No Word On 11 Hires, Firefighters’ Flu Shots Shut Down

Orland Fire Protection District trustees were split two votes in favor and two votes against continuing to pay for flu shots for firefighters, and without a majority in favor from the five-person board the motion was rejected.

Board president James Hickey and treasurer Chris Evoy voted against the flu shots, while trustees Martin McGill and Glenn Michalek voted in favor of continuing the program. Trustee Blair Rhode was absent.

The flu shot program costs about $3,000 total for each firefighter to receive a shot, though in past years the shots have been offered, about a third of firefighters took advantage, said Orland Fire Lt. Mark Duke during .

Evoy said taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for flu shots, while McGill countered that preventing illness means less sick days needed to be used.

“If you can tell me that they will 100 percent not get sick after the flu shot, I can support it,” Evoy said. “But if not, have the individuals cover it.”

11 Hires Still in Limbo

A staffing analysis to decide whether the district should add 11 new firefighters, whose employment was approved before the new trustees took their seats, has yet to come to a conclusion. At the July 26 board meeting, Hickey said the study was . On Tuesday night he said nothing specific is holding up the study.

“We are hoping that some of our firefighters that are eligible for early retirement take that retirement, and that will help our decision,” Hickey said about the 11 hires. “We’re hoping to get some more numbers between now and next meeting and we’ll make a decision.”

McGill read from a letter earlier in Tuesday’s meeting from one of the 11 hires, who asked for the hiring list to freeze until a time came where they could be brought on.

“The reason being there’s a lot of money that they invested in polygraphs, psychological, medical, background examinations,” McGill said. “It’s the first time I have ever seen something like this.”

McGill suggested the board looks into a freeze, and Hickey said he was in favor of that. Michalek and Evoy did not comment.    

Public Comments

Gillian Mandekich, an Orland Hills resident whose husband works for the district as a firefighter, took the floor to ask Hickey what public office he will be running for, and why Hickey would be in favor of refunds as opposed to abatements, which may cost less than refunds to carry out.

Former trustee Bob Cacciato then questioned why closed session meeting minutes had not been approved, and criticized the board for not voting in favor of the flu shots.

No response was made to the comments.