Seeley Lake Fire Board
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Fire Board discussed late rent payment, OSHA compliance and the new operations manual Fire Chief Dave Lane is compiling at the monthly meeting May 15. Interim Chief Michael Greer also addressed a letter to the board regarding a complaint alleging a misuse of taxpayer funds while using the district command vehicle in a pilot car operation May 12.
Lane noticed in studying the Fire Department’s financials that they have not received a rent payment for Station 2 for the fiscal year. The facility is rented to Missoula County. They are invoiced for $600 per month for utility reimbursement and $24,000 for the year lease.
“That is causing quite an impact on our district,” said Lane.
The board agreed that board chair Scott Kennedy would contact the county and it would be on next month’s agenda.
Lane has been bringing the department up to OSHA compliance and increasing the safety of the department. To comply with an OSHA requirement, all of the Exit signs in the building were replaced since none of them worked.
Lane also told the board that they don’t have a Respiratory Compliance Program, protecting members from bad atmosphere.
“That is what the [Self Contained Breathing Apparatus] do but there is nothing in the policies that says how you will do it and the documentation for training,” said Lane. “In doing this there is a large financial piece.”
Lane explained to fit-test volunteers to insure their gear fits properly is $12,000-$13,000. Missoula Rural is willing to send their people with their equipment to test the district volunteers. While Lane offered to reimburse them, he was told they are happy to get out of the office.
“That huge expense is covered. We will be compliant,” said Lane. “They also want to look at our program to make sure they are compliant.”
After careful inspection, Lane pulled the Type VI wildland engine out of service because of fractures in the frame.
He presented the board with photos of the frame of the truck and photos of the shackles where they have separated from the frame. The shackles are what hold the rear wheels to the frame.
Lane suggested they repair it and make it into a plow truck, since plowing cost the district more than $5,000 this past winter.
Recognizing the importance of having a wildland engine for the community and as a revenue source for the department, Lane presented the board with a few replacement options that were less than $50,000 and fit within the acquisition budget. He feels that the rest of the equipment will need to be upgraded in the next three-five years but there is nothing more pressing than the Type VI.
Vice-chair Gary Lewis asked about the possibility of resale. Lane said that financially it won’t make as much money as using it as a plow truck at the station.
The board tabled the vote until the next meeting.
Lane said he reviewed the department’s policy manual and called it “a mess. It is hard to find anything. There is a lot of stuff in the works but it is in different places.”
Lane informed the board that he has been compiling a new manual with the Standard Operating Procedures and Standard Operating Guidelines, job descriptions and everything needed for the district to function. He is making it a standard format, make it easy to follow and make it more practical.
“It’s going to be a working document and it’s never going to quit changing,” said Lane. “Some of what [has already been done by Greer] is being reorganized, some of it is being reworded and other pieces are being reformatted. Everything right now is all over the place. I’m putting one binder together.”
Kristy Pohlman presented the board with a letter raising concerns regarding a house moving operation Saturday, May 12 where the Seeley Lake Fire Department’s Command Vehicle 710 driven by Greer was used as the rear pilot car. It also included screen shots of responses Greer made to a Facebook post regarding the operation.
Greer addressed the letter saying that it provides “half information, pull things out of context, does not provide all the relevant facts to try to disparage me personally and the department and has been the case [from Pohlman] since I pretty much got here.”
Greer said Kody Kelley, a member of the department, requested him to help move his trailer house. The department did not do it, nor was Greer in uniform or paid for his time. Greer wrote in the Facebook posts he was not dedicated to the operation and should an emergency call happen, he would respond since he was the only medic in town available to respond and no one else could fill his position.
Pohlman claimed in her letter that that red lights and back directional lights were used which according to Montana State Law is illegal.
Greer said he duct taped the red lights on 710 so only the rear facing yellow ambers showed, because “I am familiar with the laws…I used the amber lights because they were there and it seemed to be much safer.”
The lead pilot car, although it was a fire truck with overhead lights, was a personal vehicle that is according to Greer, not a licensed fire truck or a district vehicle. Greer said he discussed with the driver and they agreed to not use the overhead emergency lights except for the flashing ambers.
“Not tax payer dollars, not violating laws as far as that is concerned and not done on department time,” said Greer.
Pohlman wrote that it is illegal to be moving something like this without permits, or on a weekend.
Kelley, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that he had all the proper permits and was legal to move the trailer on Saturday.
Pohlman stated in her letter, “Greer followed these bad choices as a chief, and a role model for our community up with more bad choices as he plastered Facebook.”
Greer pointed out that the Facebook posts given to the board do not include the original post that Greer said read, “The department doesn’t have time to fill sandbags for people but if you need a wide load moved they are the people to do it.”
He felt that the person who posted the photos and started the discussion has gone out of their way to insinuate that the Seeley Lake Fire Department is not doing enough through other posts of Missoula Rural’s sandbagging operations. Greer said that he coordinated the efforts with Team Rubicon and the Seeley Lake Leos’ Club the weekend of May 5-6 to fill more than 600 sandbags. That was more than anyone, at the time, was doing in Missoula.
“The department itself cannot fill sandbags. That was made clear through Disaster and Emergency Services,” said Greer. “We can’t provide something for free that someone else charges for. Through generous local businesses and my effort to coordinate those businesses, those piles are there. The sandbags that we have are through my efforts to coordinate that with DES.”
Greer reiterated that he is on call 24/7 and responds 24/7 when he is home. In his contract it says that he can use 710 all of the time.
Pohlman questioned whether Greer takes 710 when he visits his family in Hamilton and who pays for the gas in his personal excursions.
“No, I do not take 710 when I go to Hamilton to visit my family,” said Greer. “I don’t take personal excursions in 710 so nobody pays for the gas. I’m not spending taxpayer dollars on my personal jaunts.”
Greer acknowledged that he burned some gas helping a friend on a weekend in 710.
“No matter what I’m doing, when I’m in this town, if the pager goes off I drop it and I respond,” said Greer. “If doing things on my time is simply doing things using 710 for community members and other members of the department is inappropriate then maybe I misunderstand what this job and this department is about.”
Vice-chair Gary Lewis said no, Greer is suppose to be in the vehicle and the board knows he will have little errands to run, “We should just treat this [comment] as what it is. It’s a dig,” said Lewis.
Following Greer’s response, Andi Bourne with the Pathfinder confirmed that the overhead red lights on the lead pilot fire engine were used during the length of the operation on Highway 83.
Chief Dave Lane and the board agreed that proper use of overhead lights would be addressed with the membership. The board agreed no response was needed.
In other business:
• Kelley representing the Seeley Lake Volunteer Fire Foundation, presented the board trustees with reflective black jackets with SLRFD Trustee on the back to recognize their work for the district.
• The district purchased wooden cubbies and gear bags for the members to store their turnouts, however, the intent is the turnouts are with the members as much as possible. This saved $2,000 from the original estimate of $5,000 for the metal lockers and will serve the purpose of keeping the turnout material from being degraded by the lights and to improve the aesthetics of the station.
• The district will be testing their oxygen tanks to ensure they meet the requirements.
• Lane requested half of his $5,000 in moving expenses be reimbursed because he moved up here on very little notice. This was not included in his contract or discussed when he was hired. Greer said it was not uncommon for a professional job. The decision was tabled until board members Scott Kennedy and Rita Rossi were present.
• There will be a community Open House and Pinning Ceremony to welcome Chief Dave Lane June 2 starting at 12 p.m. The community is invited.
• Lewis and Connie Clark were sworn in for another three-year term.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be June 19 at 6 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall. All agendas and special meetings will be posted at http://www.seeleyfire.org.
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