December 2019
As we move into the New Year and a new decade, I am writing to send a brief update about the district, my first term, and the a few changes we are moving forward with. My priority is to tell the citizens thank you for electing me to this office. My term is up in May and the last four years have been an important honor in my life. The Arvada Fire department has excellent service record in this community and the public has been quick to recognize the firefighters on the front lines working around the clock to help ensure public safety.
The biggest transition we are going through right now is hiring a new Chief. The district announced this process and we are well underway. We expect to have a new Chief by April. There is some controversy about the settlement agreement the Board made with the outgoing Chief. I want to share some thoughts with you about that decision without compromising the agreement. The outgoing Chief retired from the department after allegations of wrongdoing. Settling the case was the right decision and that decision was unanimous with all five board members even though had some disagreements and reached our own conclusions independently.
The option of extended litigation was much more costly and not in the best interest of the district. Some of you know I have a lot of experience in government service at both the Federal and Local level. My training and background with employment and labor matters is extensive. I strongly believe in government transparency, but that does mean that we can always disclose personnel actions and frankly any claim to the contrary is false. However, I do believe we can increase transparency. My first concern will remain in speaking out against an overly restrictive “chain of command” which I believe can often impede open government. I said several times in public meetings that I have an open-door policy with communication, and I am stating it again. We should also do better with turning out the vote in special districts with increased education and diligence. Policies that prevent and discourage employees from airing disagreements should be avoided. Last year the board modified our dispute resolution process in the member handbook and I think it was a step in the right direction, but I still believe the final step for formal complaints should go to independent third parties.
Important board actions over the last several months include final approval of new station number 9 on Candelas parkway fully renovating station 3, on Kipling parkway. This will greatly improve emergency response times in the future. We also approved many Intergovernmental agreements, including automatic aid with West Metro Fire and Fairmount Fire Protection Districts, and with the City for the Arvada Fiber Optic Network. We also approved and activated a temporary station to response to medical calls in the Northwest Corridor. It is important for citizens to remember that the Fire district and the City of Arvada are two separate government entities operating independently.
Did you know that Arvada Fire has an Ambulance Membership Program that currently has about 220 members? The program can help cover the costs of emergency paramedic transport service for many people depending on your medical insurance. Most of our funding comes from property taxes, but it is important to be aware of these costs. All calls are now routed to JEFFCOM 911, including non-emergency calls.
The 911 memorial is complete at station 2 and waiting permanent installation. Please watch for further information from our Community Risk Reduction division and other announcements.
I encourage interested Citizens to consider getting involved on local boards, commissions, and Citizen’s academies. There are many to choose from. The Arvada CERT, a volunteer Community Emergency Response Team is a specialized program that assists first responders for special projects related to emergencies. The next academy starts January 14, so if you are interested go to City’s website and apply soon.
The next Citizens Fire Academy will begin on April 1 and more information is available at ArvadaFire.org.
The next special election is in May. Please remember to vote. I recommend requesting a permanent absentee mail in ballot. Please contact me or headquarters if you need one.
Tim Allport
Director, Arvada Fire District