New Chief Recommended, Board Concerns Addressed, Operations Manual Sections Updated

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Fire District Board of Trustees held two special meetings Feb. 27 and March 1 to discuss the new chief candidates, address board concerns and approve revisions to several sections of the District’s Operations Manual.

Chief Candidate

The board received 32 applicants from the U.S. and internationally for the open chief position. The hiring committee presented the board with their top choice at the Feb. 27 special board meeting. The board agreed to extend the offer to the candidate from Nevada in hopes he would start in mid April.

The hiring committee consisted of board members Chair Scott Kennedy and Vice Chair Gary Lewis, department volunteers Captain Cory Calnan and Randy Gazda and Interim Chief Michael Greer. Each member of the committee narrowed the candidates down to a short list.

They interviewed five from which they selected their top three, two of which they felt were “equal” but all “over qualified” for the position.

Lewis said the top two are both paramedics and had fire qualifications, both worked with volunteers and boards and wrote grants.

“Their experiences and everything made it very hard between the two,” said Lewis. “The one that we [decided] on seemed to be the better choice because he seemed more interested in getting in here and getting started. He seemed a little bit more community friendly and his management skills just seemed to make him stand out.”

Lewis added that he has a good personality, has dealt with a lot of similar situations and is “pretty sharp.”

For Kennedy, the one selected showed professionalism and appeared to have a little more computer experience.

Greer added the recommended candidate had done his homework and had a good feel of what was going on with the department.

Pending background check and other pre-employment paperwork, Kennedy proposed bringing the new chief on mid-April for a six-week overlap with Greer.

“Mike’s got so much forward progress going in with policies and manuals,” said Kennedy. “I think he would be an asset in completing these tasks and allow the new chief to be getting out there while Mike fine tunes things.”

Lewis and Trustee Rachel Jennings both questioned if six weeks was necessary. Jennings also asked why the board is committed to Greer until June 1.

The rest of the board told Jennings they committed to Greer for six months unless there was a disciplinary reason to terminate him.

In response to questions about having the candidate come and interview before the board Kennedy responded, “I don’t think it is necessary [since all five of us were so in agreement].”

Trustee Connie Clark said she was comfortable moving forward with the committee’s recommendation but “I’m a little disappointed since I mentioned more than once that I would have liked to have been involved when it got close.”

After reviewing his resume, the board unanimously agreed to accept the committee’s recommendation for the permanent chief position. They will offer him the preliminary offer of employment. They also approved the salary package including: $50,000 yearly salary, PERS (firefighter retirement), chief’s vehicle and $610 per month towards insurance.

At the March 1 meeting, the board unanimously approved the letter of employment and job duties for the new chief without further discussion. The chief will have one year of probation and Greer will remain in charge until June 1. This will allow the new chief time to incorporate.

Board Member Concerns

Board member concerns were addressed at both the Feb. 28 and March 1 special meetings.

At the Feb. 28 meeting, Clark raised the concern that Jennings violated Shawn Ellinghouse’s right to privacy when she called him by name asking him to waive his right to privacy during the Feb. 20 meeting.

“I did not feel comfortable. I felt that [calling Ellinghouse by name] was not appropriate,” said Clark.

Jennings said she and Ellinghouse had discussed her asking him to waive his privacy rights prior to the meeting and, “I felt there have been times when the board has tried to use personnel’s right to privacy as an umbrella for them.”

Clark and Kennedy both said that Jennings’ aggressive behavior towards Greer made them very uncomfortable and Clark said her badgering was disrespectful.

“Did things get heated and passionate? Yes, I think it is something to be heated and passionate about. I’m not going to apologize for that,” said Jennings. “I had a conversation with the chief afterwards and I would like to think that it went well.”

Kennedy said that he hopes that in the future when board members ask questions, they ask once and once given an answer, move on unless they need clarification.

At the March 1 meeting, board member Rita Rossi asked if the board has a policy about drinking before meetings. Kennedy said it has been noticed at the last couple of meetings.

Clark didn’t feel there needed to be a policy because it is part of the District’s Code of Conduct.

“We are in a position of public trust and we need to adhere to that,” said Kennedy.

Operations Manual

The Seeley Lake Fire District started approving updates to the Operations Manual at the March 1 meeting. They approved changes recommended by Greer and applauded his work and decisions, including terminations, during the past four months as interim chief.

One of the major changes in the Operations Manual was the approval process for new members. The revision states the chief, an officer and a representative from the volunteer membership will formally interview new applicants for the department. The three-person committee will decide if the person is a good fit.

Greer felt this gives the membership some say in the membership since the Fire Company no longer can vote on the membership. The chief still has the final say if someone becomes a member.

Many of the other changes were in 1.16 Disciplinary Procedure. This outlines the roles and responsibilities of the membership, chief and board for handling discipline, suspension or termination of volunteers. Greer added an appeals process outlining a 14 day time period in which to submit an appeal for discipline, suspension and/or termination to the board. Another 14 days are allotted for the board to schedule a time for the person to present their appeal.

The board unanimously voted to approve the Code of Ethics, General Rules and Operations Manual Sections 1.1 - 1.3, 1.6, 1.8 - 1.12 and 1.14 - 1.16 dated March 1.

“I would like to say, Mike I appreciate all of your efforts on all of these policies and all of these changes. I also support your decisions [including the terminations],” said Board Chair Scott Kennedy.

“I think you have done a great job,” said Lewis. “This is a heck of a place to step in and you’ve had a tough time with it. I realize you are going to be leaving but thanks.”

Both board members Connie Clark and Rita Rossi nodded in support of the chief’s decisions and terminations.

In an email following the meeting, Kennedy highlighted that himself, Lewis, Clark and Rossi have a combined total experience as a volunteer fire/EMT/board members of more than 100 years.

There are still several sections of the Operations Manual that need to be approved. The draft is available on the district’s website, http://www.seeleyfire.org, and comments can be submitted to info@seeleyfire.org.

The next regularly scheduled fire district board meeting is Tuesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall. For the agenda and any special meeting announcements visit http://www.seeleyfire.org.