by Clark Cundy
Orcas Island
Let’s recap back to August 2023 just after the primary vote, levy defeat and one appointed Board of Fire Commissioner (BOFC) member defeated at the August election.
Overwhelmingly failed levy by 75.39%. The people had spoken or so it seemed. One reason to recap is to remember why last Tuesday, Jan. 16, the new BOFC requested funds for an impartial review of the Chief’s promotion and contract process might be necessary.
Post primary rumblings from previously appointed BOFC (sans one elected) about hastily filling the vacant position of Chief. At one meeting multiple letters and verbal statements asking that previous board to wait on promoting until after the ‘election’ of a new board chosen by the people. Over 25 letters the secretary had to read. A mix of support by fire personnel, and mostly ‘let’s wait’ by the public. One letter to wait was mine, pointing out one message the primary vote revealed, which was, they should do the work of keeping lights on but not act on policy or promotion until after the imminent November election. With no ‘Plan B’ levy they simply resubmitted the same failed one, ignored public requests to rescind the levy submission and promotion.
The resubmitted November levy failed by 73.86% costing more OIFR funds. My letter also suggested that if a new Chief was promoted a stigma would be attached to the promotion because it happened via an OIFR board that didn’t have majority voter confidence. Ignoring the will of the people, previous BOFC the promotion anyway.
A few months later now, previous board appointees are all out of office sans one unopposed candidate. After the election, the public, I believe, partly wants to ‘Clear The Air’, resetting the OIFR Administration — one big reason the November vote went the way it did. A way of doing that is having an independent look at the ‘process’ and ‘promoting’ of the Chief and associated contract. Hopefully to release attached stigma. A clean report card would go a long way in correcting negative optics of the OIFR previous BOFC administration. To do this a completely competent independent set of eyes outside the process should be employed.
Most taxpayers and voters probably stand behind the OIFR personnel and this promotion and contract inspection isn’t a reflection on them but want personnel to have a safe, supported, fully funded environment. Hang in there. It’s evident fire personnel approve, support the current chief.
That August evening when the appointed board did the promotion and resubmitted the same levy after ignoring multiple requests from the public to wait and rescind respectively was really the night that cost the department $20,000. The previous board acted on its own without public confidence. The August decision was impetus in last Tuesday’s board meeting’s conclusion to have a look and clear the air. Part of their due diligence. I’m applauding the new board’s efforts to right the ship, doing what voters sent them there to do.
