||| FROM TONI KNUDSON |||
“My anger is such I can opine for pages, but I will make this letter short and to the point.”
This is the first sentence in the anonymous letter that was sent to Hilary Canty, Volunteer EMT for 22 years at Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) who was indefinitely suspended by Chief Williams on November 4, 2021. The letter continues just as it started, angry and unbelievably intimidating. To the point where the author(s) becomes deranged and threatening. This hateful letter promises to destroy her valuable work at Orcas Island Community Foundation, threatens her personally and is so full of confidential information that only someone inside the OIFR organization wrote it. It ends in calling the union members a gang.
Yes, those dedicated and highly trained professionals that come at all hours day and night to provide assistance to every person in a situation, life threatening or not.
Where has everyone gone? We have lost too many of our valuable volunteers with no great hope to attract more due to the poor reputation and management style that Chief Williams and the BOFC have created. As described to me several times, it’s hostile. OIFR has lost several valuable union members, some due to this hostile culture, with no known plan to replace them. The union members have been asking when they can expect help, with no response from Chief Williams.
And now Hilary…. 22 years of dedicated service, countless hours of intense training for her EMT volunteer position, and an integral part of the team. Gone without even a mention of thank you or anything else from OIFR, like most before her. She has been indefinitely suspended for expressing her concerns regarding the lack of recruitment for future volunteers and for the lack of training available for those that do step up. Her point that COVID is no longer the excuse from keeping our community safe by having the level of staffing to deliver healthcare and public safety services, volunteer, or union, at OIFR.
Hilary also publicly expressed her opinion in support of a Fire Commissioner candidate. Of course, the author(s) of the anonymous letter sent to Hilary focused on and loathed her act of support for newly elected Patrick Shepler.
When Chief Williams was appointed to his position five years ago, sadly he came without training for such a position, has no college degree to guide him with issues like conflict resolution, business management, employee communication, and so forth. This is evident. Chief Williams lacks the basic skills to run OIFR and manages with vindictive behavior, from the examples given to me. The OIFR employees are fearful of being in the same space alone with him. When he was appointed, the Board of Fire Commissioners (BOFC) did not follow the advice from the scouting firm they hired to find a chief. Instead, it appears as if they wanted someone they could control, positioning for their own benefit, not choosing for the better of the department or much less the community. This does not go for every member on the Board, but for the majority from what I have been told and have witnessed. Now we have two inexperienced Fire Chief’s at a cost of $250K per year to run OIFR. And of course, this is with the badge of a No Confidence Vote by the union members for their person in charge, Chief Williams. Under his management, OIFR is down five union members, somewhere around 25% of the volunteers, some of which are on non-active status for some reason, and operating with 6 of 8 union positions filled. The EMTs and Fire personnel are currently working an unfair amount of overtime to cover the lack of personnel, to keep us safe. They are tired.
After listening to the BOFC meetings, watching videos of meetings with Chief Williams, talking with OIFR volunteers, as well as union members, my conclusion is this fire department is in major trouble. The OIFR house needs to be cleaned of the toxic, vindictive and destructive workplace culture. That means people need to go and people need to be voted out. As community members we should be very concerned for our safety. I invite you to revisit the letter written by Alex Conrad September 21, 2021 in which he stated “We want the public to know that the people who keep you safe —members of Orcas Fire and Rescue — don’t feel safe,” As a community of our size and location, we should listen and respond to the people that do keep us safe. I don’t want anyone to not receive the OIFD’s help because of adult egos.
Coming into this totally from the outside, I am surprised this situation has gotten where it is. And it now seems in crisis mode…SO…
what can we islanders do? Don’t just write about it…. give us some marching orders, and we’ll fall in step….at least those of us will who want to feel safer, and care about proper treatment of our volunteer and paid public servants.
Tony, like Mia’s comments.. it’s interesting that Now there’s comment.. please understand I don’t take away from the concerns expressed, but rather I can’t help but feel there’s
Something amiss.
In all my years I haven’t seen engagement from either of you in regards of Orcas Fire. . I agree there are issues, but critical analysis with no depth concerns me.
More agitation is caustic, I know you are a very caring individual. So this seems at odds to me knowing you.
I will not pretend to understand what’s behind the sudden public activity, but will share that as a past participant of the Fire District, this isn’t the best way for resolve. Yes it gets attention, but I can share it pulls energy from what really is important, stability in the Emergency Services is so important to all the Staff and Volunteers and ultimately we the Clientele.
The Commission does need to own this imbalance of harmony.. you are spot on with that.
The self appointed interrogation is a null point though.. Which is what’s being aired at the moment.. I’ll assume it’s well intended but it has little credibility.
Might I suggest a simple letter to the Commission with a bullet point of concerns.
If it’s negated, then act with authority with cause. They are elected to represent the Community not their individual ideals.
I submit to you, the answers are there, it’s not personal, it’s business.
I thank you for caring so much to put your neck out, it takes strong Character to do such.
Onward. Clyde
Tony- your comment that “… it appears as if they wanted someone they could control..” is born out by commissioner Helminsky’s prepared statement at a recent board meeting that read in part “ I speak to Chief Williams 2 to 3 times a day as I’m sure the rest (commissioners) of you do as well”.
Either way, the commissioners want to control the chief or they feel he needs to be controlled.
I’m left to wonder if all these meetings with the chief includes weekends?
As a CRNA, I strongly feel we need to act NOW-the Commission needs to get going.
Winter is setting in; we will need the OIFR we were so proud of before this “chief” came in the job.
If concerns had been expressed by only a couple
of staff/volunteers, that would be one thing. But this island needs responders who are trained, capable- and comfortable with their position and working environment. It is apparent that is no longer the case.
Bob and I have been on the receiving end of such excellent,
exceptional care from the paramedics and volunteers—but this was before the current situation-thank God.
If the commission doesn’t act soon, we will experience lack of
care, perhaps even to the extent of deaths occurring, due to the inadequacy of the OIFR. It is difficult ti imagine this transition from the previous superb quality throughout the department, to the present sad state of affairs.
A high percentage of residents are elderly—though. not all who need emergent care are elderly. Let’s get our thumb out and DO SOMETHING to return the OIFR to its previous capabilities.
I would suggest that the letter being referenced be published. It is incredibly difficult to understand the situation at-hand without a reference point.
Clyde, I appreciate the approach you suggest. Trust me that several volunteers, medics, and others have directly and privately approached the BOFC members with specific and well documented concerns about the OIFR management. It has become ultimately clear that the BOFC is part of not the root of the issues. Without taking concerns to the public, they likely will continue to destroy the organization. That is simply not acceptable. I hope more folks will look into the actions and activities of BOFC and the current fire chief. There is cause for alarm, to be sure.
So Hillary and all, without this becoming a chain letter situation, what if each concerned individual sent three items of concern to a neutral clearing house.. I would recommend leaving the Personsal issues out, but deal with the topic as it’s own subject..
This Clearing House could be three or such individuals that would coalesce a bullet point of concerns that would be presented in a ranked system as a whole to the Fire District in a Public Format.
That would allow the District to act accordingly. This would remove the Personal element of the ask and rather give the Commission the opportunity to deal with it accordingly.
This is just a concept, but it would place an opportunity for those to be heard and constructed in a structured manner that would ask in a community minded way where are we, where are we going??
This does not need to be argues, but clean and simple.
Great response and team efforts for the last two days
At two different house fires and emergency calls.
Something is working !
Time to stop the negative rhetoric ?
Enough Already !
Pierrette, there is no doubt that the volunteers and responders are doing a great job. The issue is that the BOFC and administration is treating them disrespectfully. It is unacceptable.
Clyde, if you want to put together a crew to investigate the situation,please do.
Hillary, I can act as a moderator if people want, but suggest we have two other none members.. that way it’s just mechanics. Everyone would have access to questions, then the group could overlay common concerns and comments. At least it’s a starting point.
We have a few wonderful community members that helped in the past on search groups and Chief search committees that most people wouldn’t second guess their interests.
The key is a transparent process with a set time line so it doesn’t drag out.
Thoughts??
The credibility of such a process is to not front load bias or steer findings.
Just clarifying for the group following.
Clyde
Please don’t mistake my obscurity for lack of depth or presence. I did not write this warning to stick my neck out in bravery, but rather to kick the front door down until the BOFC creates a solution within OIFR. A simple letter to the BOFC is defenitly not a solution to the problem. They are responsible for the problem. Personal? I happen to have known, past and cuurrent, a great deal of the volunteers, union members, administrative and BOFC for years now and happen to like each and every one of them. Business? This is a public house. Property taxes have paid for and continue to pay for OIFR, our link to survival to each and every one of us if that’s what we need. Don’t think just because our team of volunteers and union members responded to two current fires, it’s a well running department. Listen to the cry. You all stop the disrespect. This is about treating people with respect, responding to concerns from the highly trained professionals that assist this community in their moment of need , and provideing the right leadership. Those nay sayers are the same people that have been involved in this department for far too long doing the wrong thing for the most part. To watch the BOFC meetings is all about high fiving each other rather than critically be concerned about the state of affairs. Lastly, with all due respect, the person or people that I want on any committee is without past or current affilation to this crumbling department. Like I said, vote people out and fire the rest. It’s just business and stop the rhetoric for crying out loud. I hope our community stands up loudly and together, demands immediate accountability and our department recovers with the love from our efforts.
Tony, thank you for your comment. Onward.