The most flammable part of Tuesday’s Fire Commissioners meeting centered on public comment, with fire department supporters and questioners engaging in sometimes personal rhetoric.

Before opening the first of the two public comment sections of the meeting, Jim Coffin explained that public comment was optional and not required. He said that although he found it helpful it should focus on the issues being discussed during the meeting.

“I value public comment,” Coffin said. “Sometimes it is difficult when there are areas of contention, but I have found it helpful and I would not give it up. But it is less than helpful when people come ready to raise hell because they don’t have the full picture. I think all of us want to hear public comment but it is counter productive when someone comes with a fragment of information and then wants to start a debate and raise hell.”

Coffin said that the commissioners realized that they needed to do a better job on making information available to the public. He said that at the suggestion and under the guidance of Commissioner Barbara Bedell a new section was being added to the website which would have information on current topics of discussion.

“The staff is always available to answer the public’s requests for information but hopefully the new FAQ website section will answer most questions. If you have a question, and you cannot get a satisfactory answer from the staff, then by all means come to us,” Coffin said.

The public comment centered on iPhone and Memorial Garden questions and the exchange became heated.

During May, Pierrette Guimond had sent an e-mail to Chief Mike Harris with 10 questions requesting information on iPhone usage, the cost to train a responder, the purpose of the discretionary fund, the intent of the memorial garden and expenses related to it, medical reimbursement coverage and an explanation for the cost of a dust mop handle.

In his e-mail reply, Harris noted that due to the extensive time and research required answering the questions, he had asked that those involved keep track of the time it took to respond. He indicated the total time had been just short of 8 hours spent in responding to her e-mail.

“While I am open to answering your questions regarding district business, San Juan County District 2 may exercise their right to bill accordingly for the release of public information in the future, as this can and has been a time consuming process,” Harris wrote in the e-mail.

“I find it troubling that it took over eight hours to answer those questions and that you would charge for that,” Guimond said. “These are public records. We pay for the district and we are entitled to receive answers.”

Coffin responded, “You are entitled to see everything I see that is not confidential, but when you want reports or analysis of information than you are taking from the public funds.”

The next meeting will be the June 23 Work Session at 7:30 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station. The FAQ section of Orcas Island Fire and Rescue website is available at http://www.orcasfire.org/Commissioners/FAQ/FAQ.html.