Comments by Vince Williams

HMB fire board responds to union critics

(2/2 continued form previous post)

Ed Hawkins,

Under the laws of this state we elect the Directors of these Special Districts to make decisions like letting service contracts for us.  State laws vest the decision to contract out for services to the Directors, not the citizens by referendum except in the case of incorporated cities.  There are many legal approaches to deferring referenda.  In the first round, the Boards chose an easy argument, they hadn’t really taken any action.  I can’t see any judge wanting to own the HMBFPD situation, while subsequent petitions are being litigated in their court.  This is a public safety issue. In my opinion, the Board’s should not be given the opportunity to punt the issue to the voters.  The Board’s are ultimately responsible and know the situation best.  I have been following this for a number of years.  It’s been spun every way imaginable by the different factions.  The level of detail required to get at the “truth” involves a lot of personnel information, pending and post litigation matters that cannot be made public.  The only ones that can know the truth, legally are the Boards.  So, even if it were legal to put contracting with CDF to public vote, the election would be little more than an ill informed popularity contest.

Vince Williams

HMB fire board responds to union critics

Ed Hawkins,

Thanks for commenting here on Coastsider.

The last audit conducted by the HMBFPD Board is a public document.  The Board packets, have had all the accounting information details up to the last meeting. I don’t see any missing pieces to the puzzle that is not in the public domain.

It’s just not financial.  The “crisis” and “problem” is more like a number of serious problems:

1. HMBFPD Board running operational deficits trying to hold a high level of service together, absorb the cost of litigating employee lawsuits and provide PMFPD a favorable annual cost for services asan incentive to consolidation,
2. PMFPD has a thin revenue stream and has difficulty meeting the current cost of Linestaff for its engine,
3. Inability of HMBFPD Board to keep a Management team in place for the past year,
4. Strife between the Linestaff and HMBFPD Management and Board,
5. Strife between PMFPD and HMBFPD Boards,
6. HMBFPD financial situation causing service cuts this year,
7. The laws and regulations from Sacramento, dealing with personnel issues and all the small details of running a fire district have made a small district not cost effective (three engine district is considered small, now) .

The Boards have really gotten themselves in a jam and the only way out is to contract out for services.  The fact that only two Fire Agencies submitted proposals to the Spring RFP speaks to seriousness of the problems of the Coastside Districts.

This past year has been all about delay and denial.  Nobody on either side of this issue wants to talk about how bad things have gotten at HMBFPD.  In my personal view, it’s gotten so bad, the Boards are now constrained to have to make the “choice” of a contract with CDF.  If one really understands the issues and responsibilities of boards, there really isn’t a “choice” being made here.  A contract with CDF fixes most of the problem areas.

The Boards were looking at options at many of their meetings this Spring.  The Linestaff, Teamsters and IAFF Local 2400 were conspicuous in their absence from those meetings.  The time for proposals has come and gone.  I can’t really see Local 2400 coming up with solutions to all these problems from the bottom up.  Fire Districts are traditionally run as hierarchies. The “culture of strife” is well documented.  It’s foolish to think that taking care of one set of stakeholders and giving them what they want will fix all the problems at HMBFPD.

(1/2, Continued in following post)

HMB fire board responds to union critics

I hope citizens read this press release, so that they understand both sides, before signing any more petitions.  The HMBFPD Board has taken the time and care to respond to the referenda supported by the Firefighters.  It is interesting to note the Boards went on record with much of the financial compensation that had been discussed here earlier on Coastsider.  The Boards have to balance the needs of the community against the requirements of the employees.  It’s easy to lose sight of the goal of providing fire and emergency services in a cost effective manner and get swept up in all the strife.  In my view, the Boards are well ahead of the petitioners in offering a viable long term plan for Coastside fire and emergency service.  I haven’t heard anything from IAFF Local 2400 on their “audit” of HMBFPD or proposal for financing the combined District continuing with its own employees.  The clock is ticking and standing in the way of a contract which puts Management under a stable orginzation, maintains local control of services and provides more Linestaff coverage for less tax dollars, is not in the communities interest.

Thanks for putting the press release on line.  I hope people take the time to read it.

Video: Fire districts vote on contracting out services

Kathryn,

I was not concerned by President Donovan’s comments.  It makes sense.  PMFPD and HMBFPD have their own different weaknesses on their own, now.  By combining they merge their different strenghts and weaknesses to become stronger, have an economy of scale and speak with one voice for the fire and emergency needs of the Coastside.  Combining with some other San Mateo County agency before combining PMFPD and HMBFPD is going to leave a weak orphan as an adjacent district to the one that combined with the larger agency.  With mutual aid, a district is only as strong as its neighboring districts and their willingness to cooperate.  Despite all the past strife between the PMFPD and HMBFPD Boards, that mutual need probably is what sustained the concept of consolidation over the past ten years.

Most fire experts say in San Mateo County we are now in a period of regional consolidations and JPA’s. The prediction over the next ten years or so is to evolve from regional departments to a County wide department. In the future, a combined stronger Coastside Fire can negotiate from a position of strength with the specific service needs of the Coastside in mind or choose to stay independant longer.  The best strategey is to stay solvent, right sized and not to merge too soon or wait for the no options merger.

Fire boards vote to negotiate contract with CDF

Dave Heckman, (second post)

You said, “I personally do not feel comfortable knowing that soon, my community, my family, and my friends may possibly rely on CDF for emergency services.” Doesn’t your low opinion of CDF reflect on all Firefighters and agencies?  CDF is a big part of that community.  Despite your attempt to finesse it, you have crossed a line.  It is hard to believe that with all the government regulations, certifications, training, professional organizations and people dedicating their lives to fire service, anyone would have to rely on your word on where to get a good quality of fire service.  If what you said is true, we should all live in fear of traveling out of the Coastside and blundering into what could be a CDF serviced district and having a mishap.

Unfortunately, one of the costs of living in an expensive area is that people who provide services in that area can’t afford to live there.  That has been the sad reality in the Bay Area for a long time.  There is no legal way to force a Firefighter to reside in the district they work at.  We have one that resides in Utah, now.  I see the advantage of “native local Firefighters”.  But, what guarantee do the taxpayers have that throwing more money at the problem will buy a solution?

I have been going to the Board meetings.  I hear about the service cuts.  I hear about the ALS/JPA exception reports.  I’m a civilian.  I’m troubled by what I hear.  You should go and listen and ask questions, before you assume CDF is worse or that HMBFPD can be rebuilt.  The decision to outsource was not made in haste, if you attended the meetings, or read the agenda’s on line, you would know that.

I want to see the 100 year MISSION sustained.  Who our Firefighters work for is a secondary issue.  Our Firefighters are perfectly capable of adapting to the changes and making career choices.  Our “native local Firefighters” don’t need any special endangered species designation or habitat protection.

Fire boards vote to negotiate contract with CDF

Dave Heckman,

You sure made a excellent arguments for why we don’t want Firefighters and exFirefighters making decisions about our fire service.  Let’s try some facts rather than rhetoric.

CDF is qualified to provide service on the Coastside. The town is not turning its back on the Firefighters.  The Boards arranged that all of Linestaff will get jobs at CDF and their salaries will be red circled. If an individual Firefighter doesn’t want to work for CDF, it is that individuals personal matter.

#1 What we have today for service is less than CDF will be providing, when they take over. Go to the meetings, hear how incidents are handled and hear about the service cuts.  The ISO Fire Ratings were performed last fall.  It will be years before they are done again.  Look at the ISO criteria.  CDF shouldn’t cause any rating drop, next time. A Firefighter posted the allegation against one of the HMBFPD Directors on the MidCoast-L on July 30.  I’m sure someone brought it to the attention of the District Attorney.  It’s a matter for the Director involved and the District Attorney.  If that HMBFPD Director was subsequently disqualified, it would not change the outcome of the vote(3-1 vs 4-1).

#2 Why do all Board members have to be liked by the Linestaff?  The Boards represent the citizens.  The Firefighters have selected IAFF Local 2400 to negotiate with the Board for them.  The end product of that negotiation is a contract.  There is a Management buffer between the Board and the Firefighters for day to day operations.

#3 The Boards are not dismantling the Fire and Emergency Services.  They looked long and hard at hiring a new Chief and rebuilding the Department.  Chief Bonano, Chief Hamilton and the Civil Grand Jury all said don’t rebuild. The Board had an obligation to sustain the mission of the two Districts.  The recommendations were to outsource.  No one, before the contract with CDF vote or after, has put forward a credible plan to rebuild HMBFPD.  CDF and San Mateo were both imminently qualified to manage, take on the HMBFPD employees and provide fire service on the Coastside.

#4 Since the PMFPD Board voted it’s intent to consolidate, they have not stonewalled.  There are many issues that are not easy to resolve.  Sure more competent Boards could have moved more expidisously on consolidation. Consolidation work was put on hold in April for doing triage on operations.

#5 The Boards did assume responsibility by recognizing how serious the situation was, evaluating the options in a timely manner and asking for outside help. Boards need to work on present issues and rely on professional advice, not someone trying to rebuild some clubhouse from 10 years ago, that doesn’t have any hope of meeting the present requirements. We saw that stillborn exercise in PMFPD last year.

Interim HMB Fire Chief Vern Hamilton has resigned

Chief Hamilton accomplished a great deal in the short time he was here.  He performed triage on the HMBFPD, cut nonessential services, put a plan together that effectively utilized what remained of the resources of the Department and brought expenditures into line with resources.  The employees supported him in his efforts and they should also be commended.  But, these were all temporary measures designed to prioritize the remaining resources on critical operations.  As a professional, Chief Hamilton couldn’t advocate just hoping the restructured Department would just limp along and regain its strength over a number of years. It had to meet its mission reliably, right now.  That mission requires not letting any non-operational small details fall throught the cracks and later impact operations.  Hence, the recommendations to outsource.  Many involved had not learned a lesson from this crisis.  Chief Hamilton achieved a great deal without a full majority of the Board behind him.  But, his successes were his undoing.  It allowed the chronic strife to resurface and reassert itself.  That is what happened at the August 1 joint Fire Board meeting.

I have to respect Chief Hamilton’s decision to resign.  To me it is consistent with his very professional performance in helping our community.

Now with this latest news, the HMBFPD organization has been so weakened that it has become again, a public safety issue.  The Boards and the community need to recognize this.  Time is of the essence. Outsourcing is the only option. We need a professional organization with a rule book for both the Linestaff and our two dysfunctional Boards. As Chief Kelly hinted in his presentation, its time for some consistant management.

Taking the longer view, while other communities take pride in their fire service and work on enhanced services, we have decimated ours with strife.  The tragedy is we have pissed away so many services and now are forced to admit we have no local control of the situation and need outside help at all levels.

Thank you Chief Hamilton for stabilizing our fire service and showing us the way out.

Vince Williams

Fire boards plan to select contractor tonight

Did You Know?

HMBFPD has 9 new Cadets that just graduated from the fire Academy in May out of 31 Firefighters.  The years in rank have declined due to attrition.  The service level has declined in the District in the past year.  (San Mateo County Grand Jury Report).

Currently one of the Firefighters resides in Utah.

HMBFPD Firefighters had average gross salary of $134K last year with some grossing $170K. (FY2005/2006 final accounting and 2004 MOU).

Under CDF the Firefighters will be “red circled” meaning they get the same salary they were receiving at HMBFPD.  It will not be cost effective for them to work in other Districts except to maintain certifications.  Under the City of San Mateo FD contract, Firefighters would be rotated around a larger central San Mateo County Department. Their salarys would likely move up to the higher San Mateo Firefighter salaries. (CDF and San Mateo proposals).

Why you should care?

CDF is one of the largest Fire Service Providers in the state.  CDF provides the service for all of Riverside County.  CDF provide the Service for Unincorporated San Mateo County and San Mateo Highlands. Many areas CDF covers are rural areas.  Insurance ratings in rural areas are higher because of factors other than fire service, such as water availability, wild fire potential, width of highways and travel times and homeowner fire suppression systems. ISO Fire Ratings were completed last fall for the Coastside and will be in effect for a number of years.

CDF has programs for Fire Marshal services, Volunteers, Fire Safe Council, and youth Explorer Post.

If there is a major disaster 1/3 of the Department will be on station and held over in a disaster. If only 16/31 currently reside in the District, best case now is 1/2 will be in the District when disaster strikes.  In a major disaster, mutual aid and the nature of the disaster are bigger factors than where the Firefighters live.

Your Fire Department is not being sold. Service is being contacted out as recommended by the Grand Jury and LAFCo.  Service Level determinations and decisions are still made by the locally elected Board.

Why should you trust an anonymous flyer?

The Linestaff in HMBFPD are represented by the IAFF Local 2400.  Call them and ask them why their name and insignia isn’t on the flyer?

Vince Williams

Devil’s Slide to reopen August 4

Thanks to all the folks that kept the pressure on CalTrans to open to limited traffic, especially the MCC.  I have to chuckle at all the local politicos at the half way done photo-op last Saturday.

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Carl May,

We must be at the bitter end of this discussion.

Carl May writes:
>Why consolidate with a sick, mismanaged, neighboring district first?

The simple answer.  There are no other options.  Who will rescue PMFPD from thin revenues and the need to staff an engine company and provide Paramedics?  How can HMBFPD afford to have Operations Chiefs, if it just has two engines and only its own revenue?  This is a merger of financial and service necessity.  Two Fire Agencies responded to the Request for Proposal from PMFPD and HMBFPD for service together and separately.

Carl May writes:
>My past examples of much smaller communities with their own independent fire protection districts are not “magic”;
>they are all over the place in California.

I don’t recollect you doing more that postulating that they exist.  Name one.  Describe how it is funded, revenue base and how it is staffed.  Again, I ask, where is your solution?

Carl May writes:
>This is something that should go before the voters of Point Montara…

You can gather signatures to petition LAFCo to take a vote on consolidation or you can quickly lobby to have the law changed.

Carl May writes:
>...dogged urban mindset...Want slurbia...just over the hill for those who prefer that setting…
>And consolidation of districts is not something that should be imposed by a small clique of citizens
>looking to save money according to their personal calculations and attitudes--notably a viewpoint
>and set of arguments that did not prevail in the
most recent past election for Point Montara board members.

Can’t you make your point without resorting to thinly veiled ad hominem?

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Carl May,

We have been over local control many times.  I agree with what Barry said in his editorial about local control.  But, everything has a cost.  Here is yours.

The differences in the parcel taxes pale in comparison to the costs of PMFPD going it alone or contracting with CDF or San Mateo on its own. In fact to fund those at current rates would mean setting Measure H at $250/parcel and implementing a new parcel tax of about $125 on top of that.  Why do you think your locally controlled Board has been so quiet?  From HMBFPD’s residents standpoint, by consolidating they can achieve an economy of scale and provide a higher level of service than they could contracting on their own.

If you want to maintain your local control and the unique qualities of your District, be prepared to reach into your pocket for another $200 per year to do so.  Principles cost money.

If you have a better practical alternative speak up. I’m not interested in hearing about some fairytale small district somewhere in the hinterlands of California that works magic.  The service requirement for PMFPD is three professional Firefighters with one being a Firefighter/Paramedic 24/7 and a Chief to manage the operation for less than $1.8M per year.  I’m even giving you a break, because that is a lower service level than we will likely get through consolidating and contracting out.  Where is your solution?

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Kristi Will,

$170K was an estimate for 5 to 7 days of overtime per month depending on position.  But, what is the average gross income for Linestaff at HMBFPD?  Ed Carter posted the average compensation costs at $173K.  I posted the benefits costs range from $30K to $48K.  Subtract the average benefits costs from the average compensation costs for Linestaff and the average gross is $134K.

You pointed out, not every member of the Linestaff wants a lot of overtime.  If the Linestaff are transfered to a larger Firefighting organization like The City of San Mateo Fire Department or California Division of Forestry, there will be a much larger pool of Firefighters available to work overtime.  That means more time for the family but, less overtime pay.

This rhetoric of “sold to the highest bidder” and your “taken over by the state” is disingenuous.  The consolidated Coastside Fire will have a Board comprised of HMBFPD current Directors and PMFPD current Directors.  These Board members will make decisions about levels of service, what services are performed in house and what services are contracted out.  What is being proposed is to contract out fire services.  Both San Mateo and CDF are excellent organizations.  The Firefighters are represented by The IAFF Local 2400. It’s a free country, individuals are free to change employers, if they don’t like the terms of their employment.

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Linda Prieto,

Now about the salaries.  The $170K is probably an upper practical limit of what a Captain/Paramedic could gross in a year.

Salary Ranges(from 2004 MOU):
Firefighter $59,741 to $78,193
Firefighter/Paramedic $67,360 to $83,812
Captain $ 81,449 to $90,588
Captain/Paramedic $89,068 to $98,207

Overtime is time and a half.  A previous email of mine went over how overtime adds up.

Benefits including retirement cost(the District) about 50% of base pay.

The problem is not finding qualified candidates, given these salaries.  It is such a desirable position, that many take years to find a paying job and have to keep up their certifications, until they do.  The salaries also explains why a District has difficulty staffing with just Volunteers. It is desirable to have the Firefighters living in the community.  Many of our Firefighters do.  This is an expensive place to live.  But, there is no legal requirement that they live in the community.  Given the work schedule a Firefighter could live just about anywhere in the state and do one commute every six days.

You are right about home insurance.  It’s important to keep the ISO ratings of the Fire District up. 

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Dave Dewey,

Great post.

On one point, I think everyone agrees that unstaffed stations and two Firefighters on an engine is not acceptable.  All the local Fire Service “contractors” I heard on PMFPD trying to staff their engine, wouldn’t bid service with less than three on an engine. 

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Linda Prieto,

There are two stations in HMBFPD HMB Main Engine 40 and El Granada Engine 41. In PMFPD there is one Station Engine 44.  Each engine is normally staffed with three Firefighters per shift and three rotating shifts.  So, if no Firefighter ever took vacation,jury duty, military service or got sick or injured on the job, there would need to be 27 Firefighters for HMBFPD and PMFPD.  So, there are additional Firefighters to cover absences.  In addition HMBFPD has been staffing the primary ambulance 440 under contract with AMR.  That was an additional 6 Firefighter/Paramedics.  The ambulance is going to be transfered to AMR.  So those six positions will go away.

All the Firefighters work for HMBFPD and have the same pay scale.  Managers work for HMBFPD.  PMFPD has two contract employees( Lawyer and Administrator).  PMFPD is not a party to any of HMBFPD’s lawsuits, contract with the Firefighters or employment relationship with other employees.

Proposition 13 set the percentages of property taxes available for fire and emergency services.  Cities get a larger portion than unincorporated areas. HMBFPD has a large portion of it’s tax value in the City of HMB.  PMFPD is all unincorporated County.  So HMBFPD gets a larger percentage of the base property tax.  PMFPD implemented Measure H to afford to keep up with costs.  HMBFPD implemented a $40/parcel tax.  In HMBFPD new subdivisions and commercial projects are charged for the existing fire infrastructure paid for already by existing taxpayers and for new capital and staff(if needed) to support their project.  These are Mellos Roos/Community Facilities Districts(CFD).  For example Harbor Village in Princeton will be a CFD.  HMBFPD will do an analysis of the benefit Harbor Village gets from what is there already and what new is needed and get the developer to “vote” to accept it and pay an annual fee in addition to property taxes.

The average household in PMFPD pays about $640 in base property taxes and $160 in Measure H for fire and emergency services.  A household in HMB city has a higher percent base of property taxes and $40 parcel tax or CFD annual fee going to fire and emergency services.  A household in El Ganada pays a comparable portion of base property taxes to what a household in PMFPD does and a $40 parcel tax.

Today PMFPD is responsible for paying for one station.  HMBFPD is responsible for two stations. I don’t know what is “fair” for each individual owner in each of the two Districts to pay for Fire and Emergency services.  So, I don’t really see any point in arguing with Leonard. I reported on what is in the consolidation agreement draft.

I’ve probably run out of words, so I’ll continue in another post.

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

I want to correct one thing I posted earlier that was in error.  The PMFPD Measure H Benefit Assessment is set at $160 per parcel per year. 

At the PMFPD Board meeting on July 20 the PMFPD Board kept the same $160 Measure H Benefit Assessment for FY2006/2007.

Leonard,

You are obviously one of the people concerned with the equities.

The Joint Consolidation Committee has already decided to form service zones for the purpose of maintaining the existing parcel taxes and no more.  Sorry, that Committee did not agree with your input or position. According to the current draft agreement, the plan is to put all the existing revenue in to the common fund and provide uniform service, whether one resides on Tunitas Creek, Ocean Colony, Downtown HMB, El Granda, or the backside of Montara.  If the Coastside FD runs out of funds in the future, presumably they will be able to raise the Measure H in the PMFPD service zone or raise the rates in the Comunity Facilities Districts(the details have not been worked out yet on the process Appendix C is not available).  They can also propose a new parcel tax and put it up to the voters.

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Linda Prieto,

The current measure H benefit assessment/parcel tax in Point Montara(PMFPD) is set at $165/Parcel.  It is set yearly this time of the year by the PMFPD Board.  The Measure H funds can only be used for paying employee salaries in PMFPD.  The maximum value Measure H can be set at is $250/Parcel.

PMFPD has roughly 2000 households and one Fire Station.  Compared to other Bay Area Fire Districts that is small in terms of households supporting the Fire Station. The average household in PMFPD pays about $800 per year in property taxes with measure H(set at $165).

What you call the merger in 1997/1998 was a transfer of PMFPD’s Linestaff into HMBFPD and PMFPD contracting out for fire Services from HMBFPD. Both Boards and Districts are separate, today.

The Fiscal Year 2005/2006 PMFPD budget is about $1.7M.  Of that $1.4M is for Fire Services purchased from HMBFPD.  It is important to note that the actual cost to HMBFPD to provide that service is 27% of HMBFPD costs which is $2.1M.  So, PMFPD is in a sense getting a bargain, because there is and expectation of consolidation with HMBFPD.  But, what PMFPD doesn’t spend on the service contract with HMBFPD, goes to build PMFPD reserves.  Those PMFPD reserves will be merged with the HMBFPD reserves to form the combined(HMBFPD and PMFPD), Coastside Fire reserves when consolidation finalizes.

I have seen a draft of the PMFPD and HMBFPD consolidation agreement. In it the Measure H parcel tax will continue to exist.  The tax will be set yearly by the Coastside Fire Board.  The tax will be used to used to help pay salaries in the old PMFPD service zone within the Coastside Fire.

HMBFPD has a different cost structure.  There are more households, a fixed parcel tax($40) and Mellos Roos Districts within the District, but also rural lands like the area just North of Tunitas Creek.  They will be other service zones within the combined District.

Many of us were extremely concerned with the equities of all this a while ago.  Some still are.  But, the disparities now pale in comparison to the need to quickly stabilize the service situation and provide a financially sustainable fire service. 

The main problem is the LineStaff costs have grown beyond the ability of the 2000 households in PMFPD to afford to staff the Fire Station.

I’ve simplified this quite a bit to respond to the essence of what I think you are asking.

The LAFCo report has more of the characteristics of the two Districts and the equity issues on the finance.

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Mark Redman,

My own personal observation is this is a Department teetering on the brink of operational failure with a much lower level of service than a year ago.  But, I’m not a professional.  I present the following to you so you can make your own assement on whether your safety is at risk:

Incident:

At the May HMBFPD Regular Meeting Director Lees reported that a cardiac arrest call from Montara was not responded to by the closest Engine 44 (Point Montara) because the engine was not staffed with a Paramedic on Board.  Instead the delayed response came from Engine 41 (El Granada).  The fact that the PMFPD Engine was not staffed with a Paramedic appears to be a material breach of the Fire Service Agreement between PMFPD and HMBFPD.  PMFPD Director Riddell asked that that incident be put on the June PMFPD agenda.  At the June PMFPD Regular Meeting Chief Hamilton reported that the incident involved a child and was under investigation and may involve personnel disciplinary action.  So, he could not comment further at that meeting.  The ALS JPA report was not available at the last PMFPD meeting, so I don’t know whether there was a fine levied for a delayed response or the response time was met by Engine 41.

Staffing Management Changes and Unfilled Positions:

The Chief is an interim Chief.  Four months into the permanent Chief selection process, it was abandoned. One Division Chief left the Department last year.  The Chief is intending to make one of the remaining Division Chiefs a Fire Marshal and temporarily promote two Captains to fill vacant positions as Acting Battalion Chiefs.

Staffing Line Current:

31 current Line staff, out of 43 positions.
5-Captain Paramedics
4-Captains
19-FireFighter Paramedics
4-Fire Fighters

Staffing Line Staff Experience Level:

Eight or Nine of the Line Staff just graduated in May from the Fire Academy. If two Captains are promoted to Acting Battalion Chiefs, there will be two new Captains.

Staffing Requirements Change:

The requirement that all new Fire Fighters hired also be Paramedics was relaxed last year.

Restructuring Ambulance Service:

Last year HMBFPD(under contract to AMR), staffed two ambulances on the Coastside.  The primary ambulance 440 was staffed by two Fire Fighter Paramedics.  Due to financial problems in HMBFPD the primary ambulance is being turned back to AMR.  The AMR primary Coastside ambulance 440 will be staffed with Paramedics and EMT drivers from AMR, not Fire Fighters.  Due to the slide outage and roughly 80% of the calls being EMS calls, the backup ambulance 441 in El Granada in now staffed by a Captain and a Fire Fighter/Paramedic.  This will potentially leave Engine 41 (El Granada) unstaffed.

Surf Rescue Program Status:

The Surf Rescue Program was put on hold due to training and staffing issues.

Editorial:  It’s time to solve the Coastside’s firefighting mess

Barry,

I agree completely with your editorial.  I’d like to expand on a few of points.

Chief Hamilton has done a great job of triage and stabilizing the remaining resources.  Both Boards have cooperated to restructure services.  But, these are all temporary.  The Coastside fire service level is lower now than a year ago and operationally weak.  This weak operational capability is exacerbated by the slide being out and the traffic backups.  You wrote, “If something is not done, the result could be a tragedy.” I would add “quickly”.

The decision on outsourcing can not be allowed to succumb to death by committee, the delays of an all inclusive process or become yet another forum for the expression of strife.  To write, “The burden of proof is now on anyone who opposes consolidation and contracting out.” does not go far enough.  Those of us following the Fire Board sagas have seen the HMBFPD Board get played too many times trying to be “fair”.  Ultimately, the responsibility for any “tragedy” resides with the Boards.  Any individual or group that stands in the way of a decision that moves the process forward is increasing the risk to the community.  The Boards have every right to balance the amount of consideration given to the opposition with the risk to the community of delaying a choice.  The outside guidance on consolidation and outsourcing has been expressed, the in house expertise is there to evaluate the options and the choices few.

If citizens wish to give input on consolidation or contracting out, they should probably give their input early in the process.  There is a HMBFPD Regular Meeting on Tuesday evening and a PMFPD Regular Meeting on Thursday evening.

Grand jury says Coastside fire districts should merge and outsource services

Mark Redman,

Mark Redman wrote:

>Like I said 7 days extra a month works out to be about 96 hours a week.

I said in my post on the red flyer “Line Staff”.  What you computed is true for Firefighter and Firefighter/Paramedics.  It is not true for Captains or Captain/Paramedics.  Captains and Captain/Paramedics are Line Staff.  Please read my previous post again.  It is confusing to talk in terms of weeks and hours.  The Line Staff works a normal cycle of two days on and four days off. That is not most peoples definition of a week. It is much cleared to talk in terms of days worked and days off.

Mark Redman wrote:

>Vince I beg you to tell me when Chief Asche and the board ever
>agreed to arrange outside coverage. I belive that to be completely
>false.

I’m not clear what you mean in these two sentences.  I did not say anything about the Board.  I was speaking about the Line Staff and
Chief Asche.  I wrote in my previous post, “From my observations at the meetings there have been times where the Shop Stewards complained about the excess overtime and there were other times like when Chief Asche arranged for outside coverage from other Departments to relieve the overtime situation and was turned down.” I stand by what I said.

As far as the rest of your statements, I have no comment.

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