The Maple Valley Fire Department Board of Commissioners passed a motion at the Oct. 1 meeting to increase number of commissioner from three to five.

According to Commissioner Brian McGee the issue to increase the number of commissioners will go on the ballot for public vote. It could make the February special election ballot.

“I was in favor of it four years ago, but it didn’t go anywhere,” McGee said. “When Mike Scott became a commissioner he also inquired.”

McGee said most fire districts the size of Maple Valley have five commissioners.

“It gives better representation with five,” McGee said. “And we can divide the work up better.”

With a three member board, two members cannot talk to one another without violating the open public meetings act. On a three member board, two is a quorum.

McGee said another issue moving forward in the fire district is the Leadership Transition Team, a 12-member committee that will look at the direction of the department over the coming months and years.

The committee will be discussing the leadership transition as the district begins the search for a new fire chief. The commission ended the contract with former Fire Chief Tim Lemon, who is now serving as chief for Chelan County Fire District 7, in August.

The team will also look at organizational structure and discussing and the direction of the department for the future.

The members of the committee are the three commissioners, McGee, Scott and Bill VanRuff, interim Fire Chief Brad Doerflinger, Deputy Chief Larry Rude, four members of the union executive board and three senior staff members.