Chief Brown tells supervisors that Fire/EMS services are understaffed and underfunded
BY JIM RIDOLPHI
Special Correspondent

Aug 13, 2008

Paychecks bounce for 14 employees

Goochland Fire chief Ken Brown had a clear message for the Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting last week: Staffing problems for paid EMS employees continue, and the situation doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

For several years, Goochland has contracted with Lifeline to provide crews for shifts that are difficult to staff with volunteers. The arrangement has been tenuous, at best, and Brown said recent developments highlight the continuing problems.

Brown said two Lifeline positions remain open, having been vacant for more than a year. And there are continuing problems regarding pay.

“We had a big problem with the pay on the 25th of July,” Brown said.

“At this point, 14 of our people who work in Goochland for Lifeline had their checks returned for insufficient funds,” he added.

At that point, District 5 supervisor Jim Eads questioned why Brown and the county are involved in financial disputes between private employees and their employer, Lifeline.

Eads said the problems with Lifeline, while admittedly serious, are not open for board discussion.

“You do not interfere with an independent contractor’s operations,” Eads said. “You do not tamper with their employees. You do not get involved except that they do or do not live up to the obligations of the contract.”

Eads requested an opinion from the county attorney as to whether the board would be “tampering” with an independent contractor.

Andrew McRoberts responded by saying the contract did specify that there would be oversight from Goochland fire administration over the Lifeline employees, but Eads pointed out that supervisory function was performance based and didn’t apply to the “way they do their accounting.”

McRoberts said the discussions taking place are also due to the effect of bounced checks on Lifeline’s ability to hire and retain employees.

“I don’t know if this is a matter where the county wants to get involved in the internal operations of the company,” McRoberts said.

Eads said it comes down to a question of whether or not Lifeline is performing to the terms of the contract. There was little doubt in McRoberts’ mind as to that answer.

“There’s no question they haven’t performed. They haven’t performed for months,” McRoberts said. He said the county has three options — either renegotiate, terminate or endure the status quo.

Eads recommended the board contact Lifeline and discuss the problems, but cautioned against proceeding down the current path.

“I kind of feel like there’s a guerilla activity going on here which is only going to lead to an unhappy conclusion,” Eads said.

Chairman William Quarles suggested the board take up the discussion in closed session to consider legal options.

Brown listened patiently to the discussion, but did say it was his responsibility to make the board aware of the situation.

“That’s all my point is, that we have a problem,” Brown said.

“Yes, but this is not the first time,” Eads replied. “We keep hearing this over and over.”

Brown agreed but said the matter has not been resolved and no action has been taken to remedy the situation.

“Whose job is it to take action?” Eads questioned.

“It’s not my job,” Brown replied. “It’s my job to bring you concerns that cause adverse action in our department.”

County administrator Greg Wolfrey said it is the board’s responsibility because one of government’s main functions is public safety.

Eads agreed but said that responsibility is delegated to others.

Quarles again suggested a closed session referral and the board agreed.

“We want to nip this in the bud,” Quarles said.

Brown also told the board some companies are experiencing staffing problems on shifts that are usually well-manned. He pointed to recent examples where calls went out to volunteers with few responding.

“The message I’m sending to you to you is that we are, unfortunately, experiencing a big want in the responses,” Brown said.

“We have enough members on the list, but we’re not having members respond,” he added.

He said one of those instances occurred on July 4. Another involved a structure fire where four companies responded, but with only eight volunteers.

Another fire under a house required two trucks manned only by the chief and the deputy chief.

“We are experiencing a problem that is a concern,” Brown said. “It’s not that we don’t have members. “Our members are so busy or whatever the reasons, we are not having adequate response.”

Taking care of those volunteers was also on the mind of Brown, who requested a stipend for fuel to volunteers who use their own vehicles and gas to answer calls. Although there was no dispute the county should compensate the volunteers, just how to do it did not gain consensus.

Supervisor Rudy Butler noted that many volunteers reside in other counties and drive to Goochland to respond to calls. He urged his fellow board members to take quick action to assist them with rising fuel costs.

“If we lose them, we’re really in trouble,” he said. “We need to do something now before we lose them.”

The board referred to the matter to their Fire and Rescue Committee to work out details and make a recommendation to the full board.

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