Dec 7, 2009 8:59 pm US/Mountain
Public Pays For Cell Phones For Fire Dept. Wives
Fairmount Fire Protection District 'Reviewing' Policies
Written by Brian Maass
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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Fairmount Fire Protection District Chief Don Angell talks to CBS4's Brian Maass.
CBS
The Fairmount Fire Protection District is "re-evaluating" its use of department cell phones after a CBS4 investigation revealed district taxpayers have paid thousands of dollars over the course of seven years for cell phones and monthly cell service for the fire chief's wife and the wives of two other top department commanders.
"Just because it's unusual doesn't mean it's unethical or immoral," said Fairmount Fire Protection District Chief Don Angell.
The CBS4 investigation found that of the department's 18 cell phones, three have been issued to the spouses of the top commanders so the wives can call, text or download as much as they like. One phone is being used by Angell's wife, another is being used by the wife of Deputy Chief Joel Hager and the third is in the hands of the wife of Battalion Chief Keith Long. A review of the last six months of department phone bills show the three phones cost the department an average of about $233 a month.
The Fairmount Fire Protection District -- a combination of volunteers and two dozen paid firefighters -- serve about 4,000 homes and businesses between Wheat Ridge and Golden. The department responds to about 600 calls for service each year.
Angell offered multiple justifications for having taxpayers pay for cell phones for spouses.
"To stay in touch with those who back and support us to do our job," Angell said.
He said he and his top commanders need to be able to reach their wives immediately since the fire administrators may have to jump on a plane in a matter of hours to help fight wildfires in other states. At another point, Angell said, "it's a benefit because we give duty 24/7." Angell made about $125,000 in salary for 2008 and received an $11,000 bonus. He also said the cell phone benefit was a swap for skills and services he and his top administrators provide to the district. Angell said he lent the district the use of a "bobcat" and paint sprayer this year, justifying his wife's cell phone. He said if the district rented a skid-steer and paint sprayer the agency would have spent more than the cost of his wife's cell phone.
Asked what services Long had provided in exchange for his wife's cell phone, Angell said Long worked as a consultant performing wildland fire mitigation work for private interests that would then pay the department for Long's expertise. But as of August of this year, Angell conceded Long had not actually done any such work that had brought in outside dollars to the department.
"We also give a lot to the district so I don't mind having small fringe benefits if that's what you call it. I call it a benefit to the taxpayers," Angell said.
But Craig Corbin, chairman of the board that oversees the fire district, told CBS4 he wasn't aware spouses of top commanders all had department funded phones.
"I didn't know about the chief's wife, I have to admit that I didn't know the chief's wife had a department cell phone, no," Corbin said.
In a follow up letter, Corbin wrote that "the board is re-evaluating the use of district cell phones ... by district personnel and spouses or other family members. The Board does not believe any misuse of public funds..." took place. "Future cell phone policy will be the subject of a written policy to be considered by the board at an upcoming meeting."
The district has also quickly constructed a new policy for the use of department credit cards after the CBS4 probe found thousands of dollars put on district credit cards for local restaurant meals with little or no documentation of who taxpayers were feeding or why, some purchases of alcohol and purchases of personal items.
Dozens of restaurant meals -- some totaling hundreds of dollars -- were simply labeled as "meeting meals" with no mention of who attended or what the meeting was about. Some of those meetings took place at area Burger Kings, Carl's Jr. or Smashburger restaurants. Still other local restaurant receipts seemed to indicate only one department member was present for the meal.
"To not document who you met for a business purpose, that is not satisfactory," said Kevin O'Brien, a business professor at University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. O'Brien, a former Internal Revenue Service agent and business ethics specialist, said department members need to disclose who they entertained and what was discussed "to make sure the employees of government are accountable and transparent in all activities using taxpayer funds." He said the lack of information "does create suspicion, it creates an appearance of impropriety."
In a follow up letter, board Chairman Craig Corbin wrote, "You have brought to light some areas in which we can certainly improve and will strive to make improvements now and in the future."
The department has also decided to curtail some of its gift giving that's come thanks to public money. Receipts show the public picked up the tab for a $31.49 birthday cake and card and a $42 gift certificate to a nail salon for the department secretary. It was labeled as a birthday gift. Another $61.60 was spent in September to buy Hager a gift card at Colorado Clays, a shooting range in Brighton. Hager also received a $6,000 bonus for his service in 2008.
The district now explains those were actually awards for good work or gifts for years of service that are given to employees on their birthdays. Administrators contend the public is not really paying for birthday presents, even though it may appear that way.
Additional Resources
Click here to see the Fairmount Fire Protection District's new credit card policy prompted by the CBS4 investigation.
Click here to read a Nov. 18 letter from the fire district board chairman responding to a series of CBS4 inquiries.
Click here to read a Dec. 4 letter from the fire district board chairman regarding department revenues.
(© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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