||| FROM AMANDA MONTAGUE |||
I feel compelled to respond as a former OIFR Commissioner and someone who cares deeply about the Department to the “Firehouse Foundations” piece written by Mia Kartiganer and the comments that followed her post. Through my tenure as a Commissioner from 2016-2020, I was honored to be part of a team that included OIFR leadership, union members, volunteers and fellow Commissioners. I continue to have the utmost respect for the work that the OIFR members and volunteers do everyday for the community. Without their dedication, professionalism and care, Orcas would be a challenging place for many to call home.
On September 14, 2021, all eight members of the OIFR union (absent one member who was at the time on probation), unanimously released a “Vote of No Confidence” in Chief Scott Williams. A unanimous vote of no confidence in the Chief from union members in any fire department is rather extraordinary and not something that should be taken lightly.
I am grateful that Mia is taking on the more than challenging task of trying to investigate the dysfunction within OIFR, because the problems and issues run deep and we are unfortunately now at a point where things have become quite personal for those who raise questions. As disheartening as that is, it is even more deeply concerning to me to imagine the impact that this is having on the OIFR members whose very livelihoods are dependent on working in an environment that they describe in their Vote of No Confidence as “toxic” and as “negatively impacting members’ health, daily operations, volunteer response and the quality of emergency services” on Orcas.
While I respect the feelings and perspectives shared in the comments to Mia’s post, I was struck by the irony that many of the sentiments expressed are quite similar to and shared by those of us who are raising concerns:
- Without a doubt, many people intimately involved in what has been happening within the Department have taken the high road and demonstrated extreme restraint for way too long. There have been multiple attempts to appropriately go up the chain of command to address these issues to no avail.
- The way things have played out and continue to play out is horrific, and have had real life consequences on people the community relies on to keep them safe.
- We are in agreement that real leaders do not tear down organizations or the people who work in those organizations publicly for their own personal gain.
- The community does need to know everything. I’m not sure given how public records requests are currently being handled by the Department if that belief is shared by OIFR leadership, but more transparency would be most welcome.
- Innuendos about negative intent and impropriety have no place in this very serious conversation about the current dysfunction at OIFR. I would respectfully suggest that we start by asking that OIFR Commission meetings are conducted without unsubstantiated and disparaging comments being publicly made about longstanding volunteers and OIFR members. This is not only completely unprofessional, but is going to make the rebuilding of trust between the community and the Department much more challenging.
- There seems to be quite a bit of gaslighting going on in terms of what the root of the dysfunction is within the Department. Despite opinions to the contrary, the suggestion that the current chaos is based on people jockeying for a raise increase or wanting to take the Chief’s job could not be farther from the truth. The reality is that the Department is at much greater risk of losing potential volunteers and longstanding members than they are of having anyone step up to become Chief in the current environment.
- All of us who are raising concerns about what is happening in the Department are also hopeful that what we are saying will resonate with the larger Orcas community, and are also hopeful that folks will become engaged in trying to make OIFR a place that feels safe and healthy for all those who serve our community everyday.
Perhaps we can all start by making this less about the personal and more about the community.
Amanda
Where are you getting your information ?
Especially since you are no longer a resident of Orcas Island ?
Pierette. Would you please read Amanda’s Opinion piece thru again..
Her comments of not being personal, I’m glad someone speaks to this. Some open ideas of starting points are always helpful.. change is only going to occur if the atmosphere changes. To say or suggest things are fine is foolish for all. NO ONE is being served well as things stand currently. Not the elected Commission, the Staff nor the Volunteers and certainly not the community.
It’s time for meaningful communication on what that should and will look like.
As Amanda was so compelled to respond to the latest piece written about the OIFR so am I. It is so curious to me, Amanda, that after you stated yourself in your last note that you were not sure why you were” appointed” (not elected) by a previous board, when there were several more qualified people that you feel so compelled to write about this situation when you no longer live here and that Chief Williams was the chief during your appointment. I met with you and attended many of your meetings when you were a commissioner and I really question that these are your words. As for the September 14, 2021 “Vote of No Confidence” the commissioners did not take this lightly. They immediately hired an investigator and then another to “investigate” the actions that were voted on by the eight-member union. Not one complaint could be substantiated. After, not one but two investigations there was nothing for the commission to act on to show that the chief’s position needed a change. I will respond to each of your seven statements below:
1. I respectfully disagree with this first statement. I have read emails to the commissioners, and they certainly were not from someone taking the high road or showing any respect.
2. “Horrific, and real-life consequences” The response to calls has never been better. With the structure fires and paramedic services that have been responded to recently have been fabulous and Northwest Med Airlift has given an award for exemplary work. It is very irresponsible of you especially as a past fire commissioner to suggest that our public is in danger when we now have more paramedics with more experience than ever before.
3. I agree, and our current commissioners are not doing anything for personal gain. However, I do feel some community members are using their position to mislead the community.
4. The commissioners have in their public meetings always shared and answered any questions that were asked of them in a professional manner. Not until an investigation is completed can documents be released to the public. I do know many people have received public record requests. Not sure why some have not.
5. I have attended all the OIFR meetings in the past several months. There have never been any, as you stated” unsubstantiated and disparaging comments “made by the commissioners about anything let alone a past or present volunteer. However, I will have to say that they have been recipients of many unprofessional and inappropriate emails and remarks from members of our community.
6. Well, I will have to agree to disagree with you on this one. What I do know is that people seem to be volunteering more than ever now that some people have left. What does that say?
7. What I can say to this is that the current board is a highly professional and caring group of people. Their experience and talents that they have so graciously given to this community instead of just sitting at home enjoying their retirement should be acknowledged and appreciated not criticized.
I have written several articles recently about how important this community is to me and the responsibility we all have to support our community. I continue to work towards a respectful solution and truly hope you will join me and put an end to this divisive and unproductive behavior.
Leith Templin
Leith,
1. Refers to to the people who aren’t speaking out, not the person you keep targeting
2. Refers to our responders, not a community endangered by lack of response. Their caring dedication is to their own credit.
3. Personal gain aside, There is a crisis of leadership at OIFR
4 There are a number of public records requests that have not been addressed properly or fulfilled
5.The December meeting was rife with slanderous innuendo coming from a commissioner, it was not the first time.
6. It is presumptuous to ascribe meaning to an uptick in volunteers. Some are there in response to concerns that we are low on volunteers. Bless them.
7. Nobody doubts the boards experience. As one of the historically preeminent critics of Orcas Island boards at large, OIFR in particular, I have to wonder when, why and how you and Pierrette decided to stop taking a critical look at what is happening at OIFR. Where did you go?
I sent you an email asking you to meet with me so I could understand your point of view. Your lack of response makes me think you aren’t interested in dialogue. I was trying to join you as you “continue to work towards a respectful solution and truly hope you will join me and put an end to this divisive and unproductive behavior.”
BUILD TRUST FIRST…putting out fires is the easy part…
Fred
You and I have not always seen eye-to-eye, but on this point, I would like to tell you – “Well Said”