After months of searching for volunteers and battling budget
issues at the same time, Hollister’s mayor has created a fire task
force to look at ways to improve fire service and save money at the
same time.
After months of searching for volunteers and battling budget issues at the same time, Hollister’s mayor has created a fire task force to look at ways to improve fire service and save money at the same time.
Approximately 10 people, city and county officials and residents, have agreed to be part of the team, said Mayor Tony Bruscia.
“It’s really important to have it balanced and have different perspectives, ideas and input,” he said. “The more diversity we have the better.”
Bruscia hopes to have the task force hold its first meeting by the end of the month, at which time the members will choose a chair person, designate someone to record the minutes and other administrative positions, he said.
The first meeting will consist of setting a course for how the meetings will be run, how often they will meet and then prioritizing the pertinent issues, Bruscia said.
“The No. 1 thing is how can we provide appropriate fire service … more efficiently and cost effectively,” he said.
The task force will discuss whether the city contracting with the California Department of Forestry could be cheaper than having a city fire department and creating a fire district.
While Bruscia is satisfied with the make-up of the team, he said female representation is lacking.
The only woman committed to working with the team is County Supervisor Pat Loe.
“The problem is that most firefighters are males, and most of the firefighters in a leadership role are male, which is a big part of why,” Bruscia said.
Loe has to be appointed by the chairman of the Board of Supervisors before she can officially serve on the task force, and said the city has to send a formal letter to Chairman Bob Cruz before he can appoint her.
The idea behind the task force is a good one, and she is definitely willing to be a part of it, she said.
“I think the background and input of the people involved is what’s important – I don’t think being female or male makes a big difference on this particular task force,” she said. “It’s encouraging that the city and county are working together on a project like this… If we can keep the service level where it is or make it better for less amount of money, then we’ve accomplished our goals.”
Task force member Scott Fuller, general manager of San Juan Oaks, joined the team because he feels the community as a whole is not receiving adequate fire protection.
“We need to look comprehensively – all the communities coming together to see if by working together we can provide more staff, more equipment and more facilities,” he said. “Because to me that is the key.”
Fuller agreed to be part of the task force because of his experience as a member of the Fire Safety Council, a group of eight volunteers that meet monthly to discuss fire safety issues in the county, and the fact that the county mandated a fire station be constructed and equipped as part of a resort and housing development plan at San Juan Oaks.
“I felt like I might have something to offer to the effort the city is undertaking,” Fuller said. “I don’t know yet what the city needs to do – we won’t know until we go through everything.”
How long the task force meets as a group depends on how long it proves resourceful for the city and county, Bruscia said.
“As long as there are important issues they can help provide direction and insight on, then it should be around,” he said. “It very well could be a permanent thing. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was something that just remains.”
Erin Musgrave can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 336 or at
em*******@fr***********.com
.
