Change for better service and support of our professional firefighters.

By David Eufusia

There are serious problems in the Fire District characterized by accountibility, communication, leadership, teamwork, and uniforms standards for all employees.

In the past month I visited every fire station on all shifts and talked with virtually all Captains and Firefighters andd all the Chief Officers. I responded on several emergency calls with the fire engine crew. We are fortunate to have some great people in our fire department committed to serving and protecting us all.

But there are serious problems. Will the Point Montara Fire District follow through with its decision to end its contract with the Half Moon Bay Fire District? Will there be further grievences and law suites associated with the way the department is managed? Will the severity and number of disability and leave cases increase? Will the internal friction, distrust, and termoil continue and become increasing more severe? I think the answer is an unqualified YES unless there are major changes.

The Point Montara Fire Protection District is asked to turn over all its resources to Half Moon Bay for the provision of specific services yet have nothing to say as to how those resources are used. Point Montara Fire Board must be asked and encouraged to be involved not ignored and stonewalled at every attempt to properly represent the citizens of their fire district. A number of long term options exist including: 1) a single coastside fire district, 2) a Joint Powers Agency composed of both districts, 3) a significantly different contractual relationship between the two districts, and 4) two seperate fire districts as we had prior to 1998. The Point Montara Fire Board must be enthusiastically included in the activities of the Half Moon Bay Fire Board right now and work must begin immediately to find a permanent solution that involves BOTH fire districts providing services and functioning as one agency.

I believe there are current and outstanding issues facing the Half Moon Bay Fire District right now that the community is unaware of and that will only increase the number and severity of problems facing the district. So when we hear the word accountability, communication, leadership, teamwork, and uniform standards there is a reason. These are not idle words meant to promote political support. I have heard these words from the firefighters who are frustated and eager to see things change. Frustrated and disheartened that they must work in an environment void of the values so adamently espoused by the administration and the board yet so void in the operations and management of the fire district.

We have a lot to be proud of in our fire district. We do not want to sit by idly while we loose the quality services we have nor do we want an approach to providing fire and life safety services which seperates our departments in a less efficient, effective, and productive way.

Take the time to become informed about your fire department long enough to select those people to serve on your board who will put your needs and the needs of all our firefighters first. Visit your fire station, talk to your employees, check "smartvoter.org", read the news, watch the League of Women Voters debate for the Fire District election on MCTV, and then on November 4 expect those people you elect to resolve these issues.