Fire alarms going off at the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Board meetings
To the editor:
The fire alarm that’s going off that no one is hearing is going off at the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire District Commoners meetings.
Our fire chief has fired one of his employees, without cause, and now we taxpayers are on the hook for $750,000 to settle the lawsuit filed by the ex-deputy chief that our chief promoted and then fired.
All this was done while hiding the lawsuit from the general public through illegal closed door meetings attended by their attorney.
Instead of lowering our taxes, these elected Fire Commissioners have used the maximum limit allowed by state statutes to tax us, making statements that the district can’t afford not to get the maximum possible taxes to run the district.
In last meeting, our Commissioners had no qualms over paying $750,000 for settling the fired employee’s lawsuit. Strange they couldn’t lower our taxes but took no actions toward the folks involved with causing this massive loss of taxpayer money.
The next thing these Commissioners are planning is the purchase of a ladder truck. Think this is a good idea? Think again. There is a cap on building heights in our district, because the fire district doesn’t have the equipment for reaching higher buildings. The new truck will allow developers unlimited building heights.
Is it time for a recall of these mindless tax-and-spend Commissioners with goals of creating and expanding developers building heights with no regards toward maintaining any laws and rules governing the district?
Leo Amos
Matlacha