Fire Protection Officer Kathy Leonard has been promoted to the position of Assistant Fire Marshal for the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD). The announcement was made at the MOFD Board of Directors Meeting held May 30.
The position was created after former MOFD Fire Marshal Mike Mentink announced his retirement. Bradley said that according to the health and safety code, the Fire Chief is technically the designated Fire Marshal for the District and at the last Board meeting, suggested that the Board eliminate the positions of Fire Marshal and Fire Prevention Officer and create a new position of Assistant Fire Marshal. This new position, combined with Bradley as Fire Marshal, would help to produce a balanced financial plan with no impact on service levels.
Leonard was a firefighter with the Hayward Fire Department for 20 years before joining MOFD as Fire Protection Officer three years ago, and has recently been certified as a Fire Marshal in the State of California.
"Kathy has the training and can now develop her skills as the Assistant Fire Marshal," said Bradley.
Bradley noted that by not filling the Fire Marshal position and eliminating the Fire Prevention Officers position, MOFD will save approximately $145,000 each year while still offering the same level of service.
"For now, we have eliminated the position of Fire Protection Officer, and frozen the position of Fire Marshal," said Bradley. "When the economy allows, we will reinstate the Fire Marshal position. Then, we will either hire or promote someone into that position and eliminate the Assistant position."
The Board also moved to keep the Fire Flow Tax rate for the 2012-2013 fiscal year the same as last year, $0.06 for Moraga and $0.06 for Orinda. The Fire Flow tax, assessed to District parcels, is collected for capital expenditures such as the upcoming rebuilding of Station 43 in Orinda.
The position was created after former MOFD Fire Marshal Mike Mentink announced his retirement. Bradley said that according to the health and safety code, the Fire Chief is technically the designated Fire Marshal for the District and at the last Board meeting, suggested that the Board eliminate the positions of Fire Marshal and Fire Prevention Officer and create a new position of Assistant Fire Marshal. This new position, combined with Bradley as Fire Marshal, would help to produce a balanced financial plan with no impact on service levels.
Leonard was a firefighter with the Hayward Fire Department for 20 years before joining MOFD as Fire Protection Officer three years ago, and has recently been certified as a Fire Marshal in the State of California.
"Kathy has the training and can now develop her skills as the Assistant Fire Marshal," said Bradley.
Bradley noted that by not filling the Fire Marshal position and eliminating the Fire Prevention Officers position, MOFD will save approximately $145,000 each year while still offering the same level of service.
"For now, we have eliminated the position of Fire Protection Officer, and frozen the position of Fire Marshal," said Bradley. "When the economy allows, we will reinstate the Fire Marshal position. Then, we will either hire or promote someone into that position and eliminate the Assistant position."
The Board also moved to keep the Fire Flow Tax rate for the 2012-2013 fiscal year the same as last year, $0.06 for Moraga and $0.06 for Orinda. The Fire Flow tax, assessed to District parcels, is collected for capital expenditures such as the upcoming rebuilding of Station 43 in Orinda.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA