Sounder file photo
Jamie Ovens (left) is presented with the Deputy Fire Chief helmet by Gabriola Fire Chief Sprogis after being hired on to the GVFD in July of 2024.
Derek Kilbourn
Sounder News
Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis is asking the Board of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District to approve the creation of a full-time Captain position in the department.
The position is estimated to come at a cost of $70,000.
Sprogis was reporting to the Finance Committee of the Fire Board on March 5. The committee met just prior to the regular Board meeting.
He said the position would come from combining the Senior Day Firefighter position with the Duty Officer position.
It would also allow for the new full-time employee to cover when Sprogis or the Deputy Chief are on holidays, which is expected to save the department on overtime costs.
Sprogis said, “we’re finding that with the cost of living on the island, that no one wants to take on the senior role – a part time position – and people need full time work with the cost of living, and cost of housing.
“So I think we should put it together, and maybe one position.”
Trustee John Moeller said what is currently happening, is when Sprogis goes on holidays, then Deputy Chief Jamie Ovens covers those hours. The same in reverse when Ovens goes on holidays. Both are accruing overtime when this happens.
Moeller said, “they’re both banking all this…overtime, because we can never catch up.
“So they’re both building up this liability in the department. This is very expensive.”
He said having another full-time person will reduce the overtime liability for the department.
It’s estimated the net savings for the department would be $30,000.
Sprogis said currently, when other firefighters are working as the Duty Officer, they are on a pager, wherever they happen to be on the island. That could be at home, or for many of the Duty Officers, being at their regular job.
This new position would mean the volunteers wouldn’t have to leave their day jobs, and the department would have the new person doing work at the Fire Hall.
Duties for the new position would include being at the Fire Hall during the day, doing truck checks, inventories, hose testing, and hall maintenance.
All while also maintaining a 90-second response ability for the Duty vehicle.
Sprogis said, “we’re paying duty officers now, but there’s no expectation other than to do duty office hours.
“With this position, it would be more efficient, we’d be getting labour out of them as well.”
Moeller said, “it makes sense, saves money, solves the problem of Will and Jamie having to take on overtime with the on duty shift. I think it’s a win-win.”
Trustee Diana Moher said she wanted to ensure there is a full conversation with the members of the department about the position before approving it, and to determine how the position would be advertised.
The Finance Committee agreed to bring the proposal to the full Board.
The Board has tabled the decision on the request until the next meeting of the Fire Board, as it consults with the members of the department and considers how the position will be advertised.
The next meeting of the Board is expected to be on April 2 at Fire Hall #1 at 4pm.
The Gabriola Fire web site shows a Finance Committee meeting taking place at 3:30pm at Fire Hall #1 just prior to the regular Board meeting. Finance Committee meetings are open to the public.
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