The Falcon Fire Protection District held its regular board meeting Feb.19. All directors were present, as well as Richard Shearer and Alan Call, attorneys for the district.AgendaDirector Greg Heule moved to delete an agenda item that called for him to address comments he made in the December issue of The New Falcon Herald. Heule said no one had contacted him about being on the FFPD meeting agenda, nor did he authorize it. Director Kelly Starkman said the issue arose at the last board meeting. ìThere was a great deal of public comment on that, and I think there are some questions that the public has that theyíd like a response to,î Starkman said.ìIím more than happy to sit down with folks who are interested,î Heule said. ìHowever, Iím not going to be a part of making a circus out of our board. I would be more than happy to discuss it at other times.îThe motion passed by a 3-2 vote.New EMS reservists sworn inChief Trent Harwig introduced Shawn McFarland and Jeremy Furman, two of the newest EMS reservists who are also working to become firefighter reservists as well.Black Forest Reserve cistern projectBlack Forest Reserve HOA representative Craig Grosenheider presented a request for FFPD to fund the installation of a 30,000-gallon cistern in the Black Forest Reserve, using funds currently in the Rural Water Fund. The board voted to approve the Black Forest Reserve cistern project, with actual costs not to exceed $70,000.Public commentResident Bud Kucera said the purpose of open board meetings is not only a state requirement, but also so the public knows what the board is doing. He told Heule that, as a public servant, he should be prepared to defend his actions in public at open board meetings.Resident Terry Reed said there are a few board members who have ìconsistently failed to read agendas, prepare for board meetings, or even attend.î He said that directors Heule, Mike Smaldino and Henry Allen have their own agendas and are not serving the public. He asked Heule to resign to avoid a recall. ìIt would be in the best interest of the public,î Reed said.Resident Dick Stuart expressed his disappointment that Heule asked to be removed from the agenda. He said that if Heule continued to refuse to answer questions in public session, Stuart would invite local newspapers to review his documentation related to last yearís investigation of three chief officers. He reminded Heule of his obligation to serve the taxpayers and said, ìWe are not real happy with your performance.îResident Don Watts said that many people in the FFPD and surrounding areas want to know whatís going on in the district. ìIím not here looking for a fight,î Watts said. ìIím just looking for some answers.îHeule provided his phone number for anyone to call and talk to him any time. ìThe offerís there, itís been there all along.îTreasurer’s reportWith 8 percent of the fiscal year complete as of Jan. 31, the budget is on track. Harwig said property tax revenue starts coming in during February, and revenue from special ownership taxes is still more than originally anticipated. Expenditures include the lease purchase payment for Station 1; the annual workerís compensation insurance payment; and subscription services and association fees that are paid in January each year. The Rural Water Fund balance is $90,468.Chief’s reportThe first employee training session on the new membersí handbook was held Feb. 19. Shearer said he felt the training helped members better understand whatís in the handbook and provided perspective on why some information was included.FFPD is still in negotiations with the county Emergency Services Agency regarding county ambulance service. Harwig attended a stakeholder meeting Feb. 8 and said American Medical Response was the only bidder for county transport service. He noted that FFPD and Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District account for about 60 percent of county transports. FFPD has also met independently with AMR to discuss response times and staffing. Harwig said he doesnít see any reason the new contract would look different than the current one, but patient costs will likely increase. The current ambulance contract expires April 1.Attorney’s reportShearer said he and Harwig met with other fire district chiefs Jan. 24 to discuss the possibility of jointly pursuing a declaratory judgment regarding the 2009 International Fire Code adoption. The chiefs are supportive of this action, which would clarify the rights of fire districts and county boards in adopting fire codes. ìWe just need the court as a neutral party to make a decision,î Shearer said. The FFPD board directed Shearer and Call to move forward on this issue.Pension boardAll trustees were present except for Cory Galicia, who was granted an excused absence. Confirmation was received from FFPA regarding the new pension benefit amounts previously approved by the pension board. The fourth-quarter report showed the pension fund is doing well.Executive sessionThe board adjourned for an executive session during which no actions were taken, and the meeting was reconvened.Second public commentTerry Reed asked why it took more than a month from the date that the Mountain States Employers Council was first contacted last year for the boardís president and vice president to learn that an investigation was about to begin.Dick Stuart invited Heule to stay after the meeting to answer questions from the public.Resident Phyllis Anderson requested that Heule be prepared to answer questions in public. ìWe all need to know what his answers are,î she said.Resident Rick Wildman said that board members took an oath to look out for the best interests of the taxpayers and asked, ìAre you really representing the taxpayer, the citizen; the people of this district?î
