UPDATED: Resumes for most Fire and Rescue Commission members

Why is there a pastor on the board? I didn’t see a mention of fire/ems systems in his resume. I don’t doubt that he could learn about it because again they seem highly qualified to do whatever they want with their lives. But what time has he spent with firefighters and EMT’s? same with jasper… thats great if we are trying to upgrade our protocols to something more progressive, however what is their agenda with the fire rescue system, what goals do they have in mind. I am not doing this as an attack, i really don’t know. I have never met them or heard their plans, so it would be nice to have their letter of intent or something along those lines.

In theory, I would think people on the commission without fire/rescue experience are supposed to represent the customers/taxpayers voices.

I understand the need for them. Believe me to have people who are untrained that you have to persuade them by presenting your argument is better than having all fire rescue people. sometimes they need to prove justification for certain things. I’m more about separation of church and state because not all religions will say the same thing and look out for the greater good instead of their agenda. That is why having a pastor on the board kinda shakes me a little, but if he can be a politician and support what he says without the “will of God” argument I see nothing wrong with that.

Any word on why though? I would really just like a statement of purpose, even if it was as small as “to look out for the greater good.”

Does Jasper even live in Spotsylvania? Last I heard he was still back and forth with here and Hotlanta(formerly known as Atlanta, Georgia).

(that was me agreeing with you Larry)

Dan, is that a new policy? Because if so, I have a few ideas!

When we talk about transparency and accountability … like when Steve talks about tax increases – people who pay taxes don’t need to be experts in Govt administration or Law Enforcement or Teaching to be “represented”.

Because they do pay taxes and they do receive the services, then they not only deserve representation but it is mandatory.

The folks who deliver the services – no matter how good they are or how professional they are or how complicated or difficult their work is – at the end of the day – would not have jobs if it were not for the folks who pay and that needs to be part ad parcel of any system that is said to be “accountable”.

So.. viewing county citizens as folks with an “agenda” is mixed up reasoning.

They are, in fact, customers and tax payers – those who pay for the services.

Dan, how bout you request emailed questions, choose a few and let incorp. into a story.

I am ok with the minority status these two bring to the table. But I am not so certain you see the bigger picture with the Hospitals. Sure any angle that shows working in conjuction with the big/only two in the area can’t hurt the EMS cause. But is this the only place we could work with the hospital staff???
And you must keep in mind one thing that WILL ring true in time…
Hospitals are FOR PROFIT institutions. Fire and EMS aren’t, a little bit of ‘the fox guarding the chickens’ IMO. I’ll leave it at that.

I’m in complete agreement with Bill. Mr. Barnes and his staff (and the BOS) have done a tremendous job pursuing the facts (as hard as they were to hear) and making appropriate (not knee-jerk) changes. Give them time to make it work.

And Dr. Bell is a well-respected member of our community who has a place on that commission, despite his lack of experience on this issue. Pastors run into all different people and situations in their line of work and I believe he can lend great perspective to the experts on that commission.

what Bill says about having a “strong” Chief – I fully support. And the BOS needs to hold him fully accountable.

Whatever the commission does – needs to be in the form of recommendations to the Chief, his superior the CA and his superior the BOS.

We need to have a top-down hierarchical structure that holds each level accountable to the level above it.

That’s a big culture change perhaps but time and events have proven that the more autonomous way of operating simply has not worked and has spawned all manner of issues.

I’m not sure exactly what finally spurred the BOS and the County Administrator to action – probably all these things coming together at the same time – but I am much relieved … and understanding that we’ve got lots of challenges still ahead.

He can have as many qualifications and certificates as he likes, but nothing can account for real experience.

How can you tell he has no experience. I am sure what they need is to get ride of the whole board in general and seek out one fire chief.

Opiniontoshare makes an excellent point. However, at the present time our “chief” does not even have a vote. In the past he was one of five and at least three consistently outvoted the other two. Was that a reasonable “check and balance?” Not in my opinion.

I have advocated a single chief and doing away with the commission. The commission I was familiar with was the former five member group. That system was NOT working.

At this time, I am quite willing to have both; with the “chief,” FULLY qualified, and absolutely in charge of the operational aspects of the service AND with a vote on the “commission.”

Now, as before, I further advocate that “we” sit back and observe while our dedicated members of F&EMS work through “this” reorganization. I predict further “fine tuning” as time passes.

Just FYI – the Sheriff is elected and the BOS can effectively decide what functions to fund or not so there is quite a bit more accountability present than there has been with FEMS who have had their supporters claim here and in other places that because they are a C3(501)c organization that they are autonomous.

that attitude says a lot to me and it had to change.

I am sure the county on both sides is sitting back and hoping it all passes over and that nothing more is brought back up. Sam you will never hear a response they want it all to blow over and go back to poor service to the county. Why do the ones that pay the same taxes in the country part of the county get less service as the citizens who live in the popular part of the county. I have looked into the way other counties have handled there fire and ems service and we are sub standard and we pay less to get the payed people to work for the county why do i want the people that the counties north and west didn’t want. From what I see as the county goes from there job advertisement they pay far less than any other counties around that doesn’t make me feel like I am getting the best service. It might be the wrong way to look at it, but I can only assume that we will pull in the wrong people at this current rate if I go to the doctor I don’t want the left over I want the first pick. I can’t help but think that if the employees that cut the grass for the county makes more than the person who is supposed to save my life or put out my house there is a problem.Why can’t we cut the money to the vol. and give it to one chief to divide up how he sees it should go to provide the best appropriate coverage!