Trustee, Union Official Respond to Orland Fire Salaries Release

An Orland Fire Protection District board member and a union official weighed in during Tuesday’s meeting on .

Board president James Hickey said he released the list of wages and benefits for the sake of “research” and so the board would consider the numbers before hiring any new firefighters, including .

“Our firemen have earned every penny that they make,” Hickey read from a prepared statement. “But the reality of the situation is (that) times are tough and we cannot afford to pay them as much as I personally would like them to make.

"All government bodies are re-evaluating employee salaries and benefits and hiring practices. This crosses all political boundaries and demographics. It is even going on on a national level under President (Barack) Obama.”

In wages and overtime, the average Orland firefighter made close to $100,000 in 2010. That’s because they work 56 hours a week, rain or shine, according to district firefighter Walter Rafacz, vice president of local 2754, who also spoke publicly Tuesday.

“We don’t feel like we’re being attacked,” he said. “I’d like the board to remember that those salaries (represent) hours worked … We also do a lot that we don’t get paid for,” he added, noting that the district’s firefighters volunteer for specialty teams that handle hazardous materials.

“I know there’s a national movement to villanize the teachers, the firefighters and the police,” he continued. “I hope the board doesn’t jump on that national movement. I think we earn what we get.”

As an example, Rafacz spoke from experience.

“My wife almost miscarried,” he said. “Ambulance 6 came and got us and took us over to Christ (Hospital), and we have a two year old because of that ambulance.”

Hickey reiterated that he supports and respects the firefighters and said he has no intention of outsourcing the district’s ambulance service, like some neighboring communities.

However, Hickey was more critical of his critics with reporters after the meeting.

"I've never done anything wrong other than open up the door to all the information that our fire district has," he said. "As we come out, we can start detailing (how) we cut this, we cut this, we cut this, we cut this.

"I know right now the public really doesn't understand everything. But when they get their rebate checks in January and February, and everybody sees that they got this rebate check from the fire district, then I believe you're going to start seeing people say, 'Wow, Jim,'" — adding hand-clapping — "'great job on cutting our taxes, and getting us back some money.' Until they see that happen, I think it's really the only people that are causing all the outcries right now are the people that liked things to be behind the scenes, they liked it to be hidden, they didn't want people knowing what they made. And you know, we're gonna open that all up."

Campaign Fundraiser

Apparently not all fire trustees were invited to . During the board meeting, trustee Martin McGill told Hickey that a certain local vendor was under the presumption that if his business didn’t donate money to Hickey’s campaign his business couldn’t work with the district anymore.

“I just hope we’re not starting a pay-to-play policy here in our district,” McGill said.

Hickey winced, looked at neighboring trustee Christopher Evoy and then approached the microphone to call the accusation “outrageous.”

“I apologize then, Jim,” McGill responded, smiling. “I won’t do it again."

After the meeting, Hickey said that vendors who contribute to his campaign funds will not be shown favor through district contracts, which can be viewed online.

The fundraiser "is about celebration of a new day at the fire district," he added, "and whether someone donates or doesn't donate, it doesn't matter."

Public Service Announcements

Two months from now, will begin showing Orland Fire public service announcements depicting a drowning boy, driveway accident and electrical fire on all 15 of its screens during movie previews.

The PSAs had been made more than a year ago but were never shown on the big screen, as Hickey said district officials had thought. Instead, they had been featured on the television sets near the concession stand, on mute, he said.

A representative of Marcus could not be reached for comment.

For $3,800 the fire district is planning to edit the videos to include footage of the new administrative building, awarding Angelo Lazzara Productions the contract. The new PSAs will run for two years at Marcus at a cost of $11,520.