Fire Dept. Panel Asks for More Time

Delayed by the recent resignation of their chairman, members of a citizens committee examining problems in the Ventura County Fire Department say they need more time to finish their study.

The group, set up by the Board of Supervisors after a county audit found waste in the department, will ask county officials today to extend its deadline until April 21.

Members said problems arose several weeks ago when chairman Bill Esty quit as a sign of support for Fire Chief George Lund. Lund, frustrated over the county’s decision to exclude the department from Proposition 172 funding, announced that he would retire at the end of the month.

“It set us back a little,” said Simi Valley Councilwoman Sandi Webb, one of a dozen people serving on the committee. “You wind up spending a lot of time discussing that kind of stuff instead of the other issues.” Webb said she believed that the group, which has been meeting twice a month, could conclude its work in a few more sessions.

The supervisors established the committee in October after the auditor-controller’s office concluded that the department was top-heavy with managers, spent too much on overtime and was lax with sick leave.

Board members had originally picked two dozen people representing every area of the county to serve on the committee. So far, only half have participated in the sessions.

The supervisors asked the group to identify ways to make the department more efficient and report back with their findings by April 7.

Meanwhile, county officials say they are considering hiring a consultant to help find a replacement for Lund, who retires Thursday. In the meantime, Robert Holaway, deputy fire chief, is in line to serve as interim chief, officials said.