Fire District Board concurs with need for departmental financial advisor

The Maricopa Fire District’s governing board met Thursday, September 1. The major topics for the directors were the recruitment of a financial advisor for the Maricopa Fire Department, the purchasing of personal protective equipment for all new full-time hires and a budget update.

Financial advisor recruitment
Oliver Anderson moved to authorize Chief Bill Kelleher to continue the recruitment process for a fire department financial advisor. The position of financial advisor is currently being advertised online. Roger Kolman, the city’s finance director, wrote the job description, and the first interview will be held on Friday, September 2.

According to Chief Kelleher, “Mr. Chaston continues to do a fine job for us.” He added that the complexity of dealing with builders and developers necessitated the recruitment of an in-house person for the finance position.

“We are being advised by everybody to bring in some financial help,” explained Kelleher.

Board member John Sampson stated, ” The chief and his staff are quite capable of hiring. I have no problem with their decision.” The board agreed that a financial advisor could be hired and then brought to the board for confirmation.

Personal protective equipment
The board approved the establishment of an open purchase order for personal protective equipment for any newly hired firefighters. “The funds are there; we do have the money,” Kelleher added. He indicated that six additional hires would be made in the coming months.

Some of the protective clothing and equipment needed by each and every firefighter.

Board president Don Pearce noted, “We’ve got to have them (the equipment).”

Budget update
Jim Chaston of Do It Right Now Business Services presented a budget update, including a draft of the July statement, to the board. “The statements are not 100% accurate. I don’t have good beginning numbers,” said Chaston.

He suggested that, since the district has a pending outstanding liability, the board use some of the district’s reserve to book or accommodate the liability. “Let’s book it and move forward,” urged Chaston. “Let’s live in the future, not in the past.”

Several personnel costs, including salaries, paid on calls and taxes were reviewed. Classifications for some medical and office supplies as well as equipment maintenance need to be changed. “They need to go to capital expenditures,” explained Chaston.

Chaston also reminded the board that this was a draft, not a final report, and that the full audit report will come before the board.