— by Lin McNulty —
Orcas Fire Commissioners were brought up to date on a number of projects in the works at their meeting on Monday, June 20.
FINANCIALS: The Board approved the Financials for May 2016 as presented by District Financial Secretary Mike Horaski (by phone), with Commissioner Jim Coffin noting there were no surprises in the report.
CORRESPONDENCE: Commissioner Coffin made a statement regarding rumors and statements being made in the community regarding the recent resignation of former Chief Mik Preysz. “It’s past and deserves no more attention,” he stated.
CHIEF REPORT: From Acting Fire Chief Scott Williams:
- Call Volume: 362 calls have been logged by OIFR so far this year, with 270 of those being EMS. He also pointed out that in May, 36.8 percent (32) of those calls were overlapping calls, which stretch resources.
- Notable alarms:
- An overturned kayaker was rescued north of West Beach Inn with OIFR launching boat from Camp Orkila.
- A fine will be initiated following a commercial controlled burn that got out of control, resulting in a brush fire.
- An EMS response to the parking lot at the Medical Center resulted in an unusual and unanticipated “trifecta,” with three separate medical incidents converging at the same time in the parking lot.
- Administration: The department is undergoing training by the county finance office to handle finances. As of July 1, all payroll and accounts payable will be processed through the county. Still to be worked out is a system by which all three commissioners can sign off on expenses before going to the county for payment. Timing of regular commission meetings does not coincide with county pay system.
- Non-emergency Transports: Because Medicare/Medicaid does not consider mental conditions to warrant reimbursement for off-island transports, Acting Chief Williams will be looking further into the rules and regulations and, perhaps, updating department training on “medical necessity.”
OLD BUSINESS:
- Organizational Review: Coffin suggested a planning workshop to integrate strategic plan and an administrative reorganization. Although two commissioners will be gone for most of July, the agreed they would “figure something out.”
- Chief Search Update: Commissioner Bedell is setting up a committee to lay the process for hiring a new fire chief. The committee will refine and define the qualities looking for, and will include members of the community in the process.
- Fire Marshal / Burn Permit Fees: An interlocal agreement under the umbrella of County Fire Marshall would return 25 percent of burn permit fees back to OIFR activities.
NEW BUSINESS:
- The department is currently conducting a look at having custodial/landscaping/repair services contracted through the county, which already has contractors, with a potential cost/time savings to district, due to increasing calls.
- The long-planned memorial for the Twin Towers artifact that is currently housed in the lobby of the Station 21 has stalled over the years, with concern from many as to why is it not in its final resting place.
- Map Books. currently 2008 book in use.
- Crossroads Short Plat Association Maintenance: Fire Department retention ponds in need of service. Affect drainage fro Senior Center and other homes, church.
- Tender Bid Award: The winning bid of $2,500 for the surplus Tender truck was awarded to Paul Vierthaler, of Island Excavating.
The BOFC regular meeting will be held on Monday, July 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Commissioner Coffin made a statement regarding rumors and statements being made in the community regarding the recent resignation of former Chief Mik Preysz. “It’s past and deserves no more attention,” he stated.
Um, no. We still don’t know what happened or why, the Commission’s bizarre press releases to the contrary.
Peg – Thank you for taking note of that statement. It was the same statement that was made during the discussions surrounding the late-night accident involving OIF&R staff that happened a while back. Administration told the public in an open meeting that there would be “no more” discussion on the topic despite numerous unanswered questions. It was a blatant attempt to brush the whole thing under the rug which ultimately resulted in criminal charges against those involved.
While Commissioner Coffin may think that he gets to decide what is/is not important to the public, he would be in error. Thus far, there has been little to no follow-up on the part of the acting Fire Commissioners with the public to explain the reasons, gravity or importance of why certain decisions were made. The taxpayers of our district have been charged THOUSANDS of dollars for outside consultants and investigators. The reason for those investigations, the outcome of those investigations and a functional understanding of the failures that led to those investigations do, in fact, deserve more attention.
The sitting commissioners are doing themselves and the department a disservice by slamming the door on discussion and not being 100% clear and transparent. Publish the investigative findings with an explanation of why you reached the conclusions that you have and explain to us what you are doing to assure that the issues are addressed going forward.
If you don’t like “rumors and statements” being made, then don’t operate in a manner that encourages them.
The Commissioners are correct in tabling the conversation and moving on given the confidential nature of employer/employee relationships. They simply cannot comment. The public does not have the right to know why an employee resigned, public position or no, unless the employee in question chooses to share that information. Thousands of dollars may have been spent on outside consultants and investigators, but add a few zeroes to that to sum up what it could cost the district in legal fees and judgments should they be sued for discussing or publishing confidential employment matters in a public forum. Tabling the discussion is in the best interest of both parties. Move on.
Sally,
OIF&R has already stated that confidentiality was waived in a previous press release and the report is part of the public record.
Until both commissioners Coffin and Bedell resign problems at OIFR will continue to flourish. They have overseen a disasterous past 4 years with “sweeping under the rug” being their primary response to irresponsible behaviors by the administration.
Thank God we have volunteers who have risen above the nonsense and keep responding to our emergencies. They deserve better.