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Published 3/13/2013
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MOFD and Board of Supervisors Agree Fire Chiefs Should Keep Talking
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| By David Killam and Nick Marnell |
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The proposed agreement between the Moraga-Orinda Fire District and the Contra Costa Fire Protection District for the joint operation of a new fire station is moving forward, but maybe not fast enough. The plan is to combine MOFD’s station 43 in Orinda with ConFire’s station 16 in Lafayette, into a new facility yet to be built.
In a standing-room-only meeting on March 11 the Moraga Orinda Fire District board of directors voted 4-1 to continue negotiations with ConFire. Board president Frank Sperling cast the opposing vote and stated that he wanted the exploratory negotiations stopped at once. “A fast fail is the best solution,” he said.
The board’s positive tone centered on the potential savings to the district should the consolidation happen. “This deal is an opportunity to assure MOFD’s sustainability,” said director Steve Anderson.
Comments from the audience were far more negative towards the merger than positive. Speakers raised questions about the financial stability of Contra Costa County and sentiment for the creation of a ‘Lamorinda Fire District’ was repeatedly professed. Leading off the public comment period, an Orinda resident admonished the board: “You first need to resolve your long-term financial situation and finalize the new labor contract.”
The apparent need for expediency comes from the fact that MOFD currently has an option on a property in the El Nido Ranch Road area of Lafayette, but a $15,000 non-refundable deposit is due March 28.
When the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors met to discuss the idea on March 12, support for an agreement was mixed. The board voted 4-1 in favor of further discussions with MOFD.
Supervisor Karen Mitchoff cast the dissenting vote. “We’re just coming out of this recession,” she said. “We have communities where we had to close fire stations. While I recognize that there’s money in the Capital Improvement Plan to move forward, the best analogy I can offer is that of the stock market. You know if you bought all of these stocks, you could have this great return in over a long period of time. The problem is that you don’t have any money in your bank account. Yes, you could go borrow the money, but the bottom line is that it isn’t there. As much as I’ve been supportive of the chief moving forward …I don’t think we should continue to raise expectations.”
Supervisor Candace Andersen was more supportive. Before the meeting she said, “I’d like us to continue exploring the idea. It could save both districts a considerable amount of money. We should continue to examine the proposal to see if we can make it work.”
Louder will return to the board of supervisors with more details about the proposed agreement on March 19. The board meets at 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street in Martinez.
MOFD will hold a public workshop at 6 p.m. March 20 in Founders Auditorium at the Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA