Following a lively public comment period at the April 14 Board of Fire Commissioners meeting in Eastsound, Chair Jim Coffin said, “I will work on a better way to answer public questions.”

Members of the Orcas community, including Kathleen Speed, Pierrette Guimond, and Leith Templin inquired about specific fire department expenditures, including iPhones, health club membership, and maintenance of the web site training tool. They expressed frustration with the current protocol for public comment, which does not include a question and answer period during the meeting.

“No one questions the importance of the job the fire department and volunteers do,” Speed said. “As citizens, we have every right to come and question as to where our dollars are going.”

Coffin and the other commissioner in attendance, Clyde Duke, would not comment on any specific expenditure, but Chief Mike Harris backed the OIFD web-based training, which can be accessed by volunteers from their homes and has substantially reduced the training hours needed.

“Training this way is a break with tradition,” Harris said. “It is very complicated, but it is an unbelievable gift.”

“Think of the cost of doing it wrong,” Division Chief of Education and Training Patrick Shepler said. “Our job is to give them the tools to be successful. To do it right, be safe, and everybody goes home.”

“They are providing excellent service but what’s going to happen when they don’t get the levy and they don’t have this money?” Templin asked. “I would like to hear them discuss in public some of these expenditures. To know the reasons why.”

Templin asserted her concern for continued funding for all aspects of the Orcas community, including health and education.

“The public comments section is a time for you to tell us what you are thinking. It is not a time to grill the commissioners,” Coffin said.

“The proper place is for me to come to the meeting and ask these questions,” Templin said. “For example, we asked for qualifications of the new commissioner and they wouldn’t say anything, so what is the point of having public comment?”

Division Chief Mic Preysz responded, “I will gladly answer any public questions and I know the other division chiefs will do the same.”

The public comment section of the agenda was opened following on overview of the department’s financial position for the year to date by Rick Anda, District Financial Officer.

“At this point we’re at 26.3 percent for this year, so we’re slightly high but I’m not overly concerned. A couple areas to watch but we’re in good shape,” Anda said.

The next Board of Fire Commissioners meeting is a work session on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall.

For more information about OIFD visit www.orcasfire.org. Chief Harris may be reached for public inquires at 376-2331.

“Everyone’s question is important,” Harris said.