Patrick Gratzianna, Division Chief Matt Buzzard, FF/PM Zach Heiderman III. PRESENTATION/RECOGNITION OF ATTENDEES D/C Buzzard gave an update on the training budget of $50,000.00 and the FFTB training budget supplement of $20,000.00 for FY2025, totaling $70,000.00. The Training Division has accounted for $68,931.16 in registered class tuition, with a remaining balance of $1,068.84. FF/PM Z. Heiderman presented his FFTB Request for a trial residential bidet for each fire station with a residential toilet connection to assist in promoting better personal hygiene, especially for those who have known GI issues within the department, and to help reduce the use/cost of toilet paper, especially at Station 85 where the plumbing is notoriously clogged. These models are cheaper than commercial bidets, and would allow a trial period before considering commercial models. This has been discussed with PW, who would be able to install. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Foreign Fire Tax Board - Regular Meeting - March 19, 2025 Minutes from March 19, 2025 were completed in MinuteTraq by Eric Jordan. - Approved by Voice Vote VILLAGE OF PALATINE Page 1 of 5 Minutes June 18, 2025 RESULT: MOTION APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE MOVER: Robert Loverher SECONDER: Adam Rothenberg AYES: Joseph Duer, Dale Abbinanti, Robert Loverher, Eric Jordan, Matt Webb, Adam Rothenberg NAYS: None V. TREASURER'S REPORT Treasurer's report provided by Treasurer Matt Webb - Approved by Voice Vote RESULT: MOTION APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE MOVER: Robert Loverher SECONDER: Eric Jordan AYES: Joseph Duer, Dale Abbinanti, Robert Loverher, Eric Jordan, Matt Webb, Adam Rothenberg NAYS: None A. CURRENT BALANCE $276,060.19 B. SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES $33,642.74 C. OUTSTANDING APPROVED ITEMS $19,984 D. OTHER ITEMS E. AVAILABLE BALANCE $222,433.45 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. LOGOS FOR STATIONS 81 & 85 FF Loverher is working to complete the FD Station Logo Project for Stations 81 & 85. FF Loverher has found a graphic designer who will help with creating the logos for around $200.00 each, for a total of $400.00. FF Loverher is requesting $400.00 to complete the PFD Station Logo Designs. VILLAGE OF PALATINE Page 2 of 5 Minutes June 18, 2025 - Approved by Voice Vote RESULT: MOTION APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE MOVER: Matt Webb SECONDER: Adam Rothenberg AYES: Joseph Duer, Dale Abbinanti, Robert Loverher, Eric Jordan, Matt Webb, Adam Rothenberg NAYS: None VII. NEW BUSINESS A motion was made to accept the New Business following the discussion of all the requests submitted and the outcome of those discussions regarding the approval or denial of the requests. - Approved by Voice Vote RESULT: MOTION APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE MOVER: Adam Rothenberg SECONDER: Eric Jordan AYES: Joseph Duer, Dale Abbinanti, Robert Loverher, Eric Jordan, Matt Webb, Adam Rothenberg NAYS: None A. BLACKSTONE MATS Matt Webb requested the purchase of Blackstone Mats to be placed beneath the new Blackstone Griddles at each of the stations to help protect the surface beneath by catching the overflow of grease. The request was for up to $200 to cover the cost of the Blackstone Mats. The motion to approve this request was deferred to the end of New Business, by President Abbinanti, to include all the discussions regarding each of the requests. B. COFFEE TRIAL FF/PM CT Garcia submitted a request to change the current coffee supply, purchased by FFTB, from the Kirkland Brand Medium Roast to Heady Cup Mushroom Coffee. FF/PM Rothenberg suggested that the coffee sampling shall be department wide and not just a single brand or single station or crew, and a survey of the overall preference of the department. FF/PM Rothenberg suggested several local coffee brewers, such as Conscious Cup, Metropolis, and Hansa Coffee, who might be able to offer a deal to the PFD. Discussion of cost increase from the current standing order was a concern. We currently go through approximately 700lbs of coffee a year. The general consensus was that any specialty coffee desired outside of the currently provided Kirkland brand can be supplemented through the cafeteria VILLAGE OF PALATINE Page 3 of 5 Minutes June 18, 2025 plan, specific station house funds, or each company's kitty, if so desired. This request was denied, per President Abbinanti, with the option for FF/PM Garcia to resubmit with more supporting documentation and department survey. C. 5G WI-FI UPGRADE FF/PM CT Garcia submitted a request for 5G Cellular Wi-Fi Hotspots for each of the fire stations for use by firefighter members to access the internet in place of the current VOP-IT controlled VOP-BYOD Wi-Fi internet access points at each station, which are limited in bandwidth, speed, and duration of access, as members are frequently bumped off and have to re-sign-in numerous times over the course of a shift. FF/PM Rothenberg offered his expertise in the matter as an IT consultant, and explained that one issue is the limited cellular access within the fire stations would hinder the 5G cellular connection to the internet, and added that by funding through government means, such as FFTB funds, the technology would need to be controlled and secured by the VOP-IT, anyway. Chief Gratzianna offered that Lt. Sullivan's new area of responsibility is the FD-IT Liaison, and recommended that the concerns of Wi-Fi and cellular access within the fire stations should be addressed with IT through Lt. Sullivan. Discussion turned to the possibility of boosting or improving cellular access within the fire stations, and suggestions that this could be considered either in meetings with VOP-IT or in a future FFTB request. Per President Abbinanti, this request is denied at this time with the plan to first bring these concerns to VOP-IT through Chief Gratzianna and Lt. Sullivan. E. PLUMBING/HYGIENE UPGRADE As presented by FF/PM Z. Heiderman, FF/PM Garcia submitted a request for residential bidets for stations that have a residential toilet connection (i.e. Station 84 Bayfloor, Station 85) to help improve hygiene, reduce toilet paper or flushable wipe use, and minimize toilet clogging, especially for those FD members who suffer from GI and IBS issues. During discussion, concerns about sanitization and maintenance of the devices were expressed, ultimately leading to the request being denied. F. MATTRESS TOPPERS & REIMBURSEMENT Lt. Pepe requested mattress toppers for all stations that would help improve the current hard mattresses, and improve overall sleep quality at the stations. Discussion led to the proposal of covering the cost of six beds per station, for stations that do not have mattress toppers, not to exceed $7000.00. BC Zimmerman's request for retroactive reimbursement for his personal mattress topper was denied. G. PICTURE FRAME/STATION PRIDE Lt. Pepe submitted a request for picture frames for all the FD Stations to replace old, broken, and outdated picture frames, and help to update the stations and improve pride and moral. Discussion led to the proposal of approving the funding to purchase frames and pictures for all the FD Stations, not to exceed $1200.00. D. CANCER TESTING VILLAGE OF PALATINE Page 4 of 5 Minutes June 18, 2025 FF/PM CT Garcia submitted a request for a new blood cancer screening, known as the Galleri Test, for all FD members as a means of early cancer detection. FF/PM Rothenberg weighed in on the discussion, explaining that he had previously been considering this test for himself, but recently found that a three-year UK study that was fully funded was halted after just one year. While the results or reasons for the halting of the study have not been disclosed, it creates a lot of doubt about the validity of the Galleri Test. Other cancer screening tests were discussed as possible alternatives, but ultimately this request was decidedly tabled for future discussion and highly encouraging that the FFTB is in support of cancer screening for the FD members, just not fully sold on the Galleri Test. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT Nothing Submitted. IX. ADJOURNMENT President Dale Abbinanti adjourned the meeting at 9:58 AM. VILLAGE OF PALATINE Page 5 of 5