Fire boards vote to negotiate contract with CDF


By on Thu, August 17, 2006

The Half Moon Bay and Point Montara Fire Protection District boards of directors voted to move forward on contracting out fire services with the California Department of Forestry.

The chiefs from CDF and San Mateo Fire Department were on hand to answer questions about their outsourcing proposals from the boards. The meeting lasted nearly four hours, from 5pm to 9pm. Firefighters and their friends and families filled out a packed meeting in the garage of the HMB fire station. The firefighters and their supporters applauded those who spoke against outsourcing to either CDF or the San Mateo Fire Department.

Observers were unable to read the mood of the boards as they asked questions of the chiefs proposing to take over the districts’ fire services, but when it came time to vote, it became clear that the boards had decided to make a decision. The process was dramatic.

The Half Moon Bay board acted first.

HMB board member Dave Eufusia moved that the boards set up a work committee made up of board members, staff and firefighters to review the proposals from CDF and SMFD and come up with more detailed answers to their questions. It failed for lack of second. Director Gary Burke, saying "To maintain the status quo is not an option," moved that the HMB board direct its staff to prepare a letter of intent to negotiate with the CDF.  It was seconded, and directors Burke, Jerry Donovan, Bert Silva, and Lane Lees voted yes. Eufusia voted no.

Then the Point Montara board acted. Director Gary Riddell, saying that the reason "we’re solvent and they’re not"—looking directly at the Half Moon Bay board—was that Point Montara pays attention to finances. He said that HMB director Eufusia had uncovered $400,000 is discrepancies in the CDF proposal and that he didn’t have enough information about either consolidation or outsourcing to approve either course of action.  Riddell moved that the Point Montara board set up the same style of work committee rejected by the HMB board. His motion was not seconded. Director Ginny McShane moved that the Point Montara board "accept the CDF proposal" and begin to negotiate—essentially the same motion approved by the HMB board.  Directors McShane and Bruce McKimmie voted yes. Director Riddell voted no.

During the public comment meeting, Edwin Hawkins, president of the San Mateo County Firefighters Local 2400 told the directors that if they voted for consolidation, the union would collect signatures to hold a referendum on the decision.