||| FROM GREG AYERS |||
Commissioner Fuller,
As a firefighter and paramedic, I respect your substantial efforts to the fire service, and I respect your authority. You were a great chief and I know you have done what you feel to be best for OIFR. You put forth the levy, the one you believed to be best. It failed. Not by a little, but by a lot. You have now put forth the same levy for the November election. You have stated “you know what the public needs best.” You do not. It is clear. You have put at risk OIFR services by NOT putting forth a more conservative levy in November. You did not propose a flat levy of $2.3M. You went for it. Sorry Sir, you were wrong. While the public can not issue a vote of no-confidence on your commission, the vote was as clear as you can get.
Also important is for you and your fellow commissioners to understand what you have been told. One of the four commissioners has been voted out, soundly. In November it may be a majority, both against the levy and against the two opposed appointed commissioners. The levy has failed, soundly. I would encourage you and your fellow commissioners to be conservative in your actions, for the next four months, until after the election and new commissioners are installed. Please take no significant action. You do not have community support. The commissioners, under your leadership, have made the decisions to put at risk our department already. Do not change the department. Do not reduce service. Do not scare the public as the Chief has tried to do. Do not hire, do not promote, or more important do not spend more of the limited financial resources. Do not make the future elected commissioners deal with the problems of four appointed commissioners, especially the one that has already lost.
Chief Fuller. Commissioner Fuller. You are a fine man, that I believe means well, but the voters have spoken. Sir, I am sorry to tell you that the voters want change. Sweeping change. Will you lead that change? Thank you for your service Chief Fuller. Commissioner Fuller.
Thank you Mr Ayers
I agree with Greg Ayers letter completely. The people have spoken loud and clear.
The same levy is on the nov ballot. It must be rescinded by Aug 14. Yes. The voters have spoken. Will they listen?
Gary, small detail, but is it by August 14th or 15th? I thought it was the 15th. Can you confirm?
I am told by elections the publication will be wrapped up on the 15th of aug.. The department may rescind only. Too late for changes.
The commision should do this now and in doing so provide he political space for voters to decide the next composition of the board without the presence(again) of this disastrous failed levy.
While I am very pleased this levy failed, I do not support the resignation of Commissioner Fuller.
I am in favor of rescinding this failed levy by the Aug 15th deadline and let the voters determine what the next levy will look like.
Gary, agreed. The importance of a good cross section on any committee is diversity. There will be new talent coming to the table, Mr Fuller does have important data and History. A well balanced Board will hold its own in deliberations, so in my view work on solutions. The Community will embrace a well run plan if they see it’s inclusive and open.
Gary,
When Commissioner Fuller tells you to pound sand and that he will not even hold the special meeting necessary to rescind the levy proposition from the November ballot, what say you then? You may want to be prepared with an answer as I would be shocked to see this happen on his watch, let alone seeing him vote in favor. I put out the challenge to Chairman Fuller – hold a special meeting, personally vote for rescinding the levy proposition. Such an act would be commendable. Lack of action is status quo.
That would an unfortunate event. We will have to see what do here and recalibrate our efforts against a second attempt to pass this dog if they refuse to recind.