If 2008 was a raging brush fire, with its public scrutiny of the Orcas Island Fire Department’s budget, spending and personnel, then the first commissioners’ meeting of 2009 was a friendly campfire marshmallow roast. Only one member of the public attended the meeting, where signing of the paramedic contract, discussion of a receptionist and fourth paramedic and the annual volunteer banquet were on the agenda.
Chief Mike Harris said he was pleased with the applicants for the paramedic position. All of the candidates will test on Feb. 7. Harris said he hopes to make an offer and have someone on board in March.
“I am excited about at least two of the candidates,” Harris said. “We are attracting highly qualified people because of the medical level at which we function. The candidates will take a written and a practical test given by Dr. Sullivan. He will grill them on medical knowledge and they will interview with our people in what I call the beauty pageant. The pageant will help us see how they work as a team. Everyone will tell me what they think and then I will have a recommendation for the commissioners.”
Harris provided an update on filling the receptionist position. He plans to pay each of the qualified applicants to work the job for one day so they can mutually determine if it’s a good fit. Several people will share the position.
The commissioners signed a new four-year paramedic contract at the conclusion of the meeting.
“My belief is that you add stability to the department with longer contracts,” Harris said. “I am the one that asked for a longer contract with the union.”
Harris asked for and received an additional $2,000 for the annual Volunteer Awards Banquet. The total cost for the event will be $5,000. The majority of the expense is for the $25 per plate dinner. For the first time this year, the district is inviting all past volunteers. The OIFD Volunteer Association contributes an additional $5,000 to cover the costs of non-member dinners, including past volunteers and members’ guests. The staff and volunteers receive awards during the evening for exemplary service during the previous 12 months.
Last year’s 60th anniversary banquet cost $10,000. Harris explained after the meeting that many of the expenses last year were for materials that although associated with the anniversary, continue to be used by the OIFD, including uniform sweatshirts, audio visual materials and a history DVD available to the public.
“The tax dollars spent on this are a public ‘Thank You’ to our volunteers for their years of service,” Harris said. “They are the ones getting out of bed on multiple nights, and missing family events, in the mud, blood and tears, to help their neighbors.”
Commissioner Jim Coffin was unanimously chosen as chair for the next year. He succeeds Commissioner Clyde Duke who has chaired the commission for the past three years.
“Commissioner Duke is an extremely patient man and that has served us well during some of our meetings,” Coffin said. “I am not as patient as he is, but if the other commissioners feel confident that I can do the job, then I will accept with the provision that commissioner Duke finishes tonight’s meeting.”
The OIFD schedules its regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. This year, work session meetings will be on the fourth Tuesday of only the even numbered months: February, April, June, August, October and December unless a special need for additional meetings arises. The next regular meeting will be Feb. 10 and the next Working Session meeting will be Feb. 24.
