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California Departments Agree to Share Training Officer
ALLISON WHITE
Eureka Times Standard
Humboldt Fire Protection District No. 1 board members voted Tuesday night to share with the Eureka Fire Department the cost and time of a training officer.
The current training officer for EFD, Chris Jelinek, is the top pick and should begin splitting his time between the two fire departments Aug. 1, said Humboldt Fire Chief Ken Woods.
"Both agencies felt we didn't each need a separate training officer," Woods said. "We work so close together anyhow, this will only strengthen our relationship."
The two agencies had discussed the 60 percent-40 percent split of Jelinek's position in previous joint meetings and Humboldt Fire finalized the deal Tuesday. EFD has more personnel and so will pay 60 percent of the $53,000 salary and also receive 60 percent of Jelinek's time. Humboldt Fire will pick up the rest and get 40 percent of his time, Woods said.
One of the perks of sharing a training officer is the savings, said Assistant Fire Chief Bill Gillespie of EFD.
"It helps both departments in hard economic times plus (we'll) have a quality product," Gillespie said.
Jelinek currently trains EFD in "a little bit of everything" to keep up with federal and state mandates. The training also is "keeping us fresh," Gillespie said.
Jelinek has been a training officer in Humboldt County for roughly 13 years. The remaining details of the one-year contract are currently being worked out between Humboldt Fire and EFD.
Copyright 2009 Times - Standard
All Rights Reserved
July 23, 2009
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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Why stop there.
Union-Tribune Editorial
A better fire department
Three East County cities moving toward alliance
2:00 a.m. July 12, 2009
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Ababy step toward an alliance of three East County fire departments will be taken Wednesday. Lemon Grove division chief Daryn Drum assumes the duties of a vacant duty officer position in El Cajon.
El Cajon will achieve savings of $150,000 a year. Lemon Grove and La Mesa fire officials won't have to be on call for those middle-of-the night emergency inquiries.
For six months the three cities have explored ways to share functions and cut costs through an alliance. Santee was invited but decided to drop out.
Municipal teams meet weekly to consider nine functions that could be consolidated, providing better service while saving taxpayers money. Eliminating administrative overlaps is just one. Fire investigations, fleet purchasing and maintenance, paramedic training, community education, and different approaches to fire prevention and suppression are being discussed. A comprehensive proposal is expected in 45 days.
Efforts have been made to combine East County fire units for a quarter-century. Some districts have consolidated, and a regional approach to dispatch and training has been successful. Merging other operations among the incorporated cities, however, has been frustratingly out of reach. Don't blame the fire professionals – the attempts have foundered on the political side.
But conditions are different now. Municipal finances grow more dire each day. The political will seems present, the result of elected leaders and key managers working hard to build relationships. In the current low-key approach, proponents suggest gradual change. Wait for impending retirements so vacant slots on organizational charts, not people, can be shifted or eliminated.
Technically, progress is being made toward a joint powers agreement, not a consolidation of departments. If successful, the three cities will retain local control while contributing money and resources through an agreed-upon formula.
Fire professionals such as El Cajon Chief Mike Scott are enthusiastic but reluctant to articulate what many hope: That an East County alliance could become a model for other cities. Using irregular or compact city boundaries to dictate the placement of emergency resources throughout the region is quite inefficient.
But first things first. This effort is what it is: An attempt to do more for less in El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove.
We cheer the first step.
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