Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection District board of directors discussed work behind Tuesday’s historic decision to approve a hiring plan for the largest locally-based fire department in the county. Supervisor Louis Boitano said the board has discussed paying firefighters for 17 years. Supervisor John Plasse said heated and impassioned rhetoric was a good example of why AFPD board meetings, before this week, were never able to come to fruition on the issue. Plasse said he is “committed to a consolidation effort,” which “is important for the county.” The board voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve a Measure M spending plan offered by AFPD Chief Jim McCart. Plasse and Supervisor Richard Forster voted against the action. The plan was selected over a new proposal drafted by AFPD staff overnight. Critics called McCart’s plan the AFPD/Sutter Creek plan, for its strong support from Sutter Creek Fire District. SCFD board member Harold Gamble said the new proposal given to the board Tuesday was the size of document he would like to get in advance, but in a quick read, he said its plan to have a fire manager and a battalion chief meet once a month, would cause problems for handling daily issues. He said it would be better to hire battalion chiefs. Boitano agreed, saying the “ultimate goal” is to have a county-wide department. Plasse said he thought it “comes down to qualities and capabilities of those involved, and how well they can work toward consolidation.” Former firefighter and Upcountry Community Council co-chair Bob Curral said “if we don’t have a battalion chief, we’ll have a (Cal Fire) chief that is taken away during the California fire season.” Sutter Creek’s Ron Watson said consolidation in the county “should come from positive decisions, not threats.” Sutter Creek Fire Chief Butch Martin said he supports the AFPD plan of using local government, and “whoever you hire has to be in charge of the hired personnel.” Plymouth Mayor Pat Fordyce said she has met with Cal Fire personnel and found them “extremely professional,” but she did not know if Cal Fire was the answer for AFPD. McCart said “until Measure M came along, there was no funding,” and an old contracted with Cal Fire made AFPD’s $70,000 reserve disappear, when the state went to its “2 person per engine rule.” McCart said the money was AFPD’s reserve to hire firefighters. At the time, the AFPD board told him to let the agreement end without renewal, and he did that. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 07 April 2010 18:00
AFPD Board Discusses History Leading to Paid Fire Personnel
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Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection District board of directors discussed work behind Tuesday’s historic decision to approve a hiring plan for the largest locally-based fire department in the county. Supervisor Louis Boitano said the board has discussed paying firefighters for 17 years. Supervisor John Plasse said heated and impassioned rhetoric was a good example of why AFPD board meetings, before this week, were never able to come to fruition on the issue. Plasse said he is “committed to a consolidation effort,” which “is important for the county.” The board voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve a Measure M spending plan offered by AFPD Chief Jim McCart. Plasse and Supervisor Richard Forster voted against the action. The plan was selected over a new proposal drafted by AFPD staff overnight. Critics called McCart’s plan the AFPD/Sutter Creek plan, for its strong support from Sutter Creek Fire District. SCFD board member Harold Gamble said the new proposal given to the board Tuesday was the size of document he would like to get in advance, but in a quick read, he said its plan to have a fire manager and a battalion chief meet once a month, would cause problems for handling daily issues. He said it would be better to hire battalion chiefs. Boitano agreed, saying the “ultimate goal” is to have a county-wide department. Plasse said he thought it “comes down to qualities and capabilities of those involved, and how well they can work toward consolidation.” Former firefighter and Upcountry Community Council co-chair Bob Curral said “if we don’t have a battalion chief, we’ll have a (Cal Fire) chief that is taken away during the California fire season.” Sutter Creek’s Ron Watson said consolidation in the county “should come from positive decisions, not threats.” Sutter Creek Fire Chief Butch Martin said he supports the AFPD plan of using local government, and “whoever you hire has to be in charge of the hired personnel.” Plymouth Mayor Pat Fordyce said she has met with Cal Fire personnel and found them “extremely professional,” but she did not know if Cal Fire was the answer for AFPD. McCart said “until Measure M came along, there was no funding,” and an old contracted with Cal Fire made AFPD’s $70,000 reserve disappear, when the state went to its “2 person per engine rule.” McCart said the money was AFPD’s reserve to hire firefighters. At the time, the AFPD board told him to let the agreement end without renewal, and he did that. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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