Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection District voted 3-2 Tuesday to make independent hires, rather than sign a contract with Cal Fire. Supervisors Louis Boitano, Ted Novelli and Chairman Brian Oneto voted for a plan offered by AFPD Chief Jim McCart to hire battalion chiefs, engineers and firefighters. McCart’s plan also will look at hiring on contract for Lockwood and Sutter Creek fire districts. The first hires will be at Battalion 10 in the Upcountry, and Battalion 20 in District 5. Novelli said: “I have nothing against Cal Fire.” He said Amador has some good firefighters living here, and if they have the opportunity to hire them, he supports it. He said “all agencies in the county have outstanding fire service.” Plymouth Mayor Patricia Fordyce said she was not sure about hiring Cal Fire. Supervisor John Plasse, voting against direct hires, said the Cal Fire proposal was for too short a time period, then it reverted back to a plan with no leadership. Plasse proposed the $300,000 could go to hiring retired CDF people on the “open market” with the direct-hire proposal, to oversee the AFPD. Supervisor Richard Forster voted against McCart’s plan, preferring the independence Cal Fire would offer. Forster told McCart: “If you want people to have faith in this, you need to come up and represent it,” not have someone from Sutter Creek representing it. Sutter Creek Fire Protection District board member Ron Watson said “we’ve had minor input.” Watson criticized labeling McCart an “administrative chief,” while he still works at incident scenes. Watson said people don’t care what the personnel are called. He said “we have fire experience, and you have plans put together by people with no fire experience.” Ione Councilman Lee Ard said Ione was staying out of the regional approach, despite City Manager Kim Kerr’s best efforts to get the city involved. Ard said “we would be crazy to get involved in this political issue.” He said Ione has the “complete structure,” with captains, fire marshals and a chief. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 09 April 2010 04:23
AFPD board Chooses to Hire Battalion Chiefs, Not Cal Fire
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection District voted 3-2 Tuesday to make independent hires, rather than sign a contract with Cal Fire. Supervisors Louis Boitano, Ted Novelli and Chairman Brian Oneto voted for a plan offered by AFPD Chief Jim McCart to hire battalion chiefs, engineers and firefighters. McCart’s plan also will look at hiring on contract for Lockwood and Sutter Creek fire districts. The first hires will be at Battalion 10 in the Upcountry, and Battalion 20 in District 5. Novelli said: “I have nothing against Cal Fire.” He said Amador has some good firefighters living here, and if they have the opportunity to hire them, he supports it. He said “all agencies in the county have outstanding fire service.” Plymouth Mayor Patricia Fordyce said she was not sure about hiring Cal Fire. Supervisor John Plasse, voting against direct hires, said the Cal Fire proposal was for too short a time period, then it reverted back to a plan with no leadership. Plasse proposed the $300,000 could go to hiring retired CDF people on the “open market” with the direct-hire proposal, to oversee the AFPD. Supervisor Richard Forster voted against McCart’s plan, preferring the independence Cal Fire would offer. Forster told McCart: “If you want people to have faith in this, you need to come up and represent it,” not have someone from Sutter Creek representing it. Sutter Creek Fire Protection District board member Ron Watson said “we’ve had minor input.” Watson criticized labeling McCart an “administrative chief,” while he still works at incident scenes. Watson said people don’t care what the personnel are called. He said “we have fire experience, and you have plans put together by people with no fire experience.” Ione Councilman Lee Ard said Ione was staying out of the regional approach, despite City Manager Kim Kerr’s best efforts to get the city involved. Ard said “we would be crazy to get involved in this political issue.” He said Ione has the “complete structure,” with captains, fire marshals and a chief. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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