April 24, 2003

 

Minutes – Alabama Chapter of NENA Quarterly Meeting, Wetumpka, AL

 

1.      Meeting called to order by President Roger Humphrey, with a thank you to Elmore County E911 for hosting the meeting.

 

2.  Invocation by Anthony Camp

            Pledge of Allegiance by Vernon Lee

 

3.   Welcome to membership by President Humphrey

 

  1. Welcome to Guests and New Members
    1. Annette Devaughn introduced Sheriff of Elmore County Bill Franklin
    2. First Time Attendees were recognized
    3. Guest Speaker Introduced – Sharon Ornsby, FBI Montgomery, AL

 

  1. Keynote Speaker, Sharon Ornsby, FBI provided information about how the FBI is       working with local agencies in Homeland Defense.

 

  1. Review and approval on January 24, 2003 minutes.  Richard Holt clarified the Conference profits as reported in the minutes.  The gross profit was $22,408.24, with $5,000 in seed money placed in the Conference account, and the balance of $17,408.24 placed into the general NENA account.  This has been updated in the minutes of January 24, 2003.

                                                               i.      Motion to approve – Bill Meadows

                                                             ii.      Second – Chris Heger

                                                            iii.      Motion Carried with clarification

 

  1. Financial Report – Richard Holt provided copy of financial report for review

                                                               i.      Motion to approve -  Bill Brodeur

                                                             ii.      Second – Roger Wilson

                                                            iii.      Motion Carried

 

  1. Election Committee Report – President Roger Humphrey reported that according to bylaws, the immediate past president serves as the Election Committee Chair.  Sharon Thomas will fill that position, but has resigned as Coordinator of St. Clair County E911.  Sharon will be allowed to continue with her NENA responsibilities as long as she serves St. Clair County E911 in a compensated status while training her replacement.  Other Committee members appointed by the Executive Board are:

                                                               i.      Richard Holt

                                                             ii.      Bill Brodeur

                                                            iii.      Pat Hall

                                                           iv.      Art Faulkner

 

 

 

Positions up for election in 2003:

            President

            At Large Vice President

            Commercial Vice President

            Birmingham LATA Vice President

            Mobile LATA Vice President

 

The membership was reminded by President Humphrey that any nominee must provide a letter from their Board of Commissioners agreeing to allow that nominee to serve.

 

  1. NENA National Conference – Denver CO, June 15-19, 2003

                                                               i.      Chapter will provide shirt at no cost for any AL NENA Member attending the national NENA Conference.

                                                             ii.      Executive Board has selected a Logo and shirt style.

                                                            iii.      Cut off for ordering shirts is May 8, 2003

                                                           iv.      Sizes range from Small to 6X, all in Men’s sizes

                                                             v.      Each agency should send Pat Hall the total number of shirts with sizes, with a shipping address and telephone number.

                                                           vi.      Shirts will ship first week of June, 2003

                                                          vii.      Will be a button-up shirt

                                                        viii.      Should be worn on Monday of the National Conference

 

Ernie Blair requested what were best airfare rates found.  Chris Heger advised to use a Travel Agent to get best prices.

 

  1. Report on Critical Issues Forum – Washington DC

                                                               i.      8 persons from AL NENA attended

                                                             ii.      Very beneficial by getting to visit both of Alabama’s Senate and three Representative’s offices to discuss NENA key issues.

                                                            iii.      Senator Hillary Clinton was very active in the event

                                                           iv.      Recommendation to members that any who can visit their legislative members will gain valuable exposure.

                                                             v.      National NENA Web site is a good source of information

                                                           vi.      AL NENA paid for 3 attendees

                                                          vii.      AL CMRS Board paid for 2 attendees

 

  1. Committee Reports
    1. Legislative – Roger Wilson  advised the membership that groundwork was being laid now for our legislative efforts for 2004.  Three NENA members visited various State Representatives on April 23, 2003 and let them know NENA is not actively pursuing Legislation in 2003, but wanted to keep them involved.    NENA will put out a group email requesting a “Day in Montgomery” to make the NENA presence known.
    2. Wireless – Bill Meadows advised the CMRS Board met in March and approved the 2003 Phase 1 Plan.  Phase 2 funding is an issue.  An equitable cost recovery mechanism must be developed for Phase 2.  Lee Helms was not reappointed to the CMRS Board.  The last CMRS Board meeting was cancelled for lack of a quorum.  Max Armstrong was elected as Chairman of the Al CMRS Board in the March Meeting.  Max Armstrong reported that most wireless carriers have begun submitting remittance for pre-paid wireless connections.  Nothing has been done to replace Lee Helms by the State Auditor.

 

Roger Humphrey requested any ECD’s with Phase 2 working identify themselves.  The following reported one or more wireless carriers as being Phase 2 compliant in their district:

            Mobile

            Madison

            Elmore

            Limestone

            Baldwin

Cullman

                        Vernon Lee reported that 18 PSAP’s have active Extended ALI (XALI)

                        Roger Humphrey reported he has a video produced by the US Department

                        Transportation that explains the issues in Phase 2.  Jerry Jackson and

Calhoun County E911 will add this video to the library.  President

Humphrey has requested 2 additional copies.

Donnie Smith asked if the CMRS Board had reimbursed any Wireless

Carrier for Phase 2.  Max Armstrong stated no Phase 2 reimbursements

have been authorized by the CMRS Board.  Donnie Smith then asked if any ECD’s have been presented with and signed contracts for payment to wireless carriers for Phase 2 costs.  The consensus was that no ECD’s will sign any contract requiring the ECD to obligate to direct payment to wireless carriers for Phase 2.

Ray Preston notified that BellSouth will only send what is received in the XALI field.  Whatever the Wireless Carrier provides will be sent.

Jean Martin notified all present that Southern Linc had been designated a Tier 3 wireless carrier and would not be required to implement Phase 2 until September, 2003.  Southern Linc is actively working on the E1 interface and is selling Phase 2 ready telephones.

Annette Devaughn stated that all wireless calls will come in initially as Phase 1 and the call taker must do an ALI rebid to get Phase 2 information.

Richard Holt clarified the statement made by Ray Preston and explained that location coordinates may be sent in Decimal Degree format or in Degree, Minute, Second format.  Either format has been used by wireless carriers and your may must be designed to operate with either.

 

    1. Database Committee report by Marcia Scott notified that AT&T Wireless had requested MSAG entry of “Blank” to Blank”.  Consensus is that that will not be allowed.

Larry Wright mentioned an issue of Wireless Carriers wanting to use land based ESN’s, which causes problems.

Roger Humphrey reported that during Phase 2 turn-up, much adjustment and “tweaking” was required to get the delivery correct.

Marcia Scott reminded all that Debby Higgins had retired.

 

    1. Conference Committee – Bill Brodeur reported that AL NENA Conference planning is proceeding well, and requested that any members who cannot attend the National NENA and the AL NENA only attend the state conference.

 

    1. Internet Committee – No report

 

    1. Minimum Standards – Jo Tranter reported that this project is on hold due to the lack of any funding. 

 

    1. Managerial Training – Jo Tranter reported that one AL NENA class had been offered that was well attended.  The next is scheduled for June 5, 2003 at the Holiday Inn East, Montgomery and will be the Introduction to E911 course from national NENA.  Cost will be $50.00 per attendee.  Three training classes will be offered at the AL NENA conference.  Any of these classes qualify as credit for ENP certification.

 

    1. Public Relations – Chris Heger reported the Reddy Fox suit was returned to her damaged.  Bill Brodeur discussed that the Executive Board had evaluated the possibility of moving all NENA Assets to a central location for inventory and control.  Calhoun County agreed to serve as that control.

Motion – Bill Brodeur

Second -Pat Hall

Motion Carried

 

                                 i.            APCO Committee – Roger Humphrey reported that Jo Tranter had been elected President of AL APCO.  Pat Hall reported the AL APCO Conference held in April at the Beachside Resort, Gulf Shores was a success with 150 attendees and a full vendor hall.  The next APCO Business Meeting will be August 26 in Clanton.

 

j.        Telco Committee – Vernon Lee reported that the Nashville ALI Host upgrade was scheduled for today, April 24, 2003.  He further reported the Birmingham upgrade was scheduled for May 1.  BellSouth will also cease suppressing leading zeroes in the XALI data stream.  Vernon reminded all that in X-Y, the X = Longitude and the Y = Latitude.  He reported that the BellSouth Phase 2 tariff had been intervened and will be suspended until the PSC can investigate and make a ruling.

 

k.   IACP – No Report

 

l.         IAFC – No Report

 

m.     Terrorism Committee – Bert Collison reported that the committee is working with the FBI to get more information.  Roger Humphrey reported that John Ellison had information that any agencies wishing to be included in information sharing must apply with FEMA and will have the FEMA web link placed on the AL NENA web site.

 

n.       Historian Report – No report, but Roger Wilson reported that the wife of our Historian, Larry Duncan had passed away.  The funeral will be April 26 in Section, AL

 

o.      GIS Mapping Committee – Max Armstrong requested all ECD’s access the AL NENA survey on the AL NENA web site so the committee can determine the level of GIS training needed in AL.  He stated only 15 had been completed and that was not sufficient to determine what needed to be trained.  Carl Pearsall requested all members contact him directly about any questions they have about GIS.  Chris Heger asked if any GIS classes would be offered by NENA.  Max Armstrong replied that the survey is to determine if classes are needed.  Jo Tranter stated she hoped to offer a GIS class as the 3rd quarter NENA class.

 

p.      Mutual Aid – This is an EMA committee that has  NENA members who participate.  Roger Humphrey, Bill Brodeur and Roger Wilson attended the committee meeting and reported that it appeared the agenda and outcome had been predetermined by EMA.  Bill Meadows reported that $9.4 million has been allocated to AL in DOJ funds, but will not be divided to local agencies and will go to each of the five regional Hazmat response  teams in AL.  The next meeting is May 8.  Bill Meadows reported that AL EMA is controlling this and the only way to get any of the funding down to the local level is to escalate above EMA and recommended AL NENA send a letter requesting the funds be applied locally as has been done in the past.

 

  1. LATA Reports – Nothing reported

 

  1. Old Business –

 

    1. 501c3 Status:  Richard Holt reported all documentation for 501c3 status had been submitted to the IRS.
    2. Display Booths – Roger Wilson reported he had ordered one large and one small booth.  The large will be used for Chapter events, and the small will be available for any member agency to borrow.  All signage will be procured locally to save cost.  The budget was $5,000, but will be much less when the project is complete.

 

  1. New Business
    1. Roger Humphrey requested the membership to approve purchase of 2 laptop computers and one additional printer for conference and officer use.  The expense should not exceed $3,000.  A suggestion was made to ensure the laptops are WI-FI equipped.

                                                               i.      Motion by Bill Meadows

                                                             ii.      Second by Roger Wilson

                                                            iii.      Motion carried

 

    1. Roger Humphrey, Bill Brodeur, and Roger Wilson met with Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks.  Commissioner Sparks would like to provide a training session at the AL NENA conference to show call takers ways to identify animal illness that could transmit to human population.

 

    1. Sharon Thomas has resigned St. Clair County E911 and will only be working until her replacement has been trained.  She will continue as Chair of the Election Committee as long as she is compensated by St. Clair County E911, after which she will resign the NENA position.

 

    1. Ernie Blair requested AL NENA write a letter to the PSC requesting an accounting from all CLEC’s in Alabama to disclose the number of access lines they have by ECD.  This is an effort to ensure CLEC’s remit the correct amount of revenue.  There is a perception that CLEC’s do not collect the E911 surcharge properly.  Ernie offered a sample letter.

 

                                                               i.      Motion – Ernie Blair

                                                             ii.      Second – Larry Wright

                                                            iii.      Motion Carried – AL NENA President will send letter to PSC.

 

  1. For the good of the Association
    1. Chris Heger expressed thanks to AL NENA for the donation to one of the employees of Baldwin County E911 who has terminal illness.
    2. Sharon Thomas requested all members review the National NENA site and ensure their address is correct.
  2. Next Meeting:  July 24, 2003, 10:00 AM at the Talladega Conference Center.  Larry Wright stated all members should go to the Talladega Superspeedway security gate, get a visitor pass, then proceed through the tunnel to the Media Center.

Motion to adjourn – Roger Wilson

Second – Bill Brodeur

Motion Carried