HCFPD’s new directors conduct first meeting

Following controversial election

Lynn Volkens

05/29/2008 - High Country Fire Protection District (HCFPD) conducted their first meeting following the May 6^th election for Board of Directors. Paul Britton, as President, presided but first thanked former Directors Don Van Wie, Jim Crawford and Ken Eye for their years of service. Gilpin Sheriff’s deputies monitored the meeting at the Board’s invitation.

Rules of Meeting

  Britton thanked the crowd (about 25 people) for showing up and laid some ground rules for how meetings will be conducted. Public comment is limited to three minutes, he said, and asked anyone wanting to speak to sign in at the podium by the door. Britton nixed discussion of threatened or pending litigation pertaining to the recent election and also disallowed personal attacks. Speaking only for himself, he said he would have a difficult time overturning the appointment of Richard Bulich as Fire Chief because the membership had chosen Bulich to represent them. He discouraged the press from snapping photos as the camera flash is distracting. Following Britton’s opener, no one signed up to speak and no reporter dared snap a shot.

Station 3 Stairway

  Erich Neirman presented designs for an external stairway at Station 3, across from the Gilpin ball fields, to access the upper office space. He said he expected the cost to be more than the original estimate of $33,000 but the design included needed work inside the building, not just the stairway. HCFPD is now seeking bids.

Toned Out

  Fifteen minutes into this meeting, firefighters were toned out to handle a chlorine leak at the Justice Center. The meeting continued with those remaining. 

Election Report

  Gary Gain, HCFPD’s Election Official, reported on the election results and said the Oaths of Office for those elected had been filed with Gilpin and Boulder Counties and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Gain presented each Director with a Certificate of Office, then handed them his election expenses: mileage, mail supplies, postage, printer cartridge and the Gilpin County fee for voter data, totaling $164 (Boulder County did not charge, Gain noted), and a payment request for the 248 hours he put in conducting the election.

Appointments and Procedures

  Britton and the newly elected Directors Roger Durham, John Rittenhouse and Dale Sternlicht, along with re-elected Director Robb Kambic, proceeded to appoint each other to their positions on the Board. Britton was retained as President. Kambic will serve as Vice President; Durham is Secretary; Sternlicht is Treasurer; and Rittenhouse is Member at Large. They decided to change past practice and allow the President to vote in all matters. HCFPD’s bylaws do not require use of Robert’s Rules of Order. The Directors and the fire district’s attorney, Mark Cohen, are looking at other meeting guidelines to adopt, possibly Mason’s Manual for Legislative Bodies, and a revision of the bylaws to include the chosen guidelines. Kambic was appointed to the 911 Authority Board with Rittenhouse as alternate. HCFPD Board meetings were set for 7:00 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month, but the Directors will flex meeting times to accommodate needs as much as they can. The fire district’s audit is set for June 4^th and 5^th.

Chief’s Report

  HCFPD Chief Bulich said the district had gained some new applicants. No one had left, he said. He asked for clarification of his spending authority as he’s in charge of keeping the trucks, pagers, radios and other equipment in good working order. “Whatever it takes to keep those trucks in service - we leave to you,” said Durham with Rittenhouse agreeing, “All these items – that’s your bailiwick. You have a copy of the budget.” Rittenhouse also pointed out the Board had resolved (4-5 years ago) to pay the Chief $1,000 per month. Durham, former Chief, had turned it down, as did Bulich. The Fire Marshall was to get $600 per month. HCFPD is currently looking for a Fire Marshall and will advertise the position to all interested parties, whether current HCFPD members or not. The Chief said Black Hawk Fire Department is offering a free Firefighter 1 training class this fall and he estimated Colorado Sierra FPD, Coal Creek FPD and Nederland’s FD would send firefighters along with those from HCFPD. Kambic stressed Red Card (wild land firefighting) certification training, too. The Chief is in the process of compiling the data to reduce the district’s ISO rating, the score used by homeowners’ insurance companies to determine their fees. Water sources, already located and recorded with GPS coordinates, are now being added to physical maps. Bulich plans to use a $9,000 Allen Green Foundation grant to purchase another ATV and/or ATV trailer.

Merger Progress

  Britton, Rittenhouse and Bulich (plus one firefighter to be appointed by Bulich) will meet with CSFPD’s committee to move forward with the merger of the two fire protection districts.

Adjournment

  HCFPD’s meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. The Directors meet next on June 18^th at 7:00 p.m. at Station 2. They plan to invite Gilpin Ambulance Director Zane Laubhan for an update on ambulance operations for the crew now working from Station 2.