Fire board extends office space to Town
One good deed deserves another.
In a retaliatory good faith measure, the Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously agreed to allow two Town code enforcement officers use of an office on a full-time basis in the Fire Administrative Building on Voorhis Avenue.
This move comes nearly one year after Town officials invited the fire commissioners to hold meetings in Town Hall. The fire board began using the Town facility in January of 2010.
After the holidays, Fire Chief Mike Becker and Town Manager Terry Stewart will meet to hash out the details and determine when the arrangement will begin. It is expected to be in February 2010.
“In an effort to foster cooperative relations to our local government, it seems feasible to honor this request in efforts of facilitating a reduced expense to the Town so that they do not have to purchase additional office space,” said Becker. “Anything we can do to lower the cost to the taxpayer should be seen as a benefit.”
According to Becker, the use of Town Hall has been a nice fit for fire commission meetings. Since the move from Fire Station #31 to Council Chambers, the fire board meetings have been televised, and there is ample parking spaces and meeting room space for any resident or visitor who wishes to attend the meetings.
“I think it shows good faith relations with other taxing districts in the area,” said Becker.
The fire commissioners echoed that sentiment before fully approving to allow the office space access.
I think we should cooperative with the Town,” said Commissioner David Brower.
“I think we should cooperate with them,” said Commissioner Betty Goodacre.
Within the motion, a cautionary agreement to serve as an out clause may be instituted as part of the contract. Fire Board Attorney Richard Pringle stated a typical provision in such a contract would involved a termination clause in a unilateral situation upon 60 days notice or greater at any time.
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The Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners elected new officers, then set meeting and workshop dates for 2012 as part of its agenda items at Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Commissioner David Brower was selected as chairman over incumbent Carol Morris, while Commissioner John Scanlon was chosen as vice chair over incumbent Ted Schindler. Betty Goodacre regained the secretary/treasurer position, a duty she has held in the past.
The FMB Fire Commissioners decided to keep the basic schedule structure intact. They will continue to hold their regular meetings in Council Chambers in Town Hall on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The only exceptions, thus far, will occur in the first two months of 2012. Due to a schedule meeting conflict with Town Council, the January meeting will be held on Jan. 24 and the February session will still be held on Feb. 21, but at Fire Station #31 instead. Town Council is scheduled to meet in Council Chambers that evening.
Regarding workshops, the fire commissioners thought about reducing the every month schedule to every other month. In the end, they decided to meet each month for workshops but on an optional individual basis.
“Personally, I think I am one of the proponents of having the workshops. I think they have made these meetings run much smoother, and we have had more ability to have free interchange that we can’t really have in the meeting format,” said Commissioner Ted Schindler.
However, the fire board did agree to not hold a workshop in January and September.