Board of Directors
MINUTES OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING
April 19, 2023
Call to Order
President Mike Daley called the meeting to order with board members Jim Hocker, Bill Ellis, Jill Allington, Rachel Barkworth and Chief Mike Cousineau. Also present was Board Secretary Teresa Hoffman, Erle Collom, Leo Touzjian, Michael Abraham, Chris Rich and Gary Maguire.
Minutes from Previous Meeting
Ø Bill Ellis made a motion to approve minutes for March 2023, seconded by Jill Allington, motion passed.
Submission of Bills
⮚ Jill Allington made a motion to pay bills, seconded by Bill Ellis, motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report
⮚ The Treasurer’s Report was given by Rachel Barkworth.
⮚ Application for Exemption – signatures.
⮚ Full Audit – will be required for 2023, because AFPD spending will be over $750,000.
o Audit cost approximately $15,000 per Atlas CPAs.
o Will need to explain to the accountant what objectives are needed for the audit.
Fire Chief’s Report
10 Calls; Medical=6, Motor Vehicle Accident=1, Illegal Campfire=1, Fire Alarm/Wrong Location = 1, Search=1
⮚ Grants/Fundraising
o EMTS grant for Cardiac Monitor – zoom interview this morning - decision June 30.
o FFSDP grant for Extractor Washer – decision date was March, no updates.
o PILT grant request for Station Heaters, forwarded to several people.
o Allenspark Area Club looking for AFPD fundraising option – possibly cardiac monitor.
⮚ Volunteers
o Rookie Training – Patient Assessments.
o Luke Hlavin continuing Peer Support Team Training with Lyons Fire.
o Live Fire training at Estes Valley Fire burn building.
o Board Member Disaster Training to be determined.
Stations / Land
⮚ Station One – Main - 14861 Highway 7 – Osmun
o Working on installation of Public Announcement/Speaker System
⮚ Station Two – 2770 Riverside Drive – Heathermeade
o Nothing new.
⮚ Station Three – 4 County Road 113 East - Meeker Park
o Nothing new.
⮚ Station Four – 7400 Highway 7 – The Heights
o Roof has been replaced.
⮚ Station Five – 32 Bunce School Road – McCulloch
o Boulder County wants to put 800 & VHF Radio Repeater on station.
o They also want to add a fire detection camera.
o Requires a Public Safety Tower, higher than trees.
⮚ Land at 23 Business Route 7
o No updates, Mike Daley sent letters to last three relatives, no response.
Apparatus
⮚ 5212 (Engine) replacement – working on details with Rosenbauer.
o Big Elk would like to buy old 5212.
o Chief is looking into other potential buyers.
o Per treasurer, need to sell for $20,000 to afford 5203 and 5234 without financing.
⮚ 5203 (Pumper/Tender) – mid-build inspection performed by Jesse Beightol and Erle Collom in SD.
o Issues with cross-lay, paint, draft hose – being fixed.
o Need approval from Board to pay for 5203 if completed date is before the next Board Meeting.
o Jim Hocker made a motion to authorize payment to Rosenbauer not to exceed $225,000 for final payment of 5203, seconded by Bill Ellis, motion passed.
⮚ 5234 (Brush Truck) – Will be ordering chassis soon (in budget) from Dodge - $68,000, $3,000 deposit.
o Budget total = $170,000.
⮚ COV repaired.
⮚ Cascade system delivered, working on scheduling installation.
Old Business
⮚ Community Room
⮚ Old tables/chairs picked up by Allenspark Area Club.
⮚ Party on Sunday, April 23.
⮚ Boulder County Commissioners – June 8 to be determined.
⮚ Boulder County Aging - October 6th from 8:30am-12:30pm.
⮚ OUR Center may want to take over BCAAA office. OUR representative has not visited yet.
⮚ Time to increase $100/month office fee (APWater & BCAAA)?
⮚ Election 2023 - Firefighters serving on the Board.
⮚ Bill Ellis – majority of board agrees that firefighters should not concurrently serve on the board.
▪ Uncomfortable changing by-laws after the call for nominations.
▪ Need closure on an issue for that has been occurring for years with no resolution.
▪ No firefighters serving on the Board after the election represents a compromise.
▪ If there is no financial benefit, is it a conflict of interest?
⮚ Bill Ellis made a motion that “Effective following the May 2023 election, no newly elected or appointed member to the Board of Directors shall concurrently serve as a firefighter of the district.”, no second, motion does not pass.
⮚ Jim Hocker made a motion that a member of the board shall not concurrently serve as a volunteer firefighter for the district. Seconded by Jill Allington. Yes = 3, No = 2, motion passed
⮚ Mill Levy Increase
⮚ Mike Daley will publish an article regarding the history of AFPD from Cathie Bird, postponed to the May Wind.
⮚ Mike Daley has a copy of the survey from Estes Valley Fire.
New Busines
⮚ Open House scheduled for June 17,2023 from 11:00AM to 3:00PM.
⮚ House Bill 1023 – Public Notice Requirement $ Increase
⮚ Public notice for bids on special district construction contracts is currently required when the contract cost is $60,000 or more. The bill increases the notice threshold to $120,000 or more and requires the amount to be adjusted for inflation every 5 years.
⮚ Change to AFPD Board By-Laws – Section 13 to follow “Special District Construction Contracts.”
▪ Jill Allington made a motion to “Change everywhere in section 13 where it says $50,000 – to follow the statute for Special District Construction Contracts.” Seconded by Bill Ellis, motion passed.
Public Comments
⮚ Board Secretary Teresa Hoffman:
⮚ Acknowledges the comments by Gary Maguire in February Board Meeting and Mike Daley in the March Board Meeting that her position as Board Secretary as well as a Firefighter and spouse to the former Fire Chief/current Assistant Fire Chief may be construed as a conflict.
⮚ Difficult to see the conflicts in oneself, but if others see this as a problem, want to offer a possible solution.
⮚ Since nobody is irreplaceable and the smooth running of the AFPD department and the AFPD board is more important than any individual person, she is willing to resign this position.
⮚ This offer is presented with no ill feelings and stresses that she will help the next person in this position in any way needed.
Fire Fighter Comments
⮚ Assistant Fire Chief Leo Touzjian:
⮚ House Bill 1B – .1% sales tax was slated to go to fire districts. However, $19 million will be going to Rocky Mountain Rescue for new facility. If Boulder County Commissioners come to Allenspark, encourage the public to let your feelings be known.
⮚ Training Captain Gary Maguire:
⮚ Resigning as firefighter.
⮚ Investment as a firefighter far outweighs benefits.
⮚ Does not want Board to accuse wife of conflict because her spouse is a firefighter.
⮚ Wants the Board to ask the voters to decide the policy for the fire department.
⮚ Mike Daley thinks this question on a ballot would be detrimental to the chances of passing a mill levy increase.
⮚ Bill Ellis thinks it is unfair to ask the general public this question since they do not understand the workings of the Board.
Board Member Comments
⮚ Jim Hocker:
⮚ Jim and Bill attended the COSWAP – Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Plan meeting in Lyons. The Governor has allocated $17.5 million for fire mitigation. Boulder County is allocating the money, possibly some projects for mountains.
Adjournment
⮚ The Regular Board Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.
⮚ Executive Session started at 9:15, adjourned at 9:45.
Respectfully submitted:
Teresa Hoffman
Board Secretary April 19, 2023
Board Members Bill Ellis, Paul Rekow, Jill Allington, Rachel Barkworth, Jim Hocker