Charity controversy is a matter for the union, fire chief says

It's going to be up to the union whether it will continue to hire Bay Area Council for its charity soliciting, the fire chief told county commissioners Tuesday.

Spring Hill Fire Chief Mike Rampino said he has consulted with the fire board's attorney, who said it would be unwise for board members to interfere with labor practices.

Local fire unions came under fire last week following reports that Bay Area Council, a Port Richey-based telemarketing company, had collected nearly a half-million dollars in revenue for 2007 and only distributed 15.9 percent of it to its affiliates.

The rest went toward the company's salaries, benefits and expenses, according to state records.

The Professional Firefighters of Spring Hill and the Hernando County Professional Firefighters have been doing business with the agency for years. Bay Area Council also has contracts with fire unions in Hillsborough, Polk and Citrus counties, records showed.

"The fire union is going to have to work it out with the agency they've hired to solicit for them," Rampino told the county commission.

The subject was brought up at the start of Tuesday's meeting by Spring Hill resident Ken Fagan, a frequent critic of the Spring Hill fire board and district.

Spring Hill residents voted last year to have their own independent fire district. The county no longer oversees its budget or has final say on labor agreements.

County Administrator David Hamilton said the matter must be discussed and resolved by the Spring Hill Fire Board of Commissioners.

The fire board meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the district's headquarters on Bob Hartung Court.

In other county commission news:

The executive director of the Florida Association of Counties did not show for Tuesday's meeting, but sent a message asking commissioners to reconsider its decision to not renew their membership.

In September, the board voted 5-0 to sever ties with the organization, a move that was expected to save the county $22,300.

The association has since tried to woo back the county.

Commissioners said Tuesday they interpreted Executive Director Chris Holley's no show as a concession.

"Evidently, he read our (newspaper) clips," Commission Dave Russell told Hamilton during the meeting.