• The paperwork for the second clothing allowance check of $400 has not finished processing yet; but we expect the money to be paid out some time in February. If you have not received your first clothing allowance check yet, please inform your facility Vice-President as soon as possible so that we can make inquiries.
• The Bremerton Station 27 remodel to install a second form of egress from the second deck is due to start in May 2010.
• The Bremerton Station 28 sprinkler system and alarm system are in the design phase. Comments are due by the 29th. Two of the roadblocks to completing the work include asbestos abatement and lead exposure hazards.
• The Jackson Park Station 63 remodel will go out for bids in May 2010 with an expected completion date of January/February 2011. Requests for alteration of the current living facilities have been made.
• The Fiscal Year 2009 self-help money slated for Bangor Station 62 was dropped by the self-help office, not the fire department. The fire department staff is working to correct that error. The complete remodel made the ARC list. At present the remodel costs sit at around nine hundred thousand dollars. The design phase of the project starts later this year.
• Training computers have been issued to Bremerton Station 27 and Bangor Station 61. The computers were purchased for the fire department without some of the required software programs (i.e: office suite, power point, etc.) The training computers for the rest of the fire stations won’t be issued until March or April 2010, the rest of the software programs should be received and installed by then.
• The SOG for Leave is being re-written to correct the error on FEFFLA/FMLA. It currently shows the calculation for a 40 hour week employee.
• The SOG for Minimum Officers on duty is being corrected to accommodate the staff cuts at WI. Only one officer in Batt 3 will be required, as it is in Batts 1&2.
• The vote on the Washington State Council of Firefighters has concluded with overwhelming support for staying in. Thank you for all those who participated.

The Washington State Council of Firefighters will be holding their Affiliate Leadership Conference in Bremerton this April. They are going to hold a separate break out room on April 20th with training on the duty to represent, arbitration, ULP's, Grievances and federal statutes. This training is for all VP's and stewards, please make every effort to attend. Anyone else interested is also welcome...just let me know so we can get you registered.