Back off, citizens tell mayor

Supporters of the Cathlamet Fire Department jammed the River Street Meeting Room Monday to tell Mayor George Wehrfritz to back off from efforts to change financial oversight of department accounts.

Wehrfritz and department officers began butting heads in September with the release of the town's proposed 2011 budget. In it, Wehrfritz proposed cost-cutting measures such as having department trucks and ambulance use Wahkiakum County's fuel dock instead of commercial gas stations and also having the First Aid Division pay a share of administrative costs equal to the fire department's share. He also wanted accounting changes so that funds were easier to track. Firemen replied that their budgets were in good shape and that the changes wouldn't help the department.

In October, town officials learned that First Aid Division funds were being managed in a private bank account established for that purpose by Assistant Chief Bill Faubion in 1980. At the council's October meeting, town and department officials discussed a plan to move those funds into a town account.

After that meeting, a department member and his wife were arrested on charges that they had been using a department credit card to buy gasoline for their private vehicle.

Wehrfritz responded by ordering the end of the private account and immediate move of department funds into a town account; he also ordered a variety of other measures, including use of the county fuel dock and increased oversight of fuel purchases.

Fire department members reacted angrily, saying they had already increased oversight and handled the circumstances that led to the theft; they also said the mayor's actions and statements to the press maligned the reputation of the department and their members.

About 60 people attended the Monday meeting, with many criticizing the mayor's actions.

At the end of the discussion, however, officials agreed to wait for a report from state auditors before formally changing the accounts. They also agreed to meet to work out a compromise on fuel purchases in which fire trucks would fuel at the county dock but ambulances would fuel at service stations for the convenience of volunteers.

Finally, the council declined to consider a proposed ordinance that would have put the fire department under control of the council. The department is operating under an ordinance written in 1932 that puts the department under control of the president of the Cathlamet Commercial Club, which has been reorganized into the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce.

Councilmember Bob Rendler said he had researched the issue with the Municipal Research Council which said that the town council is an advisory body, not an administrative body, and thus couldn't manage the fire department. The research council also said, "All work under the pleasure of the mayor."

Citizens and department members had lots to say to the mayor.

"I have been told over and over that we have a model department," said First Aid Division volunteer Carol Wegdahl. "I know also that the people in charge of the department are honest and they and their dads have done their best for the department.

"This department has to stay strong for this county. I ask you work with the officers of the department."

Shirley Rose, whose job had been to handle First Aid Division finances, said state auditors had inspected the system in the past and found it to be working well. The mayor's actions had smeared her reputation and the department's reputation, she said.

"These people are volunteers," said Paul Schreiber. "We should be kissing their butts, not tearing down their integrity.

"Mr. Mayor, you have to take care of these folks, they're taking care of us."

So went the comments.

Wehrfritz commented that the changes he ordered aren't personal attacks.

"This is about accounting," he said. He added that state auditors have requested changes in the past, and the town hasn't yet accomplished all of them. Also, strict accounting is needed so that the town doesn't jeopardize grants and other funding.

Some citizens supported Wehrfritz.

"The fire department and emergency medical service walk on water," said Audey Belcher, "but everyone is accountable." She urged the parties to work together to resolve their differences.

"The question is one of fiduciary responsibility," said Puget Island resident Dennis Gordon. "The mayor and the council have to account for funds. The issue is, again, financial responsibility, and right now you don't have it."

Gordon later tried to say that department members feel attacked, but "what you have is a problem with administration, a few key administrators." At that point, the audience shouted him down.