Fire bosses will discuss absences, fire police

Fire commissioners will discuss a resolution for excused and unexcused absences from meetings with their attorney Wednesday.

The public meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District's headquarters at 3445 Bob Hartung Court.

The board also will discuss the volunteer status of the fire police. Newly appointed Ben Edwards is a fire police captain.

The issue was put on the agenda at the request of Fire Commissioner Rob Giammarco. The fire police unit is an independent, volunteer entity that raises money on its own, but Giammarco said some taxpayer dollars are spent on their services and appearances at public events.

Giammarco also suggested having Edwards serve on the board was a conflict of interest. The fire police captain is under the chief's command, but fire commissioners have authority over the chief, Giammarco argued.

The absences resolution comes on the heels of the recent absences of Fire Commissioner John Pasquale, who missed consecutive meetings because of personal reasons.

Giammarco asked attorney Andrew Salzman for more clarity on the absences policy.