Fire board tries to distance itself from charity flap

Legal counsel advised the board not to interfere with the union's fundraising.

"The union is a separate entity," warned Andrew Salzman, the attorney for the Spring Hill Fire Board of Commissioners. "What they do with their fundraising is done at their peril."

Fire Commissioner Rob Giammarco agreed, but said he did not want to sit back and do nothing.

He made a motion asking fellow board members to have Salzman draft a letter instructing the union to include a disclaimer that he hoped would prevent future confusion. He also asked Chief Mike Rampino to sign it.

Giammarco wanted residents to know the next time they received an invoice from the Professional Firefighters of Spring Hill and they agreed to send a check, they would be sending the money to the union and not the fire district.

"If we sit here and do nothing, it's like we're condoning (it)," he said.

The board voted 4-0 in favor of drafting the letter.

Ronald Wegner sparked the controversy when he complained to lawmakers that his mother received an invoice from the union that looked like a bill. On Wednesday he had his first opportunity to convey his disgust before the Spring Hill Fire Board of Commissioners.

It so closely resembled a bill that he refused to call it an invoice when he addressed the fire board. He was still fuming over it.

"The issue is the bill," said Wegner, whose voice grew louder. "There is $30 written on it. There's an account number and a date. It's a bill. It's not a solicitation."

The invoice was delivered to his mother's address at Timber Pines after she died. It came from Bay Area Council Inc., an agency contracted with the Professional Firefighters of Spring Hill to solicit donations on its behalf.

The funds are then distributed to charities chosen by union members.

Wegner said a disclaimer was "not good enough."

He said he has contacted state and federal authorities, claiming the letter was designed to deceive seniors.

Scott Edmisten, who is president of the union, said his group has been collecting money through an outside telemarketing agency for 15 years. Others said the same during the meeting.

"That doesn't make it right," Wegner said in a booming voice.

He then directed his attention to the board.

"You need to make this right," he said. "Your attorney needs to make this right."

Further controversy came after Hernando Today reported last week that 15.9 percent of the revenues collected by Bay Area Council went to its affiliates. The rest paid for the company's salaries, benefits and expenses.

In 2007, Bay Area Council collected at total of more than $479,000 and distributed about $76,000 to the eight fire unions it represents across the Tampa region, including those in Spring Hill and Hernando County.