The Golden Gate Fire Protection District Board increased the Fire Chief’s job duties and salaries during a regular meeting on May 18, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Grange, 25231 Golden Gate Canyon Road, Golden, Colorado. The Board also presented the oath for two new Board members and heard the report from the chief.

Treasurer Chris Creech said this was his last report as treasurer. He said we do have a police presence tonight as a caution.

The reserve account is very well funded, with $396,000 total accounts. Later in the meeting, he introduced a budget resolution to increase the job duties and salary for the chief. He said it has been widely communicated. The total package for the chief would be $78,000 and give the chief one year.

“We are handcuffing him 10 hours a week. He is qualified. We may not have him in a year. We may lose him. Let’s retain this chief.” It is based on performance. If the performance is not there the next board can move him back to 10 hours, but this gives him the stability to perform.

The Chief has helped with grant writing, recruiting, and training and mentoring with volunteers. “We are hiring a chief, and he will be doing the business of a CEO. This resolution provides an opportunity to do that,” Creech said.

According to the resolution, the Board of Directors has determined to increase Chief Benson’s duties, weekly hours, and total compensation package. The Board of Directors of the District has determined that the job duties, milestones and targets will be used to evaluate the Chief’s performance.

The Board of Directors of the District has determined that multiple Budgeted Line items have been, can be, or will be reallocated, in total or in part, to increase Chief Benson’s total compensation package to $78,000 per year for the remainder of 2023. Board member Steven Green objected to the motion, but it passed with two opposed and three in favor.

Two new board members received the oath of office: David F. Primmer, four-year term, and Marith Cady Reheis, four-year term.

Chief Benson reported about his transition to chief in the final weeks of the 90-day transition period. The last month has been focused on outward relationships, spending time with the line firefighters, and defining the department’s structure moving forward.

On May 3, Chief Enright and Chief Benson performed the oath of office as Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Chief of Golden Gate Fire Protection District. Both Chief Enright and Chief Benson were badged at the meeting by their significant others.

The state legislature passed 11 bills during the most recent session regarding wildland fires. These bills directly affect Golden Gate Fire Protection District (GGFPD) in improving regional resources with the addition of a second Firehawk helicopter, improving evacuation procedures, and strengthening DFPC’s investigations division.

Administration Station 81 Community Clean out and Clean up has been scheduled for June 3. Chiefs are working with the station officers to schedule cleanups for Stations 82 and 83.

The signage on each station will be updated with the metal signs donated by the auxiliary as each station is completed. Personnel responding per incident remains troubling, with several incidents in the last month of single or two-firefighter responses (when an appropriate and safe minimum is three). Average response time has dropped three minutes since last month, and turnout times have dropped about 15 seconds (both significant improvements).

Chief Benson and Chief Enright worked through job delineation and department structure moving forward. Chief Enright has diligently created job descriptions for each position within the department’s rank structure.

Tender 83 is going to be moved to Station 83 during warmer weather to function as a tactical fixed-based water source. Rescue 82 will be taking its place at Station 82 for the time being. This will allow for firefighters to have a centrally located water source at Station 83 as well as a quick response vehicle at Station 82 for non-fire responses by stationed personnel. Regarding personnel, 19 members are currently on the roster with two on leave of absence. One member on leave of absence has resigned.

Currently there are four candidates who have submitted applications for operational positions, with one additional community member who has submitted a formal interest. The candidates are working through background checks and interviews in the next month, with the intention of doing an onboarding academy in July or August.

GGFPD will be standing up a recruitment and interview committee of firefighters to assist with this process. Several GGFPD firefighters and officers will be assisting with the academy in the coming months. The updated Timberline recruitment IGA will be visited by the TLFDP board this month for review and signature.

AV-tec of Golden is to install the donated VHF mobile radio, 800 Mhz mobile radio, and cell boosters in Command 81 and Rescue 81. The vehicles will be cycled through AVtec in the coming month to have radio equipment installed.

Chief Enright has been coordinating with local vendors to create a full equipment plan for Rescue 82. Firefighters have been receiving their updated station/wildland boots.

The next regular board meeting will be June 15, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall, 25201 Golden Gate Canyon Road, Golden Colorado, 80403. For more information, go to MAIN - Golden Gate Fire Protection District.