HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0204 (2)Johnson said clause #3 was nonnegotiable.
Conley, the Shepherds VFD Board of Directors President, said the firemen were
independent contractors, as stated in clause #8. He asked why the board of directors'
composition had to be in the contract, especially since they were independent
contractors. He said, "We told you back in August that we would make an attempt to
get more community members involved, get our chiefs off the board, because we
understand this is a good business practice, but we don't want to enter into a contractual
obligation as far as that goes. That's not good business sense as far as we are
concerned. What you are telling us, on number three, is that we don't have good
business sense -- as fire fighters we are taxpayers just like anyone else. While we agree
we need more people from the community, it's finding level-headed people who are
willing to donate their time to do that. We have been looking, and we have things in the
works, but we, and I'm speaking on behalf of our board that met last night, we are not
willing to enter into a contractual obligation to do that. We can amend our bylaws, and
we can make adjustments towards that, but at this juncture, we are not prepared to do
that. We have one member that's not a member of our department." Conley said his
department's bylaws required that all three chiefs serve on the board.
Johnson asked how many members were on the Shepherd's board.
Conley said eleven.
Johnson said that left eight that did not have to be chiefs.
Conley asked why it had to be in a contract. He mentioned that the new contract
referred to the firemen or the department as independent contractors. Conley said he
agreed with this terminology -- the department was an independent contractor with the
county.
Chairman Johnson said his interest about the VFD board composition was due to
some citizens complaining about the way their tax funds had been used.
Conley said no citizens had complained to him. He said that as President of the
Shepherds VFD Board of Directors, it was his signature needed on the contract. Conley
said he had not been involved in any discussions concerning the new contract.
Johnson asked how much time Shepherds needed to become complaint with
clause #3 in the contract.
Conley said this was up to the community. He asked about the individuals who
had been complaining. Conley asked if they would volunteer to be members on the
board of directors.
Johnson said it wasn't his job to recruit the VFD board members. He said
civilian oversight was over most military or municipal organizations (police
departments, U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines) and there were reasons for this.
Johnson said the people who provided the oversight could look at the organizations on
an objective basis.
Conley said he agreed.
Johnson asked how long it would take, then, to become compliant.
Conley asked why there had to be a contractual obligation. He said that if the
contract were signed, there was an obligation to comply.