There were less than ten members present and so there was not a quorum. No new business was presented or voted upon.

Present from the Executive Board
Michael Staples, President
Michael Gowen, Vice President, Political Action

Report from the Vice President for Political Action

Federal Legislation

• Chris Dodd, whom the international supported for president, has dropped out of the race. The international is going to wait to endorse another candidate.
• The 911 commission recommendations have enacted to public law. This is the issue that Chief Bonzano, with the approval of Chief Schwartz, gave an interview for last year.
• Interoperability of communications has been enacted to public law.
• The SAFER/Fire funds for FY08 have been enacted to public law.
• Collective bargaining was filibustered and briefly stalled in the senate. This bill is still being lobbied hard at the federal level by representatives from the international.
• To keep track of federal legislation and the presidential race go to IAFF.org.

• Mike Staples, Bobby Beer, Sean O'Connell, and Mike Gowen will all be down in Richmond, VA beginning 14 January 2008. The state association (VPFF) will be lobbying on behalf of some legislation pertaining to:
• 2008 Line of Duty Act
• An infectious disease bill
• We will keep you posted and when the bills are assigned numbers we will put out that information to all members.

• The candidates that the local backed for election to the County Board, Walter Tejada and Mary Hynes, were reelected and elected to seats on the board.
• Members of the local placed signs out for both of the above candidates. Signs has been and continues to be an important service that we provide.
• Other delegates that we supported are:.
• Delegate Bob Brink
• Delegate Al Eisenberg
• Delegate Adam Ebbin
• Delegate Kris Admundson from Alexandria
• Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
• Senator Patsy Ticer
• Bruce Roemmelt who ran for a seat in the 13th District out in Prince William and Loudoun counties against the incumbent Delegate Bob Marshall.
• Mike Staples and Mike Gowen attended political functions on behalf of Local 2800.

• The local is still working with Human Resources to resolve any members issues that arise due to the transition to Cigna. Mike Gowen is still the contact point.

Report from the President

The county board meeting from 13 October 2007

• Members came out to protest the treatment of fire department temporary disability retirees. Two temporary retirements have been made permanent in the aftermath of the board meeting.
• The local has had one meeting with representatives from Human Resources, Amy Rozier and Paul Baldino, since the board meeting. Customer service issues were addressed as were other issues such as healthcare for tcurrent and retired employees, the sick leave payout option for employees hired after 1 January 2001, the survivors benefit (widows clause).
• The issue of funding for post retirement health care was also raised at the county board meeting. President Staples sent a letter on 27 November 2007 to the County Manager and his staff asking for a meeting on this issue and providing some proposed solutions. No repsonse has been received back yet. The new proposed budget will be coming out soon.

• An 8th medic unit.
• Inspector positions in the Fire Prevention Division
• The local will meet with Chief Schwartz, the County Manager and his staff, and finally the County Board members.

• These are the issues that the local will be pushing for as far as retirement changes go:
  • The survivors benefit (widows clause) for personnel under the Chapter 46 retirement system (those hired on or after 2/8/81). And fixing the issues with the survivor benefit for Chapter 21 employees (those hired prior to 2/8/81).
  • A 2.3 accrual rate.
  • These issues are a priority after preserving post retirement healthcare. Currently, the County Manager and his staff are reluctant to speak about retirement changes while they are trying to resolve the post retirement healthcare issue.

• President Staples became a member of this committee in order to help change the current code language.
• Current Code language: A DUI conviction will result in losing your privilege to drive EMS apparatus in the Commonwealth for five years. All of our operational apparatus can be considered an EMS vehicle. A DUI conviction will result in the loss of your job with the Arlington County Fire Department.
• Proposed Code language: A DUI conviction while on duty will result in the loss of your driving privileges for life in the commonwealth. You will definitely lose your job. If you receive a DUI off duty the code language will leave it to the local jurisdiction to put a policy in place.
• This code, although well intended, was not well thought out and has affected many career firefighters across the region.

THE END

• Governor Kaine Presents SAFER Grant to Arlington
• Local 2800 needs your H E L P- "Save Overtime"
• Support Needed for PAC Fund