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DW story on fire chief elimination
By Rachel Thomson
OCEAN SHORES — Mayor Dean Bunkers, in an attempt to close the $1.3 million shortfall to the City of Ocean Shores’ 2010 General Fund budget, plans to eliminate the position of fire chief and put one person in charge of the police and fire departments.
Fire Chief Jim Hodges is on paid administrative leave until Dec. 31, when his position will be cut.
The mayor has appointed Police Chief Mike Styner to serve as the interim fire chief. Starting Jan. 1, Styner will serve as director of public safety, supervising both departments.
Bunkers announced his decision Wednesday afternoon. “The layoff of the chief will be a painful but necessary decision brought on by the worsening financial crisis facing the city,” Bunkers said.
The council met on Monday and authorized the mayor to make some layoffs, including positions at the Interpretive Center and the library. Layoff notices are likely to arrive by the end of the month.
Bunkers said city procedures require that “certain steps” be taken before Hodges’ layoff can be finalized. He said he would provide more details next week.
Bunkers said he would present the City Council with reorganization options for the police and fire departments, including combining the fire and police chief positions. The council would have to approve any reorganization policies. Bunkers said that likely will take place before the end of the year. He did not elaborate on what those policies might be.
The Daily World called the fire department Wednesday. Lt. Brian Ritter, a spokesman for the department, said he could not comment and referred questions to Styner, who was off for the Veterans Day holiday and could not be reached by phone.
hey, that sounds like a good idea. and a total volunteer fire department.just like many other small podunk towns.
We should eliminate the police department and contract with the sheriff’s office for services. Helps both sides.
function #3 insure all code violators are fined and fines are collected……..oh, why start now? officials of os have not been able to enforce codes for years.
Huh?
towns officials and council are jokes. just ask the guy on park ave with the 13 vehicles,some full of garbage in his front yard.
Hey….now the police can provide dual roles. 1. normal every day police functions. 2. They can be “bill collectors” for the fire dept. “oh i’m sorry you can’t pay your bill” as said officer is slowly reaching for his taser.