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memorandum for the meeting of February 18, 2003. <br />Under discussion, Vice Chairman Ginn reported she had attended the <br />ESDAC meeting and felt the members of ESDAC did not have a good handle on the <br />whole situation. Since the last time this issue came to the Board, she had spoken <br />with Rod Johnston and Steve Grawl, two excellent examples of cross -trained <br />employees. She questioned what has been done in the past to renew National <br />Registry certification or if this was the first time it has been necessary. Because this <br />was done at the last minute, she had a concern it could be a strategy to get the Board <br />to agree to dual -certification of firemedics. She also believed liability needed to be <br />examined. <br />Emergency Services Director John King explained the procedures required <br />to re -certify and stated that this was the first time he was aware of anyone in the Fire <br />Division seeking renewal of their National Registry certification. <br />Commissioner Ginn thought this went against current policy because the <br />Board had determined to keep firefighter and paramedic units separate. When she <br />read the proposed language, she thought it would open the door for all 25 <br />dual -certified firefighters to perform paramedic skills. She has not done enough <br />study on this issue and was very uncomfortable with making this change. <br />Director King responded to the concerns by recalling that in January the <br />Commission directed staff to try to work something out with both groups without <br />opening the contracts. What has been presented took hours of meetings with both <br />groups as well as obtaining a legal opinion from a labor attorney; it was a very <br />difficult task for everyone involved because of the different perspectives. He <br />understood how difficult this situation has been and he felt sure that the <br />Commission appreciated that staff has tried to respond to the Board's directive. <br />In response to Vice Chairman Ginn's inquiry, County Administrator <br />Chandler advised the firefighters' contract was signed in September and was <br />March 11, 2003 <br />E.S.D. <br />