Fire Commissioners Offer Settlement to Former Chief

The Woodinville Fire & Rescue Board of Commissioners emerged from an executive session special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 31, to announce a settlement offer to former fire chief I. David Daniels. 

The offer, which passed in a 4-0 vote (commissioner Kevin Coughlin was not present for the meeting), includes a six-month severance package plus an education stipend not to exceed $9,500. Board president Tim Osgood said Daniels was working on his doctorate in human resources management and the board felt strongly it should cover the remainder of this academic year. 

Daniels has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 9, when the board voted unanimously to enter into “separation and resignation” negotiations. 

“Both sides got to a point of, where is this going to go as far as the discord between labor, the effect it is having on morale, the effect it’s having on us getting positive work done, and again, it’s a mutual thing,” Osgood said, adding that the situation got to a point where “maybe a change in the position was necessary.”

The offer, which will now be sent to Daniels’ legal counsel for acceptance, is more than the three months’ severance stipulated in Daniels' current contract (see PDF).

Daniels’ contract runs until Dec. 31, 2013 and pays him $160,000 annually. The article in Daniels’ contract that addresses termination reads as follows:

Article XVII: In the event of termination of the employment of the Fire Chief, for any reason and whether by request of the Fire Chief or action of the District, the Fire Chief shall receive the following compensation:

• Current monthly salary prorated to the date of termination.
• Reimbursement of unpaid out of pocket authorized expenses.
• Salary equivalent for accrued banked time through the month of termination.
• If this agreement is terminated by the District without cause prior to December 31, 2010, the Fire Chief shall not be entitled to any severance payment; provided, however, in the event the Agreement is terminated any time after December 31. 2010, the Fire Chief shall be entitled to three (3)months’ severance pay if terminated in 2011 (paid out over three months), four (4) months’ severance pay if terminated in 2012 (paid out over four months), and five (5) months’ severance pay if terminated in 2013 (paid out over five months).

Daniels’ 19-month tenure in Woodinville was rocky almost from the start, culminating July 19 when International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2950 announced a  in the chief.

The board members thanked one another for the seriousness with which each member took the negotiations and the cooperation each received in coming to a decision all could agree on.

“Dave did everything we asked of him. We hope to go forward now with positive actions dealing with Chief Chubb,” said Commissioner Bob Miller. “We look forward to working with the union administration to get the district on track and deal with current issues.”

Miller added that the board has the best interest of the taxpayers at heart. Commissioner Gerry Vucci agreed with Miller, adding that the district is staffed with talented dedicated people. Commissioner Clint Olson said Daniels brought a lot of good talent to the district. 

“The work of our board is just and it’s been timely considering the things that have happened, the things that have been influencing this major decision that we’ve taken,” Osgood said after the vote. “And again I appreciate the board’s support to find a reasonable settlement offer that we all can support.”

On Aug. 15, the board appointed , who had been serving as deputy chief, as interim chief until a new chief is named.

Correction: previous versions of this story erroneously named Clint Olson, Ken.