With the May election completed and certified, the Falcon Fire Protection District’s board of directors welcomed two of the three new members at the regularly scheduled board meeting in May. New board members take oathOutgoing board president Mike Collins swore in two of the three newly elected board members: Dan Kupferer and Bobby Sorden were both elected for four-year terms. Greg Heule, who was also elected to a four-year term, was not present and will be sworn in at the June board meeting.Election of new board officersThe new board of directors took nominations and held an election for officer positions on the board. Kelly Starkman, the previous vice president, was elected to take Collins’ place as president. Kupferer was elected to vice president. Phil Theodore was re-elected to board treasurer and Sorden was elected as board secretary. Heule will serve as a director.Collins made a statement regarding his time served on the board: ìI’d like to thank the current board for its support of not only myself but the citizens of Falcon. I consider it an honor and privilege to serve on this board. I really appreciate the support I got through those tough times and want to thank all of the members of the fire department in Falcon.îTraining lieutenant job descriptionThe proposal for a new training-lieutenant position was first brought before the board in April. At the May meeting, Chief Trent Harwig brought everyone on the board up to speed.The training lieutenant would work side by side with Glenn Levy, part-time division chief of training, Harwig said. The position would allow for current lieutenants to rotate through the training-lieutenant position to gain the knowledge and expertise that Levy brings to the department, he said. The lieutenants would then filter that knowledge down through the ranks, providing consistency in skills and training methods, Harwig said.Each lieutenant rotating through the training-lieutenant position would hold his or her new place for a predetermined amount of time, which leaves a gap in the lieutenant position formerly held by the training lieutenant, and creates a need to hire a new lieutenant, Harwig said.Several board members expressed concern about adding another salaried position to the FFPD, particularly in the wake of the mill levy increase passed last November. ìThe three major things we asked for with the mill levy was to resupply our staff, update things like garage doors and security systems and establish a training division,î Harwig said. ìWe’re lacking in our training, specifically in officer development, which is what this position would be.îìThis proposal does create a new position, but I consider it an investment,î Levy said. ìIíve looked at ways to create a similar model without creating a new position, but we’d actually be hurting the duty crews because they would be down one person.îLevy said the model would allow the training lieutenant to spend half of his or her time working with him to get the necessary training, and the other half would be spent implementing that training.Harwig said the FFPD’s budget allows for the position.Kupferer said he was concerned that a training lieutenant wouldn’t be responding to emergency calls, but Levy said, ìThis position would serve the citizens first (as an emergency responder) but it will also bring the staff the leadership and training it needs as well.îThe discussion was tabled until the June meeting.2009 IFC adoption issuesHarwig updated the board on the current status of the adoption of the 2009 International Fire Code and said that the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners was considering putting the item back on the agenda for June.However, Harwig said he wasn’t sure what they were planning to bring back. The housing and building association still has the FFPD’s proposed amendments to the 2009 IFC, which includes a section that requires sprinklers in new houses larger than 6,000 square feet. Harwig said he thinks the BOCC wants that proposal back so progress can be made.ìI believe they’re going to bring back what we brought them, with the exception of that one amendment,î Harwig said.To make sure all the board members were informed of the issues, board attorney Rick Shearer summarized the events of the last few months.The issue is at a standstill until the HBA sends the proposal back to the BOCC and the commissioners put it on their agenda.Other district newsThe pension board met during a recess to discuss the first quarter report.Harwig said the 2008 membersí handbook update was still in the works and he was planning to meet with Shearer to have something to bring before the board in June.The health and wellness committee update was tabled until the June board meeting; Kupferer said he hoped the board could bring it back as an action item in July.
