IFPD and Zoll Medical equipment

At special Saturday meeting, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District commission decided to explore options for financing the purchase of the Zoll Medical equipment originally ordered in September 2008.

Commission President Jeannine Charles-Stigall told the board that Zoll was adamant that a legitimate purchase order and transaction had occurred. Despite returning the equipment, IFPD must still complete the transaction with payment.

However, Zoll is willing to upgrade the software (a $10,000 value), replace all batteries, offer the standard four-year warranty from now, apply no storage fees for the equipment shipped back to Zoll or late penaties and a give $2,500 discount if the District provides payment by March 5, according to Stigall.

In general, the board was satisfied with the Zoll’s offer; however, Commissioner and Treasurer Ben Killingsworth expressed concern about the form of payment. He is reluctant to use all of the District’s contingency funds for this one action because of several other pending budget demands such as new radio equipment, audit bills, additional equipment for the station and personnel actions such as completion of the Fire Chief Steve Kunkle’s retirement.

Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly, a chiropractor, shared his view that there are companies who specialize in purchasing and leasing medical equipment. This is one option the commission will explore.

Once the Zoll equipment is purchased, including new defibrillators, staff will need training. Also, IFPD must still obtain approval from the Riverside County emergency Medical Services Agency to use the Autopluse equipment. This is a strap placed around the thorax. It automatic performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The commission second item of business involved a closed session about Kunkle’s retirement costs. Before determining the amount of annual and sick leave owed to the chief, the commission says it needs to ascertain whether his time of service is just time at IFPD or his entire fire career.

Also it was noted that the estimate cost presented at the Feb. 17 special meeting, seemed to overstate his annual leave benefit. The contract or memorandum of understanding between IFPD and Kunkle appears to limit the accumulation of annual leave to 288 hours (one year’s total). The initial estimate of payout was fro 372 hours.

IFPD, the times, they are a changin'

Change can occur quickly, sometimes almost instantly and sometimes slower. The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) is embracing change at a pace between revolutionary and evolutionary.

In August, three incumbent commissioners were defeated for re-election. In Decmber, the new commissioners took officer. Last night, at their second regular, but fourth meeting, since begin sworn into office, the commission took and deferred several actions that continue their journey down the change path.

Without opposition, Jeannine Charles-Stigall, elected as a fire commissioner in August, was chosen as the new commission president. Pete Capparelli, also a new commissioner will be her vice president and Commissioner Ben Killingsworth was unanimously re-elected as the commission secretary and treasurer.

The election of officers was delayed from the first action item on the agenda to the last item. Former President Paul Riggi was delayed until almost 8 p.m.

Riggi discussed the merit of rotating the officer positions so that all the commissioners understood the responsibilities and significance of the jobs.

Stigall’s first official action was closing the marathon meeting — almost four hours.

Another action, or perhaps, non-action may portend a more significant change in the future. Killingsworth made a motion to renew Fire Chief Steve Kunkle’s contract through the remainder of this fiscal year, ending June 30. None of the three other commissioners (this occurred before Riggi arrived) made a second and the motion died with no action.

Kunkle’s most recent contract expired June 30, 2009. Since then he has been serving without any signed contract. Killingsworth wanted to extend the current contract until the commission could formally evaluate Kunkle’s performance and make a decision on renewing it for a longer term.

The commission now seems to be in the situation where it can reconsider Killingsworth’s plan, continue with no action or meet and try to negotiate something else including no renewal.

The commission also established an ad Hoc committee, composed of Killingsworth and Capparelli, to review the financial officer’s contract and activities. This could lead to recommendations to revise the current relationship between IFPD and The Family Business.

Killingsworth will also lead an evaluation of IFPD’s management and supervision practices.

IFPD budget debate continues

The special meeting of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) commission resulted in no action and a continuation of the budget watching until next week’s meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12.

“I thought we’re here to address the budget,” said Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly. “I am quite frustrated to come to meeting and just go over the budget and don’t do anything.”

Schelly expressed this concern after Chairman Paul Riggi announced that the session would be only a budget review and without any action requiring a vote.

Despite the absence of Commissioner and Treasurer Ben Killingsworth, who has expressed strong concern about the district’s budget strength, Fire Chief Steve Kunkle said, “We’re [the budget] spot on.”

His current budget recommendations project a positive $1,400 balance on June 30, 2010, at the end of the current fiscal year. However, Kunkle admitted that good fortune had smiled on the district.

As a result of joining the county’s Teeter Plan which will provide some protection for future tax revenues, the county reviewed past years and discovered $138,000 of past due tax receipts.

“I was quite surprised,” Kunkle noted. “I’m gratified, but it is one time only.”

This unplanned windfall substantially insures the budget for the remainder of the year, according to Kunkle. He also recommended budget adjustments of about $14,000. The largest was a $30,000 reduction in the career salaries account due to former Capt. James Manietta’s retirement. He also recommended reducing his Contingency Account by $10,000 from $28,250 to $18,250, and paramedic training from $7,500 to $4,500.

His $14,000 in adjustments plus the unexpected $138,000 creates a budget projected to have $1,400 surplus. But, Kunkle’s proposal makes no provision for paying for the Zoll Medical equipment, if it is kept, or any other costs that may occur as a result of returning the equipment, such as a restocking fee or legal costs.

Since the commission did not yet know the final resolution and its concomitant cost, these funds could not yet be included in the budget process.

Questions were also raised about the status of the agency’s reserves. Since Dec. 2008, IFPD’s reserves have fallen almost $225,000 (or 40 percent). Much of that money, according to the Craig Coopersmith, IFPD’s financial officer, was used for cash until the property tax revenues were received last month. Those deposits will restore the previous levels.

But $170,000 has been “borrowed” from the Benefits and Capital Reserve Accounts without any prior discussion with the commission. In addition, nearly $32,000 of Benefit reserves was used to pay for unused vacation.

Earlier in the meeting, Schelly expressed his concern about the continuing growth of IFPD’s budget. He expressed doubt that tax revenues would continue to grow at the same rate as in the past three to five years.

“If we keep that projection, we won’t have revenues to meet the budget,” he warned. We can’t keep setting the budget higher and higher. We won’t have the revenues.”

In response, Kunkle said he felt very comfortable wit his current five-year projections and recommendations for additional staff.