Agenda 10-15-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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6 1 Matt Sullivan said this is an issue requiring continued focus. He said it is a desperate 2 need, and all appreciate the work Orange County Emergency Services has put into this. He 3 resumed the PowerPoint situation: Workforce Development and Preservation •High School Fire Academies a.. •Training Facility s • •Health and Safety Critical Incident Stress M anagem ent •Cancer Prevention - 4 5 Matt Sullivan said the fire academies are very strong. He said Chapel Hill High School 6 just had its first graduating class, and 16 people are currently enrolled. He said there is a 7 waiting list at Orange High School to get into the program. He said the academies are a great 8 opportunity to get local kids to participate. He said Durham Tech has also expressed an 9 interest in running an Orange County fire academy, and this is a better alternative than the 10 changeover in paid positions between areas. 11 Chair Rich asked if the academy graduates find jobs after graduation. 12 Matt Sullivan said when they graduate high school, they are two classes short of full fire 13 certification, if they have taken all of the high school classes. He said a hazmat course and the 14 live burn require a student to be 18, which is a challenge for high schoolers. He said the 15 graduates can apply for, and work toward a job. He said none have applied for a position yet, 16 but their participation in the in the academy will be a plus and the program is still new. 17 Matt Sullivan said cancer prevention is difficult, and is a major concern. He said the 18 Council is taking a very active role with this issue, and with mental health, and is looking into a 19 peer support team after a critical event. He resumed the PowerPoint presentation: Training Center Update m A 20 21 22 Matt Sullivan said there is good news, but not the best news. He said Chief Nassar has 23 been the key in this process, and found a grant for$350,000, and there is now 10 acres of 24 Town of Chapel Hill property on Millhouse Road. He said funding is coming from various 25 governments; Durham Tech, the Sherriff's Department and other agencies have helped. He 26 said the training site was just tested today. He said this training facility belongs to the Orange 27 County Chiefs, not the County or Durham Tech, which results in the Chiefs having a personal 28 interest in making it last a long time. He said other agencies have not been able to sustain 29 these types of props, but the Council is working hard toward making this one last.