Derek Kilbourn
Sounder News
The Gabriola Fire Chief is asking the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District to approve the creation of a full-time Assistant Fire Chief position.
Fire Chief Will Sprogis made the request during his report at the monthly meeting of the Fire Board held on May 7.
He said the department is proposing to create the third full-time chief position in lieu of the full-time captain position role he had proposed earlier this year.
Sprogis said the role would fulfill the administrative needs, including equipment and supplies management, as well as acting as a duty officer and covering overtime.
“We ask the trustees to consider this proposal and bring it to the next Finance Committee meeting.”
Fire Board Chair Paul Giffin asked Sprogis, “so you would like a motion to review requiring an assistant chief?”
Sprogis said he was asking for a motion for the Finance Committee to review the proposal.
Trustee John Moeller pointed out that the Chief was asking this to replace the full-time captain proposal, which had been discussed at the March finance committee meeting.
During the March meeting, Moeller stated the creation a third full-time position would save the department roughly $30,000.
He had explained 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.
Chief Sprogis had rescinded the request for the full-time captain at the April meeting.
During the Question and Answer period at the end of the meeting, the Chair was asked when the next Finance Committee would take place.
Giffin said it hadn’t been scheduled yet, but that when it was, it would be put in the Sounder.
Deployment Money asked to be put toward Extrication Equipment
Sprogis noted the department is preparing the type two tactical tender, aka The Little Donkey, for deployment during wildfire season in BC.
The department has in previous years provided the tender and Gabriola crews to the provincial wildfire efforts, and has been compensated for that.
This year, Sprogis said, the department would like funds raised from deployment to be put specifically towards purchasing new extrication equipment.
The current equipment, he said, is starting to age, being 27 years old.
Sprogis said there is new extrication equipment included in the long-term plan, but that purchase is planned for a couple years from now.
“So if we did get a deployment, and if we had enough money, we could advance bringing in that equipment.”
Civil Suit response filed
In March, the former Corporate Officer of the Fire District filed a civil suit against the Board, Chair Giffin, Chief Sprogis, and an unknown John Doe.
At the May 7 meeting, Giffin acknowledged the board has filed its response to the civil suit, stating the response could be found in the Sounder (April 30, 2025 edition).
Giffin said, “the board trustees will have no further comment other than what’s in the paper.”
Interim Corporate Officer and Administrative Assistant hired
The board has hired an interim corporate officer and administrative assistant, Marjorie Colebrook.
Giffin noted this is an interim position, and part-time, while the Board starts a hiring process for a new corporate officer and administrative assistant.
Office hours for now will be Mondays and Tuesdays, 9-2 and Thursdays from 9 to 4.
For GVFD service outside those hours, contact the Duty Officer at 250-755-9289. The email for the corporate officer is corporateofficer@gabriolafire.ca
HR Guidelines not readily available or in digital format
During the Question and Answer section of the meeting, a member of the public asked, if they wanted to get a copy of the Department’s operational policies, including the Human Resources policies.
Chief Sprogis confirmed those would be part of the operational policies.
Chair Giffin said the person could probably ask for a copy – saying it’d be 50 or so pages.
When asked if it was available in digital format, Sprogis said, “not currently.”
Giffin said, “I was going to say, send us an email and lay out what you want, and then we’ll, we’ll figure out how we can get it to you.”
No advance or mail-in ballots for 2025 election
The board was asked if there were plans this year to offer advance voting or mail-in ballots for the 2025 Fire board Election.
Chair Giffin said, “the only way you vote is the day of the vote.”
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