At approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) held their monthly board meeting at Station 3, located at 19126 Highway 119, Black Hawk. President Rick Wenzel, Vice President John Bushey, Member at Large John Carder, Member at Large Whitney Donoghue, and Member at Large Mary Kate McKenna attended the meeting, as well as Fire Chief Paul Ondr and Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman.

Highlights included the Board’s letter responding to Scott Griffith’s concerns presented at the October 11 meeting; a vote on the 2017 Adopted Resolution Regarding Directors’ Fees; and the Chief’s Report.

The Board recessed from its regular board meeting at 6:10 p.m. to convene into Executive Session. The Executive Session was held to discuss the Board’s letter response to Scott Griffith’s written complaints.

President Wenzel then read the Board’s response letter to the audience, which included Griffith, who attended the meeting virtually.

The letter addressed Griffith’s concerns about incorrect tax withholdings from 2021, the nonpayment of a boot stipend, delayed deployment pay, cost of living adjustment pay increase, and general discontent with TFPD paid staff.

A special committee was assigned to investigate these claims and the letter summarizes the results, which read as follows:

TFPD’s accounting spreadsheets in ADP contained a data input error resulting in incorrectly taxed per diem payments and proper notifications were sent by email on February 8, 2022. A corrected W2 was issued directly by ADP in April of that year.

Chief Hinderman responded via email on December 9, 2020, to ask that Griffiths resubmit a legible copy of the travel receipts for boots that clearly indicates the specific purchase and dollar amount for reimbursement.

TFPD acknowledges that the deployment pay timeline is unreasonably lengthy but that the process is largely unavoidable due to factors beyond the control of the TFPD administration. A new Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) has been implemented to mitigate the potential financial impact on part-time employees and volunteers.

TFPD wishes to emphasize that Griffith’s assertion that “paid staff has elected to give itself a pay increase,” is misguided and does not happen at TFPD. All salary changes to paid staff must be approved by the BOD, and the COLA adjustment can be reviewed in the regular meeting minutes from July 19, 2022. Chief Ondr did not receive a COLA salary increase at that time.

The Board could not confirm Griffith’s nonspecific allegations that paid staff have acted inappropriately and/or unethically. They remain confident in the abilities of Fire Chief Ondr and Administrative Chief Hinderman to make the best decisions for TFPD personnel as well as the district’s taxpayers. Though this claim was found to be unsubstantiated, the Board encourages all personnel to bring such concerns to the attention of TFPD leadership at any time, without fear of adverse action.

Ryan Roberts of Rollinsville made a public comment on the leasing of Station 4 and how the response times in the Chief’s Report are skewed since there is no longer a station nor responders in Rollinsville. He stated that the data does not accurately reflect the current coverage in the area.

After reviewing the Gilpin County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which details the mitigation action items that may be eligible for grant funding, the Board resolved to adopt the 2022 Gilpin County Hazard Mitigation Plan with no discussion.

With all in favor, the Board adopted the Gilpin County Emergency Operations Plan, which outlines emergency management’s response and recovery strategies during a disaster. This was written in consultation with local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and the Gilpin Ambulance Authority.

The Board unanimously approved the Engagement Letter from the Adams Group, LLC, concerning the 2022 Annual Audit.

There was discussion of the 2017 Adopted Resolution Regarding Directors’ Fees. The Board members discussed their inclination to rescind the resolution and decline the annual stipend of $100 per meeting up to $2,400 per annum. The resolution as it currently stands authorizes the Board to disperse the stipends to Board members. Bushey made a motion to rescind the resolution. Donoghue seconded the motion.

Wenzel stated that receiving a stipend should be a personal choice with the option to receive or decline. Wenzel explained that a “yes” vote would rescind the resolution and prevent the Board from paying any stipends, effective January 1, 2023. Two votes were in favor with three nay votes. Motion was opposed.

In his Chief’s report, Ondr stated that TFPD responded to 63 calls in October. The response times for the past three years in Rollinsville have ranged from nine minutes and forty-seven seconds to twenty-one minutes and fifty-six seconds. There are currently 24 firefighters in the district at the nine stations.

Congratulations go to Josh Colgan for his promotion to lieutenant at Station 7 until Station 9 is up and running.

Mitigation work continues, as the project around the cell tower and water tank on the northside of Dory Hill is about 90 percent complete.

Pile burning will begin soon, with potential collaboration with the forest service.

In Administration news, all deployment paperwork has been submitted and is awaiting approval. All personnel have been paid.

The holiday party will be held at the flyfishing clubhouse on December 2 and will be a plus-one RSVP event by invitation.

In training news, ten new members completed the exterior academy in early November and are now qualified in exterior fire attack, making them poised to enter the Firefighter Academy next year.

The next regular board meeting for the Timberline Fire Protection District will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 6 p.m. at Fritz Peak building, 19126 Highway 119, Black Hawk.