||| FROM AMANDA MONTAGUE |||
The recent articles posted by Mia Kartinger on the dysfunction in OIFR leadership elicited some uninformed and unfortunate comments that need to be responded to. I could not agree more with Henry and Carol, and also want to thank Mia for the thankless role of trying to bring to light the utter dysfunction at OIFR.
- The OIFR absolutely works tirelessly for the community, despite the lack of leadership from the top.
- The allegations are serious. There has been no “beating around the bush.” While personally I don’t think there is anything “vague” about what has been brought forth, it is challenging to go in to depth about what is happening in the Department, given the relentless retaliation that continues to happen for those who are working there and have been trying to go through proper channels and chains of command to have the serious issues raised appropriately addressed.
- It is absurd to suggest that the reason career members and others are leaving the Department is because they are “not getting their way.” The disgrace lies with the failure of OIFR leadership to appropriately and professionally address serious complaints that have been raised internally for well over a year.
- There are a few reliable voices who continue to aggressively go after anyone who speaks publicly about the widespread dysfunction that OIFR leadership has caused. It is puzzling to me that it is the same voices who continually went after the Department for perceived wrong doing during my tenure as Commissioner alongside Commissioners Fuller, Helminski, Heinmiller and Christmas. What has changed?
- It is the height of hypocrisy that these same voices are now questioning the “working knowledge or professional credentials” of those raising questions. There are few that have actual knowledge and the professional credentials to assess what has been happening within the Department, but I can’t imagine anyone thinking that the members of the Department don’t possess both the knowledge and the appropriate professional credentials to assess what the problems are. The fact that the entire union unanimously declared a Vote of No Confidence in Chief Williams should have been a warning sign months ago. The fact that two career paramedics and Dr. Corsa have announced that they are leaving the Department within the last week should end this debate. There is no doubt that no one knows more about what is going on than the current leadership and the OIFR Commission, and that’s the true tragedy here. Instead of addressing any of the serious issues, they continue to go down a path of tarnishing the names of good people and filing investigation upon investigation upon members in the Department. This behavior is shameful, and it is completely at odds with what real leadership does in challenging times.
- As one of many community members who continue to wait ad nauseum on public records requests to be produced, I would love to know how Leith got her hands on a complete transcript of the open mic incident, in which there was inappropriate banter between a probationary employee and the new Assistant Chief. I’m sure I’m not the only community member who would love any tips that Leith can provide in getting access to documents in a more timely manner.
- Is OIFR a “para-military organization,” as Leith suggests? I suppose we can end this debate and these questions right now if that is the consensus amongst community members and if the definition of “para-military organization” includes working in a hostile environment, being put under gag orders and endless investigations from the OIFR Commission and leadership when legitimate complaints are raised. There are really good people who have tried to no avail to bring their concerns appropriately up the chain of command. Instead of addressing the real issues that exist, OIFR leadership has made the decision to ignore the concerns and treat those who are raising the issues with an amazing lack of respect and retaliation. I doubt that there are many who don’t understand that the way a fire department is structured and operates is fundamentally different from other entities or organizations, but OIFR works for the community. The community gets to choose what type of leadership they would like to see that best supports the members of the Department, and that certainly includes holding them to account to acting and behaving in accordance with existing laws and protocols.
- Patrick Shepler rightfully and overwhelmingly won his seat as Commissioner in his race against Wes Heinmiller. The continual smear campaign started by then-Commissioner Heinmiller at the public OIFR Board meeting in December and continued on in Leith’s comments to this post, are shameful. It’s too cute by half for Leith to claim that she does “not feel it is my place to expose” information that she has on Commissioner Shepler, while simultaneously defaming him. Come on now. This is nonsense and is insulting to not just Commissioner Shepler, but to anyone who has benefited from his service with OIFR over many, many years.
- I would respectfully suggest to those who continue to go after Mia and others who are raising concerns about leadership at OIFR that they should hold tight for a second with their blind lashing out and defense of some rather indefensible behavior from the top. Public records requests will come through and it will not paint a pretty picture of what has been going on internally. Speaking out and shining light on what has been happening within OIFR is not appalling or misguided, it is indeed the only thing that might remedy a pretty dire situation. And if history has anything to say about this, bullies and bullying behavior never wins in the end, and there’s absolutely no reason to believe that it will carry the day here.
To all OIFR Commissioners not elected by our community in the past 4 months:
Follow Commissioner Marlow’s lead. Resign now, please.
Thank you. Commissioner Marlow.
A true voice, heard thankfully.
Many of us realize how hard it is for the remaining staff to go on , in this volatile atmosphere.
Hope springs eternal, that things will-may, MUST- change.
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Surely this ongoing fracas is evidence enough for a State Investigative Agency to check it out!!
Thank you, Amanda Montague for writing these points out so clearly, backed by your experience as a former commissioner, your perspective as an insider., Thanks for providing the Public with these facts.
I stand with Henry Stamper; to ask that commissioners follow Commissioner Marlow’s lead: Please do the taxpayers the favor of resigning now, so that we can get a working collaborative commission in place who will address these serious and crippling dysfunctions.
That said, I still think a state investigation is in order so that we can get to the root(s) of the abscess and drain the infection. (using my own toothache as metaphoric inspiration.)
Ditto Henry Stamper’s comment. All commissioners not elected in last months, please do the right thing and resign.
I have been thinking a lot. I need to redact my statement about following Commissioner Marlow’s lead to resign.. I do not, and did not know her. My comment was unfair. I do not know what kind of commissioner she was, or what kind of job she did, or why she left.
I am sad about the contentiousness on all sides, including my own comments on things I know nothing about, Therefore, I think it best to stop commenting on OIFR issues because I know nothing definitive about them. If I had been attending meetings all along, and following things for several years, it would be a different story.
I have neither the energy or emotional fortitude to take on a new “project” while I let my own life go unattended. I am sick to death of “us and them” mentality.
Covid had taken a toll on us all, in ways I am only now just realizing for myself; primarily, the socio/ psychological damage of living isolated, the economic destruction of many, the changing demographics in our community. Watching the community fuss and fight and say terrible things to one another, friends ditching other friends over opinions, has hurt us to the core. Now we have an online digital life, where anyone, including myself, can comment on things we know nothing about.
In these uncertain times, smug certainty actually frightens me, since the rigidity and humorlessness that comes from it is unhealthy for real dialogue and open discussion. Nothing is certain. Good people sometimes do bad things. Bad people sometimes do good things. We as a community have become polarized to the extreme. We have lost our sense of humor, our lightness, our belief that things will work out. Or maybe just I have.
It disturbs me that I have let myself get embroiled in this, knowing I haven’t the stamina to see it through. I am sorry that so many people have left and are leaving. I will always like and respect Patrick Shepler; nothing has changed there. The rest, I know not enough about to have an opinion that is my own.
Henry Stamper said it in a short and concise way… the long(er) term commissioners have failed this community because they’ve failed to reign in current OIFR leadership who is doing active harm to the Orcas community. There is no denying the support and care that your firefighters and volunteers provide but they’ve been failed time and again by the lack of accountability shown by leadership, the repercussions of which are now being brought to light. Former commissioners Marlow and Montague deserve to be applauded for the actions they’re taking.
When was this open mic issue with the assistant chief and a probationary employee? Retaliation seems to be the modus operandi of the chief and assistant chief.
Fire them all and start over.
To quote George Harrison, Isn’t it a pity, how we break each other’s hearts, and cause each other pain.