The bay at Maple Valley Fire Station No. 81 filled with more than 50 people Thursday evening for a District No. 43 Board of Commissioners meeting.
The 7 p.m. regular meeting brought out a wide range of statements and emotions during the public comment period.
The comments all centered on the decision by the commissioners at the Aug. 6 meeting to not renew former Maple Valley Fire Chief Tim Lemon’s contract which was set to expire at the end of this year.
Following the Aug. 6 announcement, Commissioner Jeff Granlund resigned stating the reasons for not renewing the chief’s contract were unjustified.
The resignation left two members on the board, Brian McGee and Mike Scott.
The comments at the Thursday meeting showed the conflicts and splits in the community on the subject with some people asking for the commissioners to resign while others made emotional statements in support of the commissioners’ decision.
The meeting at one point veered into the political playground when Camille Walls, who is running for Commissioner Position No. 3, spoke about her candidacy. She is challenging Granlund. Although he resigned his seat his name remains on the ballot, but he is still planning to run for re-election.
As McGee looked over the crowd, he opened the floor for public comment asking people to keep their comments to “around three minutes,” but the commissioners decided not to time the statements.
Stanette Marie Rose, who is a candidate for City Council Position No. 6, spoke first.
“We are all trying to find out who stole the fire chief,” Rose said. “I request you reinstate Fire Chief Tim Lemon.”
Michael Matthias, former assistant city manager for Maple Valley said, “We want assurances from you what was done was not because of political gain.”
Mike Granlund, brother of Jeff Granlund, said he “served under Chief Lemon for quite awhile…. When are you going to expose why you let Chief Lemon go…? You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. I would like to see your resignation and see Chief Lemon reinstated.”
Warren Iverson, a Hobart resident and member of the Greater Maple Valley Area Council said, “Sadly, in my personal view, with either of you on the board a levy is impossible.”
There were several comments questioning the influence of the firefighters union in the decision and the commissioners involvement with the union.
Maria Van Zaneu said, “There is management and labor and I think what is going on here is labor at the top and labor at the bottom and the chief is in the middle. I don’t think there is any way to justify that as being in the best interest of the community. It looks like labor talking to labor…. Do you think a really good quality chief is going to walk into this situation?”
Roger Matheny, who said he was a member of a firefighters union, stated he did not have a “personal iron in this fight, but I do know the people sitting at this table, (McGee and Scott). I have heard things tonight that don’t match with the people I know. These are honorable people.”
Dave Pargas, an assistant fire marshal for Renton Fire and Emergency Services, said he worked at the Maple Valley fire department for seven years.
“Why did I leave?” Pargas said. “Look at what is behind the scenes. Raises of 5 percent after a lid lift failed. Equipment bought after a lid lift failed.”
The comment period then turned into a political pitch as Pargas introduced Walls.
“I did not decide to run against Jeff for any vendetta,” Walls said. “I know there are raw nerves, but we have to suck it up and make this the best … fire department.”
Walls then said she was willing to take donations and she had no hidden agenda.
A member of the crowd yelled out this was not the forum for political speeches, but Walls said it was a public comment time and this was her statement.
Betty Stonesifer, also a former employee of the department, said she was “treated unfairly by Chief Lemon…. All I ask is before anyone falls blindly behind to support Chief Lemon, listen to the whole story.”
Tim Smith said McGee is an “honest guy and for me to hear talk of a hidden agenda; I take exception.”
Jason Paulus said for years he had “heard there is nothing but disgruntled firefighters in Maple Valley.”
Some Maple Valley firefighters came to the podium and gave their side of the story.
“I love this department and I hate seeing this going on,” Firefighter Jeff Bingaman said fighting back tears. “A lot of people are looking through a very small portal… There was not utopia and we can’t return to a utopia that wasn’t.”
Drew Erickson, also a Maple Valley firefighter said a “5.6 percent” raise to the administration and 3 percent to firefighters was “a little off.”
Phil Lercher, a lieutenant in the Maple Valley fire department said it was not an issue of salaries, “but our salaries are below average. These people, (McGee and Scott) know labor law.”
Following the meeting both McGee and Scott spoke about the meeting and the decision to find a new chief for the department.
“There was not union influence in this decision,” Scott said…. “This was not easy, but we worked it out. It was time for a new direction.”
McGee said he has many affiliations including with the firefighters union and the fire chief’s association.
“All (the affiliations) have given me the experience to make the best decision,” McGee said. “I represent the city and I take it very seriously.”
Check the Web site later for an expanded story on the interview with McGee and Scott.
The board released a statement from the department and the chief that stated Lemon resigned Aug. 15.
According to a press release from the department Aug. 7, Lemon was placed on “voluntary administrative leave… while the details as relating to the parties’ separation are determined, and Deputy Chief Brad Doerflinger was appointed as interim chief.”
The board is asking for residents interested in applying for the seat left vacant by Granlund to e-mail a letter of interest to bradd@maplevalleyfire.org or send it by mail to the department:
Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety
Commissioner Position
23775 S.E. 264th St.
Maple Valley, WA 98038.
McGee said at the meeting they hope to appoint a commissioner for the seat at the next meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at Station 81, 22225 S.E. 231th St.
The individual chosen will hold the seat until the end of 2009 when the winner of the November general election for the position, Walls or Granlund, will take the commissioner chair.
According to McGee the search for a new chief will begin after the “leadership staff and board gets a coherent plan to move forward. We will look for a candidate with the credentials to lead the department forward.”
