More fireworks at the firehouse
High Country Fire Protection District
The Board of Directors for High Country Fire Protection District (HCFPD) met March 17, 2010 with all Directors present (Paul Britton, Roger Durham, Robb Kambic, Brian Lesher and John Rittenhouse). They dealt with the regular business of the District before recessing to Executive Session to confer with their attorney Mark Cohen. When they reconvened to public session, they accepted the resignation of interim Fire Chief Mark Moyer and ousted firefighter David Halterman from the department.
Deputy Chief Steps Up
Interim Fire Chief, Mark Moyer, had notified the Board of his resignation both as Chief, and from the department, via an earlier email. His resignation was effective “today” he said. Deputy Fire Chief Galen Koepke had declined taking on Chief’s duties last year when the Board removed former Fire Chief Richard Bulich from that position. Mark Moyer, a station captain, had stepped up to take on the responsibilities of Chief, but only until the firefighters held their election, generally in April. With Moyer’s resignation, the Board asked Koepke if he could step up until they appoint a new Chief. He agreed, but told the Board to also consider someone else for Deputy Chief. Due to other circumstances, he said, he didn’t think he would be able to continue and had planned this year to be his last active year with the department. Britton said they would get a new chief appointed as fast as they could – possibly at their April Board meeting.
Firefighter Banned
The Board unanimously passed a motion directing the Chief to inform firefighter David Halterman that his services were no longer needed. Further, he was no longer welcome on fire scenes or in any of HCFPD’s facilities, with the exception of Board meetings as they are open to the public. The Chief was directed to collect Halterman’s gear and deliver a letter from the Board.
Chief’s Election Canceled
There will be no election among the firefighters for Fire Chief, Station Captains or Pension Board members. There were not enough names put forward to hold an election. Dave Hitchcock put in for Station 2 Captain and Ralph Gould for Station 3 Captain. No names were received for Stations 1 and 4 or for the other positions. The procedure is for the Board to appoint Pension Board members and a Fire Chief after firefighters vote for their choice and make recommendations. The Chief appoints the Captains. Britton said the Board would consider options, including going outside the department for a Chief, if it comes to that.
Board Election Update
HCFPD’s Board has three positions opening and a May election to fill them. Election Officer Gary Gain said Britton, Durham and Jim Crawford are the candidates for the two four-year term seats and Brian Lesher and Judd Motchan are running for the one two-year term seat. Angie Diamond and Dave Thomas will be election judges. Gain said the election had been certified at the local and state level and he has requested voter lists from the Assessors of both Gilpin and Boulder counties. He noted Gilpin is charging $100 for the list and said state statute requires the charge; however Boulder County did not charge. The ballot is almost ready for printing and Gain is setting up the mail ballot now. Notice of the election will be published in local newspapers and posted around the community. Gain said he has requested use of the County’s polling boxes this year to provide voters more privacy.
Treasurer’s Report
As of February 28, 2010, the District had $629,125 in bank accounts and total current assets of $1,025,817. Expenditures, reported from January to February 10th, totaled $64,292. The largest single expenditure was $12,000 to Timberline Fire Authority to cover costs of merging with Colorado Sierra Fire Protection District (CSFPD).
Timberline Update
Rittenhouse told the Board there had been an inconsistency in a missive from the Timberline attorney regarding the election process for the merger, but that she had clarified it; One election is needed and only for the residents of CSFPD. That election has been tentatively scheduled for February 2011 in order to have time to give the Clerk and Recorder and the Assessor of Gilpin County time to adjust tax payments so they go to the proper fire district. Britton added that Timberline is working on a supplement to the Intergovernmental Agreement currently governing the merger process. Lesher asked if retirees of CSFPD will be bumped up to the same pension amount as HCFPD or if increases are just from the merger point forward. Britton and Rittenhouse said there would be one plan, but the specifics and funding had not yet been discussed. HCFPD’s Board indicated they thought it would be appropriate to have a public hearing for their residents prior to including CSFPD’s territory into HCFPD’s, but Cohen told them it isn’t required by law. The current plan is to include CSFPD into HCFPD; change the name to Timberline; and dissolve CSFPD. That will work only if CSFPD voters approve at the 2011 election.
Pension Concerns
John and Fran Etzkorn spoke with Rittenhouse at the Chili Dinner of their concerns about the post-merger pension plan. They followed up with a spreadsheet and suggestions. As HCFPD retirees, they asked that CSFPD’s pension be fully funded before the pension is increased for CSFPD participants. The proposal to increase CSFPD’s monthly payment of $5 per year of service to equal that of HCFPD’s ($14) is not acceptable until the CSFPD pension is actuarily sound, they wrote.
Website Update
Robb Kambic is working on a website for HCFPD and said he had secured a name and hosting service and had developed a preliminary design. He asked that suggestions for items to include on the site, other than Board meeting minutes.
Business Manager’s Report
Business Manager Shelia Kambic said a contractor had been contacted to make door repairs at Station 4 and the work would be covered by insurance. She was submitting a new claim for a lost pager. A firefighter had lost a pager in a snow drift, she said, and the insurance would likely cover it. They would not cover the firefighter’s other pager, which was “full of dirt and metal filings.” The insurance company considers that wear and tear, as the firefighter wears the pager while working, said Kambic. The Communications Officer will see about repairing that one.
Kambic had also submitted a claim for Workmen’s Compensation insurance for a firefighter who broke her collar bone during a training last Tuesday night.
The department continues to look for junk cars they could use for extrication equipment training. Anyone in the community who can help is asked to call 303-582-5768. The department will arrange to have the vehicle towed at no expense to the donor.
A contractor had looked at the hillside behind Station 1 and guaranteed that he could stabilize it with shotcrete. The bid on that work is $67,475. The Board is still waiting to hear if Boulder County will allow a variance that would allow that station to be replaced with a new building.
Kambic detailed some of the expenditures for firefighter apparel and gear and a repair to Station 4’s brush truck. The Alan Green Grant application is due at the end of the month and Moyer had been compiling a list of department needs that it could help fund.
Chief’s Report
Moyer gave his final report as Chief, beginning with follow-ups from last month’s meeting. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that had gone AWOL was found at Station 4. There is nothing new to report on the Station 6 cistern or on the fire codes. Moyer had contacted a prospective Fire Inspector/ Marshal but had not yet heard back. Firefighter One training is in progress. Moyer said there had been a department meeting. There had also been a Commanders meeting coordinated with Colorado Sierra Fire Protection District (CSFPD) as the two continue the merger process under the Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) name.
The Board approved, in principle and pending amicable resolution of their attorney’s concerns, an agreement allowing HCFPD firefighters to train at an Arvada Fire Department facility under HCFPD’s insurance plan.
Head’s Up
This Board meets monthly, but has not set the date for the April meeting due to schedule conflicts. Their meetings are generally posted in the local newspapers, on the TFA website at http://timberlinefire.org and are officially posted at Station 2, the district’s office.