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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03081988 - S.9 TO: „BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra Costa DATE: March 8, 1988 County SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR STATUS REPORT FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE ON THE BYRON FIRE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT AUDIT TEAM SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION 1 . Request a status report from the County Administrator on the Byron Fire District Management Audit Team by April 1, 1988. 2. Extend the Management Audit Team for the Byron Fire Protection District for another year to work through the planning and administrative issues of the district with the district and its commissioners. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: I called for a Management Audit Team after receiving correspondence from the Byron Fire Commission' and the Discovery Bay Property Owners Assocation. The letters from the Byron Fire Commission, dated February 17, 1986 and from the Discovery Bay Property Owners Association, dated September 18, 1986, criticized the performance of the Fire Chief. The issues contained in these letters were looked into by the Management Audit Team. Most of the issues have been investigated or resolved. Several important ones are still being worked on. Each item of concern deserves a written response. I have recommended, along with Chief Papadakos, that the fire district have a regular liaison with the Discovery Bay Property . Owners Association and with the Byron Chamber Commerce to assist in the area of community relations and gathering input for important planning decisions to be made in the months ahead. Last February, I established a task force to define the Byron Fire District' s five-year and ten-year plans. (Please refer to attachments for additional information) . TT:gro Attachments CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON March 8, 1988 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X REFERRED to Internal Operations Committee. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT III, IV ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: Internal Operations Committee ATTESTED Byron FPD Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of County Administrator Supervisors and CourIty Administrator M382/7-83 BY DEPUTY FfB D -19(9 Date: Uat.c_: 17 February 1986 I.(::m or l ak:si rt . Supervisor A. The Commissioners ,r.hers , Byron Fire Protect.i on Ui str-ct. _ _... .. jert: Fire l':hief= Mick: F'apad ak:os Fhi Commission (( eL :in E;:c:: _ut:.i.ve Session on Thursday, February u, 1986 to .: :: i:.l_I s Si t.(1 e qualifications o.r Mr . F'e3 f.)a Lj a k o:io in t'l 1 ...+ (:)O s 1 't.1•f.31") j<a s Fire (_.fi 1 f._.i' .:;; this District . This evaluation meeting was precipitated ;by a request: W . a .lad:a.c(.::_, to his permanent Sala level increased. It way the _.',,;s:;F-nsu:=: t;-t' t:.t-;n group t:l-iaL . although he works hard and is dell l . Le1 I 7 (>Lliiid , his (::iv .P.l l performance a's Fire Chief , (::Ofr)pareo to whca.t. .the - ..::lIiI1i, '_iii '_:?rier s oplieve is needed , is unsatisfactory and rather than I ii ;:_.r-ea:-,F:;, r_t-Ie L.;otcm:c _=szc;n should consider tt1E2 ri,p r"]. ca t:E'1"i t:r.':::;'i:. i::-Ih i. "::S r '-c'm c:: I. f l]. I"l i.a in t"I].S position ca s Chief . WE Fire Protection )i cit.i' i.t_.t_ 'needs in this sector- of the East County i c ne _. ;:,.. ,].r".,:.:; rapidly , t::F:"ii t:;c;ri c:.i.,1 to these ctianye.s requires t t i Ee l ai b i 1. i t:.y t:o. _ , ._r_,,: out. planning ;:arid resource management , develop and so.l cit. input ;f r ow, community and utilize all the potential tFechni.cal and management _- tise available. v] ihi n this District there are volunteer elun ee- firefighters with "rofession—al KrAning and tire; icpt ] rcC ; ]Fr1en -cand the Board of Commissioners F7as -,:ber s with both technical training and experience managing large 0grams.ams. To utilize our resources to best advantage, and +o be pr(_;(:;f_?r'ly _. ,_.,;..,,._,,...ti me tQ this ;_FiAn(Di i Mg COfTlrrtunity, we have concluded that we shC']ul;d x :' t. a changes in the District leadership. inp collectivp specific o , rryCtiors regarding Mr. Fapadakc _ ' performinch are as follows: I 1 . Held in low w e':is'I_.frn::im by firefighters and staff of doth stat i on'S District. Hr. 'haS within this t:tl, .._::-tr � FSE?n a C=(71iSt.an': cause of (j1s'iiel'TS1Uri ca(_re to rr::"r'(_(:::,aJ. 1::;.:; discuss operations with anyone and generally reserving det_.i. <- t - s to himself in dictatorial' manner . 2. Held in low esteem by people in community of Byron j as deter_mi ned by members of the Grand 7 _u� y when investigating com plaint _tyg:i ,l5t. (Several items were included in c::ooplai.nt him last y�..::.r „ ],nC.i ,dal'iL:i misuse of staff ccaY-'., aflt':1,. al l(i?Cl(•_d ].(rlprC)j:)E?Y. ,per_soi'lci,l calls. lhi. :::. Commission defended and supported Mr. Pa adaFc . at 1 i _.�.. :Jl_tE' to nature c:' o"i complaints mentioned dt:1C7Vt".!, the Commissioner., requested that , for his s own protection , Mr . Papadc3kos mail n tai n l 1 log showing fuel consumption , mileage, destination and reasoy W for use of staff car. ( In responding to the Grana Jury . investigation , tECommissioners prcmised t h E County a r cof Supervisors 'I:.:hiat this would be done. ) He very reluctantly <_rqre_e,,J' to dc:; this and dial so for about one or two weeks after which liini:::i he refused' to continue. •+„ Authorized puFchase of new staff ca't' t..:a r without f o r"'rl1 ci 1 L:C.71"'1=o U,1. i a ''1.o i"1 or ,' f .t.rt'i ]. tai"i l:i'I'"'d5 or commissioners. i. Authorized zed Irc ha.=_sii:;' of new pumper (Byron) without formal discussion l7"''"specifications and equipfT)E71'1'" upgrade p.. cjCl:=Ei with -i .i. r r.::-f i Qt11::i r"4:; commissioners. acceptance6. Paosed an of new Byron tanker even '_'1c:7ugo it is very deficient with respect to meeting specifications. I••hie:? Commissionersr nc.-_r"ne..d tP'iat:. this piece of equiFirfient will: never meet cp. 1 ; rI , - : ll' even though it has been aesErteG that verbal pr-i:omi. s2s to fix deficiencies exist. , foam pump costing $5,000. 00 Was purchased and accepted, DeveS:l c)I:)f)'i,__',t of specifications and vendor selection dcoi"ifi'.` by Chief of was poor . Unit: never performed adequately and appear's to tip:' incapable of repair . Unit is total loss and has now been removed from service. B. Resists complying with directives of Commissioners. Rec::ent examples are with regard to logging mileage and havered i.ns:igriia . and District identification painted on new staff car. Chi+_>f 'moi intention was 'i-.co have no identification at all on i_ _tr a1 'thc.)Gcgt'i it q r i. s - official'�-' .. ....• ... F:i:. i::4 i.::c1 �., District e'":..'.:'?.;T?e?!-:f:. 1 ri f:.F-?C'i CI F-a Cj for r._ r_. � '. . .a i i �...i � � r....i. �:1 a. ,._f ,,•1•-f r r'1 6i 1. u'Si e only., i ii. Has failed to develop long range fire pr-otec't:.ion plans as requested by Commissioners. 10. Has performed poorly with respect to having new c::or-i 5truc::t i on comply with fire protection standards. Has missed 'it least two :. significant fire--related view building deficiencies in l.?i.sco•ve.ry Lewy (boat stack at marina constructed without sprinkler systems and town house areas roads ds ar'e top narrow to permit access emergency vehicles. ) .i1 . Resists iTl2:afiddge:C:pnt participation by Assistant Chiefls and Captcain � . in policy and ,.,,. .:_u-ni.ng matter tnsis'i:.-a his is final and- only- authority in i iiiiUl::.h matters and refuses input from others C::CJriC:er-f e(J with Oper ati Ono. I / ' ` 12' Assumes responsibility for budget but does not keep commissioners � or firefighters informed of status, projected purchases or areas where possible shortages or surpluses may exist at year 6ndv . 1985 budget was never presented. Drafted new budget and presented to commissioners as "no time to discuss it" . Budpet � Committee has now been formed at insistence of Commission. � | 13. Will not discuss or support need for new engine in Discovery fa although presented as long range plan to be implemented in next :3 to 5 years. Insists this is not the time to discus such � ma+ ter- . 5tatea ho han "Lloui and Pull " and will handle at proper time. � 14' Resists attempts by commissioners or firefighters t10 learn what is happening or planned at County level which affects our � District . � � It is clear from these observations that our District s are not ' being utilized to best advantage and that near term and long term ` planning for firefighting and emergency response is inadequate. Even more significant is the fact that daily operations in the purview of the Chief- are not being carried out with good judgment or in the most effective : manner. In general , Mr . Papadakos has demonstrated an overall lack of management skill that operating this growing , more complex , / District � requires' A motion was made and passed by a vote of 4 to 1 that this Hard of Commissioners seek Mr. Papadakos ' resignation. We request your support in this recommendedchange of Byron Fire District m nagement. � � ' - . �A�,r es��uss, Chairman ! � Board of Commissioners � Byron Fire ProtecOon District | Commissioners: C. Fuss, H. Patton , S. Pereira, J. Rademach' r , W. Scanlin �.- ' Chief Papadakos � ! . . ' ' | � . � ! ^ � � / . a = �visCOUeht� `tray �Nho�enty U"Chs LAnociation. Aic. f �: • ni P.O. BOX 666 • BYRON,CA 94514 September 18, 1986 Mr. Tom Torlakson Supervisor - 5th District 300 E. Leland - Suite 100 Pittsburg , CA 94565 Dear Tom: It is requested that the record show that they Board of Directors of the Discovery Bay Property Owners Association is in full support of the position taken by the Byron Fire District Commission requesting for the' remova'l of Nick Papadakos as Chief of the :Byron Fire District,. The gravity of the situation is set forth in itheir February 17, 1986 communication to you..and is self-evident that immediate action must be taken to eliminate the obvious lack of effective administi:atioii and the resulting; threat to the safety of our community. Fire protection in .Discovery Bay must not be compromised and must be maintained at the highest standard with no tolerance for substandard performance, particularly of ;the Chief. Please keep us informed of the action taken in this matter. - Thank youi ! - ? Sincerely, ' Cheryl McDonald "- President cDonald "- President I mh c c: Phil Batchelor County Adainistrator Ttrry MacGraw j Deputy County AaTdnistrator Byron Fire District 0=r issicners ���s ureS i Page 6-February 18. 1987 Task Force established for Byron Fire District At the meeting of the Doughty, Jack Burge, Byron Fire Commission Wally Partridge, Fran last evening, Supervisor Syufy, and Tony Miguel. Torlakson announced the The Commission an- formation of the Byron Fire nounced the selection of District Task Force. ."In John McCorkley and will reviewing the needs and select one additional mem- direction of he Byron Fire ber from the community District, I feel it would be at large. very helpful to the Com- According to the super- mission and the Board of visor, the task force will Supervisors to have a task have the goal of bringing force of concerned citizens together a consensus and community leaders round both the short term both from Byron and and long term plans for the Discovery Bay com- fire district. The recom- munities,"said Torlakson. mended draft plan should "The charge to the task be presented to the fire force will be to define a five- commission within a six- year/ten-year plan for the month period. Interim Byron Fire District," reports and recommen- Torlakson stated. dations will be generated The task force will look as needed to the com- ! at the short term and long mission. term needs of the district, The County Ad- both in equipment and in ministrator's Office and financing for special Fire Chief Nick Papadakos operations in the district. will be the staff to the The task force will be ad- committee to provide visory to the Byron. Fire technical assistance. Commission and will have in its membership two "This task force has a representatives from the very important charge. to fire commission. Com- plan for the protection of missioners Lee Hammond the Byron and Discovery and Pierre Duquette were. Bay communities during selected to serve on the this time of rapid growth in task force. their district. 11. is critical, Other task force mem- that the two communities bers. as appointed by work together to plan Torlakson, include Milton future fire service needs,"i Sflverfoote, Donald commented the supervisor. Torn Torlakson 3,00 ` •,•i. t- •;,•,;1 300 East Leland Rd. Surnrvisor, District Five i' Suite 100 Pittsburg, California 94565 Contra Costa Count Board of Supervisors �q• r¢ (415) 439-4138 �; 5 .-„` p� C UUK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: February 10, 1987 Supervisor Tom Torlakson 439-4138 TORLAKSON ESTABLISHES TASK FORCE TO DEFINE BYRON FIRE DISTRICT FIVE-YEAR/TEN-YEAR PLANS At the meeting of the Byron Fire Commission last evening, Supervisor Torlakson announced the formation of the Byron Fire District Task Force. "In reviewing the needs and direction of the Byron Fire District, I feel it would be very helpful to the Commission and the Board of Supervisors to have a task force of concerned citizens and community leaders both from Byron and Discovery Bay communities, ” said Torlakson. "The charge to the task force will be to define a five-year/ten-year plan for the Byron. Fire District, " Torlakson stated. The task force will look at the short term and long term needs of the district, both in equipment and in financing for special operations in the district. a BYRON FIRE DISTRICT TASK FORCE February 10, 1987 Page TWO The task force will be advisory to the Byron Fire Commission and will have in its membership two representatives from the fire commission. Commissioners Lee Hammond and Pierre Duquette were selected to serve on the task force. Other task force members, as appointed by Torilakson, include Milton Silverfoote, Donald Doughty, Jack Burge, Wally Partridge, Fran Syufy, and Tony Miguel. The Commission announced the selection of John McCorkley and will select one additional member from the community at large. According to the supervisor, the task force will have the goal of bringing together a consensus around both the short term and long term plans for the fire district. The recommended draft plan should be presented to the fire commission within a six-month period. Interim reports and recommendations will be generated as needed to the commission. The County Administrator ' s Office and Fire Chief Nick Papadakos will be the staff to the committee to provide technical assistance. "This task force has a very important charge to plan for the protection of the Byron and Discovery Bay communities during this time of rapid growth in their district. It is critical that the two communities work together to plan future fire service needs, " commented the supervisor. -30- i Tom Torlakson 300 East Leland Rd. '4 Supervisor, District Five Suite 100 Pittsburg, California 94565 �•�t� _ Contra Costa County (415) 439-4138 Board of Supervisors =`—� ^• DATE: February 9, 1987 TO: All Interested Parties FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Ar"� SUBJ: CHARGE TO THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED BYRON FIRE DISTRICT TASK FORCE ------------------------------------------------------------ In reviewing the needs and direction of the Byron Fire District, I feel it would be very helpful to the Commission and the Board of Supervisors to have a task force lof con- cerned citizens and community leaders both from Byron and Discovery Bay communities. This task force will define a five-year/ten-year plan for the Byron Fire District. The charge to the committee will be to look at the short term and long term needs of the district, both in equipment and in financing for special operations in the district. The task force will be advisory to the Commission and will have in its membership two representatives from the fire commission itself. The task force will havelthe goal of bringing together a consensus around both the short term and long term plans for the fire district. The recommended draft plan should be presented to the fire commission within a six-month period. Interim reports and recommendations can be generated as needed to the commission. The County Administrator' s Office and the fire chief, Nick Papadakos, will be the staff to the committee to provide technical assistance.