Meeting of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District Trustees: Facilitating Info Flow and The Search for a Deputy Chief

Life on Gabriola TV presents video of the Feb. 7, 2024 meeting of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District Trustees.

Comprised of seven members, the board provides long-range planning and oversight for the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department, in tandem with Fire Chief Will Sprogis.

At this meeting, the Trustees consider a draft of a communications policy intended to facilitate access to information for the public and local media. They approve the new policy, along with a planning committee proposal to distribute a survey that will seek general input from the public. Updated election policies are discussed, and the Fire Chief reports on training activities, grants, and the ongoing need for a full-time Deputy Fire Chief. The Board approves his request to unlock $26,000 from deployment funds, which will be used instead to top up the salary being offered for the Deputy position.

Board Chair Paul Giffin reports on Freedom of Information requests and their effects on the board and department. He notes that the board has hired a firm called Privacy Works to assist in responding to the requests. Finally, the board approves a date for the next annual general meeting, and Trustee Diana Moher reads a historical article about the founding of the fire department and dissension at the time.

01:35: Approval of minutes
02:23: Correspondence
03:18: Communications Committee report
07:36: Planning Committee report
14:37: Business Email Committee report
15:03: Election Committee report
25:38: Fire Chief report
39:50: Privacy Act Requests
47:20: AGM date
48:37: Late Items
54:55: Comments and questions from public
56:25: Adjournment