HMB Fire District stayed from contracting with CalFire

An appeals court has granted Half Moon Bay firefighters’ request to halt contracting-out of district services until a final decision on their appeal, reports the County Times.

The firefighters union said it hopes to reverse an Aug. 8 ruling by San Mateo County Superior Court. Judge Marie S. Weiner ruled that the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara Fire Protection districts were within their rights to reject a petition submitted by firefighters who wanted a public referendum on the question of contracting with Cal Fire. In so doing, she cleared the way for the fire districts to proceed with a one-year contract with Cal Fire, to be signed on Oct. 1.

Five days later, the firefighters union appealed the decision.

The court’s stay order throws into question the immediate future plans of a fire district riven by discord between firefighters and the board of directors. Faced with high attrition and spiraling overtime expenses, the joint boards of directors chose to save up to a million dollars a year by contracting with Cal Fire.

The contract will be delayed until after the November election, where it is certain to be the central issue.