Seeley Lake Fire Chief Dave Lane (right) with new members and their wives. Their wives pinned on their badges after they recited their oath. Pictured (L-R): Erica and Marcelo Gonzalez and Nathan and Tabitha Bailey.
Erica Gonzalez and Tabitha Bailey pin the badges on their husbands who were officially sworn in July 21.
SEELEY LAKE – At their July 21 meeting, the Seeley Lake Fire District Board welcomed two new members to the department and learned about a shift in dispatching procedure with Missoula Emergency Services, Inc (MESI) and Life Flight. They also heard from a member of the public who questioned the professionalism of the department staff.
Nathan Bailey and Marcelo Gonzalez were sworn in as members of the department after finishing their probation.
"This welcomes you to our family," said Chief Dave Lane. "This will be done every time we get new members coming in off of probation ... and represents how we feel about our new people."
Lane reported that there are two more new members working on their task books. He expects that they will complete their initial requirements in the next three months.
Lane informed the board that following a meeting July 21 with MESI, Life Flight, the District's Medical Director and the Director of Emergency Services, MESI and Life Flight will no longer be automatically dispatched to Seeley Lake for Advanced Life Support (ALS) calls. Instead, MESI will respond as mutual aid resource when requested and Life Flight will be on standby when an ALS call is dispatched.
"In my mind, these are changes that are going to reduce public safety issues by not having multiple resources from multiple agencies responding to the same call," said Lane. "It gives the same patient care people have been getting for the last two years. The only difference is how they are dispatched."
During public comment, community member Alyssa McLean brought up several issues she felt the board should address. She requested they be put on the agenda for discussion next month.
McLean told the board that on Tuesday, July 7 she was off work and she made a post on her personal and private Facebook page. The post stated her personal opinion about the current employment of the fire chief.
"Nowhere on my post do I mention my own place of employment or defame anyone," said McLean.
McLean claimed that on the morning of Thursday, July 9, an employee of the department left a voicemail on her boss's personal, unlisted cell phone number. On the message, the individual represented them self as an entity of the department, called from the fire house phone and called during the department's office hours.
McLean summarized the message, claiming it offered a veiled threat about McLean's personal opinions affecting her employer's business and mentioned professionalism.
"This is harassment and completely inappropriate and unprofessional behavior by this department, " said McLean.
McLean said she had a right to voice her personal opinion and recommended the Department adapt to social media and public opinion. She also said she consulted her attorney and the board should expect correspondence.
"In my opinion it is laughable that this department would preach professionalism to me when the [employee] is using department resources to bully members of the community," said McLean.
McLean accused the Department of showing a pattern of mismanagement and unprofessional behavior.
"It is my opinion and observation that your pride and egos mean more to you than the lives in this community," said McLean. "It's also my opinion that playing dirty and trying to sabotage multiple members of the community by calling their employers will not intimidate or silence me."
The board offered no response to McLean's comments.
The next board meeting is Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall. For more information and the agenda visit seeleyfire.org.
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