North Kitsap Fire & Rescue has pulled out of consolidation talks with Chimacum-based Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 and Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue.
The abrupt action was taken at the start of a Tuesday night joint meeting among the boards representing the three districts.
After excusing themselves to meet about personnel matters, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue commissioners returned to vote unanimously that they were breaking off talks with the two Jefferson County districts.
Fire District 1 and Port Ludlow commissioners met Wednesday night in Port Ludlow to discuss what’s next.
“What will happen in the future, I do not know,” said District 1 Fire Chief Chuck Boggs.
“We’re still consolidating with Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue right now. We’re trying to consolidate with more potential partners.”
Boggs characterized Tuesday night’s move by North Kitsap as a surprise.
“Their stated reason is a difference in philosophy,” Boggs said Wednesday night.
“Philosophy can cover a lot of things.
“It wasn’t easy for them to decide. It’s something that they had a hard time to do, and we certainly respect them for being honest.”
Access to training tower
Boggs said the two districts will still have access to North Kitsap’s training tower in Kingston as well as administrative help and advice, including a proposed tax “levy lift” election that the fire boards are considering.
Following Tuesday night’s vote, North Kitsap Board Chairman Red Denson said his district’s taxpayers would not be served by continuation of the consolidation effort under present circumstances.
“We had hoped that the boards’ differences would begin to complement each other as we moved through the process. But it hasn’t happened,” said Denson.
“Many of the other districts’ board members are experienced people with lots of management talent, and they’re very hands-on in their approach,” he said.
“By contrast, our board defines an objective, gets out of the way and lets our folks get the job done.”
In August, Port Ludlow Commissioner Bob Pontius raised concerns about the fire chiefs’ draft plan for consolidation.
The document called for all firefighters, including those stationed in Jefferson County, to be employees of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue.
And tax dollars raised in the Jefferson districts would be deposited into a joint account with the Kitsap County treasurer, Pontius said.
