The main topic of discussion was the future during Orcas Fire’s regular board meeting on Dec. 8.

Referring to the current strategic plan developed through a series of committee meetings in 2004 and 2005, commissioner Clyde Duke said, “Overall it’s been done well. As we go forward, it’s how do we prepare for the future?”

The tax levy approved by voters in 1999 will expire in 2014. The commission acknowledged they must determine whether or not a new levy is needed to support the department and that it’s time to form a new strategic planning committee.

“We may or may not need a new levy, and that’s part of one reason I want the committee looking forward ten or fifteen years,” chair Jim Coffin said.

The strategic planning committee to be formed will have three subcommittees. Each will focus on Fire, EMS, or Communications. The subcommittees will meet individually and collectively over time. Each of the three commissioners will chair a subcommittee. Barbara Bedell will chair EMS. Duke will chair Fire. Coffin will chair Communications. Each subcommittee will be made of staff and members of the volunteer association. The commission is not soliciting members of the public to serve on subcommittees at this time.

Coffin told the Islands’ Sounder that communication has improved significantly in the last year. He sited improvements to the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue web site, orcasfire.org, including posted information about past and future meetings and current events.

“It used to be a poster web site. It didn’t have minutes and current information available to the public,” Coffin said.

Coffin would like to see improvements in the way public comments are received and how public safety information is disseminated.

“Public involvement has been difficult and painful, but in the larger picture it has been very helpful,” Coffin said. “The concerns and the input from the public helps temper the judgement and test the quality and the value of what we’re doing.”

Coffin would like to streamline the way concerned members of the public access information in order to ensure when they attend a meeting they are up-to-date and meeting time is not spent on previously discussed topics.

“If we can answer questions in a reasonably quick way, we can and will do that,” Coffin said. “I’ve objected to complex questions just because it’s something that we’ve gone over and over again. I’d like to figure out a way that we can handle that.”

Coffin noted possible improvements in internal communication as well.

The Commission also reported they had gathered input from members of the department and the public regarding Chief Mike Harris’ performance review. The commissioners acknowledged they had come to a consensus for a favorable review. Coffin solicited comments during a public input period of the meeting regarding the chief’s performance. No comments were made.

Coffin told the Islands’ Sounder the chief was performing at a professional level that it has not achieved by the department in the past and gave Harris “a great deal if credit for that.”

The chief’s contract is up for renewal at the end of 2009.