At the CFPD Board meeting held May 12, 2011 New Business Agenda item #9 was moved forward prior to Public comment allowing Murphy’s Fire Chief Steve Kovacs to give a brief presentation on a possible Administration Management Contract between Copperopolis Fire Protection District and Murphy’s Fire. Currently the District is utilizing an unspecified amount of funds to conduct a hiring process for a part time Chief, causing a citizen to question the board as to who initiated the communication with Murphy’s Fire while currently conducting interviews for a part time Chief position. Director Steve Marks claimed to have approached Chief Kovacs regarding the issue of possible management sharing. However, timing may be called into question as rumor has it that Chief Kovacs has also submitted his application for the part time Chief position with CFPD. Director Andress stated that there were qualified personnel that had applied for the position, but when asked if Mr. Kovacs was one of the applicants he declined to comment
A resident questioned the Board if the public should be listening to what seemed to be contract negotiations. Assured by the Board that this was a presentation not negotiations, she then asked Chief Kovacs how he intended to handle the job of Chief for two locations not in close geographic proximity. Kovacs stated that he was a part-time Chief at Murphy’s Fire and would be able to “divide duties – lots of left over time.” (Note: Currently Ebbetts Pass Fire also lists Steve Kovacs as paid staff, as their ‘B’ shift Battalion Chief. He has publicly listed his job experience as 20 years with Murphy’s Fire and 29 years with Ebbett’s Pass Fire.) The resident then expressed concern about “being the red-headed step-child” with regards to the service Copperopolis may receive. Kovacs assured her that any contract signed with Murphy’s Fire would include the 7 personnel under him that came with qualifications including training, operations, fire marshal, and wildland fire. Still questioning how binding the contract would be with regards to the team of 7 people and “confused how you can run two Districts” Kovacs replied “contracts don’t work that way.” Stating the Board of Directors would stay intact and that he (Kovacs) would receive his directives from the Board. Director Andress stated that the Boards only duties were to manage the budget and the policies.
Kovacs vaguely outlined intentions to set up a contract with paramedics to meet the districts needs and stated that he “would seamlessly integrate his management team into the program.” This comment had Monty Crigler question if this was a merger or a contract. Director Andress said it was not a merger and that it was only a consideration at this time.
A comment from a board member was made about the inability of one part-time Chief to “fix our department.” It was quickly pointed out that it can be done and has been done in our own County by Chief Siligo of Foothill Fire, a part-time Chief that turned a department around, raising standards, moral, and the Departments reputation. Ed Gouzenne said, “I’m old school…I know it can be done” referring to rebuilding of what he termed the “brotherhood” quickly adding sisterhood to his thoughts spoken out loud. “We owe it to the community” to fix this, said Firefighter Nick Maness taking the opportunity to share the advancements and commitment some of the CFPD volunteers possess.
While it was not apparent if this presentation was considered a cost effective strategy or a cost cutting process, as no dollar amounts were ever discussed, the Board has opted to have a clear proposal from Murphy’s Fire for contract administrative management services placed on the next agenda.
Chairman Maness and Director Cheney were not present at the meeting but at press time Chairman Maness was contacted by phone and stated “This presentation comes at a questionable time.” Maness also pointed out that the current part-time Jenny Lind Fire Chief “has been very effective” as a part-time Chief of a Department that also was in need of, what was earlier termed, “fixing.” Director Cheney was contacted via phone yet declined to make a comment.
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