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Fire commissioners decide to extend fire chief search

After a month of multiple meetings and a full day of interviews and assessments, Point Roberts fire commissioners glumly announced they still didn’t have a new chief.

“We have reviewed the applications, the assessment panel, our own interviews and background checks on the three candidates,” commissioner Susan Brownrigg announced at an October 27 special meeting of fire district #5 commissioners. “We have made the decision none of the three applicants meets the needs of the position here.”

The three finalists seeking the position of Point Roberts fire chief, as selected through the executive search department of Emergency Services Consulting, Inc. (ESCI), were in Point Roberts October 16 for a full day of interviews with commissioners, an assessment panel of community members, volunteers and other fire professionals. The finalists included a chief from Spokane looking for semi-retirement, a deputy chief from Oregon and a former assistant chief from Vashon Island.

When it was over, commissioners announced they didn’t have enough information. “I know this is a disappointment for all of you,” commissioner Gellatly told the candidates. “We have a hard time at this time doing a complete evaluation.” He said commissioners were requesting additional references and background checks and would reach a decision by the end of the month.

At the October 27 meeting Brownrigg said all the applicants were qualified. “I don’t think we got bad applicants,” she said. “Just not the right ones for here,” Gellatly agreed. Brownrigg made a motion to try again, posting the position through ESCI until the end of the year. Gellatly said he did not know if the district would be required to pay more on top of the $6,000 already paid in executive search fees to ESCI. “It did come with a guarantee,” he said.