Amador County – Amador Fire Protection Authority board of directors heard from its chiefs last week that they are already crafting a consolidation plan for county fire departments.
The board heard individual reports of Proposition 172 funding usage, from most department representatives, and agreed accounting of Measure M and 172 funds would be best done by sending data to the AFPA secretary, Carla Farris, who could put reports on spread sheets. The reports will be made to answer a letter to Amador County Supervisor Chairman Louis Boitano, who sent a letter on behalf of Supervisors to Amador Fire Protection District Chief Jim McCart asking for accounting of fire funds. It also gave fire departments a year’s time to be able to present a plan, including a time schedule, for consolidation of fire departments in the county.
Sutter Creek Fire Protection District Chief Dominic Moreno said the six AFPA chiefs have been meeting for three months to discuss consolidation, and they were working on a plan, which is partly written by Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey. Moreno said bringing in a consultant would give a cookie-cutter plan, and the chiefs think they should create the plan, so paperwork is not starting over again.
They wanted chiefs to work on the framework so they can bring it back to the AFPA board for approval, and send it on to Boitano and the Supervisors.
AFPA Chairwoman Connie Gonsalves said: “That sounds great.” Board Member, Supervisor Ted Novelli said that he and Dave Bellerive and another AFPD battalion chief attended a California Local Agency Formation Commission presentation on consolidation. He said 39 different times LAFCO has helped fire agencies consolidate up and down the state.”
Novelli said he was just throwing that out there, and the chiefs and board members agreed with the possibility. Moreno said it was probably too early to get LAFCO involved.
The meeting was led by Jose Enriquez of El Dorado County LAFCO, whom Novelli since has learned would be willing to help Amador County with fire consolidation when they called him.
The Chiefs agreed to work on the plan and time schedule, and bring back a written progress report for the AFPA’s next board meeting in July. The departments will also begin submitting Prop 172 and Measure M spending information.
Gamble said “in the spirit of consolidation, some things are already under way, like training.” He said boards and city councils need to ask their chiefs for updates.
Ione Mayor Ron Smylie said the county should help each other with major catastrophes. The county is too small to just handle them by themselves. He said it was commendable that consolidation was actually happening without it being ordered.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
