Medical and Hospital Insurance (decrease), Salary and Wage Adjustment (decrease),
Software Licenses (increase), Other Contractual Expenses (increase), Capital Software
(increase). There were two additional items that Ms. Zerwin asked the Board for direction
on, the PSAP grant allocation and an additional headcount. Ms. Zerwin said there was a
review underway of whether the focus groups under the Policy Advisory Committee
(PAC) fall under the Open Meetings Act (OMA). If the determination of the Attorney
General is in the affirmative, ETSB would need an additional staff member to take on the
responsibilities of the meetings, including posting of the packets, attendance at, and the
minutes afterwards. One headcount had been added to the FY24 budget for a mid-range
Administrative Assistant, which if determined was not needed could be removed from the
FY25 budget. Ms. Zerwin said that artificial intelligence (AI) options could be
investigated but that this had come up on short notice. Ms. Zerwin explained the options
between the four budget options that were shown onscreen.
Member Rauter asked if a change order for group services for alias ID display was being
looked into. Ms. Zerwin explained that the consoles already have that feature and that the
backup systems were under consideration. Member Rauter asked if the current system has
this built into the radio or over the network. Ms. Zerwin replied, both.
Member Rauter asked if there was an anticipated change order for a Key Management
Facility (KMF) for encryption services. Ms. Zerwin replied it was part of the contract.
Member Rauter said, so we are using Motorola's KMF. Ms. Zerwin and Mr. Theusch
asked for clarification on the question. Member Rauter went through the options of
rolling out encryption with a key loader or Over the Air (OTAR) with a KMF. He wanted
to know the method of the rollout and whether those costs were included in the budget.
Mr. Theusch replied that OTAR was part of the contract.
Member Rauter asked about wi-fi programming and how that would be implemented,
whether associated costs were in the budget. Ms. Zerwin reviewed the initial plan to
utilize computers and pucks, as re-use of existing equipment. Member Rauter asked how
many stations are in the system. Ms. Zerwin replied, 67. Member Rauter asked if there
was a plan to use fire station wi-fi. Ms. Zerwin said it was a viable option that had not yet
been fully vetted because some of the networks run through the PSAPs. Member Rauter
said it would be a contingency if there were additional costs to implement wi-fi.
Ms. Zerwin asked why there would be additional costs. Member Rauter said in case
additional equipment was needed or modifications to existing wi-fi systems in the fire
stations. He said there would still be running around with a limited number of pucks or
laptops to do stuff that is supposed to be done over the air. Ms. Zerwin said the
equipment replacement, such as the Dell order approved earlier in the agenda, those units
are recycled into the system for use.
Member Rauter asked who here owns that project, whether it be a staff member or
vendor, he used to say "one throat to choke" assigned to the wi-fi project to ensure all the
questions are answered and it is done to the satisfaction of the fire guys. Ms. Zerwin said
the project would go through the focus groups but that the Motorola System Manager
Andy Saucedo is working withJohn Sullivan of Addison Fire to test various solutions.
Mr. Rauter said those would be the two people. Ms. Zerwin replied they are testing the
model.
