Fire Chief Mike Harris summed it up like this: “Maxx put everything she had into everything she did.”

After 30 years with the fire department, Captain Maxx Jones has been let go from her duties as a responder and Public Safety and Information Officer.

Jones and the department offer different reasons for her “separation from the district because of irreconcilable differences,” but both parties agree it is unfortunate.

“Her service has been tremendous,” Harris said. “It’s disappointing we couldn’t reach an agreement that didn’t end in her separating from us.”

Jones says her work environment became difficult when the fire district “decided to put more emphasis on response and less towards public programs.”

“I don’t agree with that,” she said. “To reduce the amount of emergency calls, we need public education.”

This past winter, the department assigned Jones four days on and four days off as a paid responder, a schedule that she was not pleased with. Her hours would have gone from 40 to 48 per week, something that Harris says is typical for shift work.

“Because of my public education commitments, I couldn’t find a way to make that work,” Jones said. “So I put in a resignation for my paid responder position, but the board refused to accept it. I wanted to go back to being a volunteer and still do my public safety job. We continued to try to work it out, and I subsequently lost my job and I have been denied even being a volunteer for the department.”

Jones’ salary was $3,929.17 per month plus benefits (retirement was $205, health insurance was $538) equaling a total of $4,673.62, which is $56,083.44 annually.

Harris says many volunteer departments have administrative employees with responder duties.

“I need everybody in the fire department to be a responder. Our receptionist is a responder,” Harris said. “It gives the best fire response possible … and lifts the burden on our volunteer responders who work all day (at other jobs).”

He says he offered to delegate some of Jones’ public safety duties to other paid employees.

“I wanted to relieve the pressure of the admin stuff for her – it was more important for me to get her out the door on calls,” he said.

Jones and Harris could not reach an agreement with how her hours would be spent. Harris says she then asked for overtime pay. It is a charge that Jones denies.

“According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, (fire department) employees are exempt from overtime if most of the job is administrative, not responder,” Harris said. “She is saying that we made her responder work a priority, so therefore she is not exempt from overtime. We disagreed.”

And that’s when the lawyers stepped in to reach a settlement.

Jones’ last day was May 25. The fire board of commissioners signed a “Release and Separation Agreement” on June 14, giving Jones a $10,000 severance package.

“They originally offered me $5,000, but in the end, they gave me $10,000,” Jones said. “After lawyers’ fees, I have about two months’ pay.”

Commissioner Jim Coffin read the following statement at the board meeting:

“Over the past several weeks, the commission has grappled with a very difficult personnel issue. Maxx Jones has demanded over $40,000 in overtime pay. A truly astonishing amount of misinformation has circulated among our members and the public. It is tempting to lay out the true facts and events of this matter but the better thing is to turn the other cheek and move on. What is confidential will remain confidential. We have before us an agreement that settles this and other claims. The district’s legal counsel informs us that it could easily cost multiple of the amount paid under this agreement to defend the lawsuit. We are acting upon this agreement in public session; the agreement will become a public record. There will, however, be no public discussion concerning confidential personnel matters.”

Harris says Jones’ public education responsibilities will be spread out among the current staff. Her Wildland Captain job will be taken over by Captain Bob Nutt.

Jones leaves behind a legacy

When Jones first became a volunteer firefighter in 1981, there was little in the way of public education.

Over her three decades with the department, she established such community programs as first aid empowerment for students, Orcas Fire Wise and Wildland Fire Safety, fire education for kids, new mothers, and senior citizens, and free or at-cost bike and skateboard helmets and child safety seats. She also launched the volunteer auxiliary team – a group of volunteers who provide warm drinks and food to responders during major calls.

In July 2008, Jones was hired as a paid firefighter and EMT and Public Safety and Information Officer. She worked closely with the public school and early learning centers.

“The pre-school tours are some of my favorites memories,” Jones said. “Other favorites include smiling faces at the parades, the pancake breakfasts, and doing one-on-one safety instruction with the public. My favorite first aid class was with Island Excavating. We set up a real life scenario outside with mannequins bleeding all over the concrete. We had all the guys run out and perform CPR. They got so into it. It was so fun.”

One of Harris’ fondest memories is when Jones first took him to the public school. An auditorium full of kids yelled “Hello Firefighter Maxx!” when they walked in the door.

“She is very, very effective in the community,” Harris said.

Jones’s husband Jeff has been with the department since 1977, and he is leaving as well.

“We don’t have a plan,” Maxx said. “We are leaving our home for new adventures.”

The couple hopes to find another small community with a volunteer department where they can serve.

“I am really proud of what I have accomplished and I am grateful for all the years I have had,” Maxx said. “I am really sad. I would have liked to leave on happy terms. I don’t understand it. I can’t believe it happened.”

Write to Maxx

Maxx welcomes cards from the community about positive learning experiences with her and the department. Mail them to P.O. Box 431, Eastsound, WA 98245.