The Estes Valley Fire Protection District continues to experience leadership turmoil. Jason Dillingham, one of the two interim chiefs appointed June 23 to fill in for Chief Paul Capo, who is on paid administrative leave, stepped down from the temporary role Friday, July 11. Stacey Sutherland, appointed as a co-interim chief with Dillingham, will assume the full role of interim chief.
In June, the Board appointed a two-member subcommittee to determine how to compensate the two interim chiefs. The subcommittee recommended paying Dillingham and Sutherland a monthly bonus. Dillingham was to be paid $1,200 a month in addition to his salary, and Sutherland was to be paid $800 in addition to her wages.
After Dillingham resigned from the interim chief role on Friday, the board decided to pay Sutherland $1,500 per month going forward. Per the subcommittee’s original recommendation, Dillingham and Sutherland will each receive prorated bonuses from June 23 through July 11.
Dillingham was hired in May as the division chief of operations and training. Sutherland, a lieutenant who is an EMT and firefighter, has been with the District since 2022. According to the District’s website, Sutherland has 15 years of emergency medical experience and 20 years of management and customer service experience.
Sutherland told the Directors she would draw on the expertise and support of her fellow chiefs and department colleagues to carry out her duties as the District’s interim chief.
Joshua Leeds, an Estes Park resident and a candidate for the EVFPD board this past May, addressed the Board during public comment to request information and transparency about why the EVFPD was paying the salary of a full-time chief on administrative leave in addition to two interim chiefs. He asked the Board for clarity about the situation.
“I’m here today to ask for some more transparency regarding the fire chief’s paid administrative leave and the subsequent hiring of two interim co-chiefs,” said Leeds. “This situation means taxpayers, including myself, are paying for three salaries for one job with no public explanation. I understand privacy. However, I personally would like to know why this is happening and the true financial impact. I urge the board to provide this information. Thank you.”
EVFPD President Sandra Smith said the board cannot comment on the investigation into why Capo was placed on administrative leave or how long the investigation is expected to take. Smith said the firm conducting the investigation keeps the board informed of the progress of that process.
The board deferred adopting a strategic plan for the EVFPD until the chief’s administrative leave situation is resolved. The Board will hold an extended meeting July 28 to allow Division Chief of Support Services Jon Landkamer to present information on the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code. This state-mandated code focuses on wildfire resiliency and details construction and property maintenance regulations in wildland-urban interface areas. The July 28 meeting will begin at 3:30.
An online observer disturbed Monday’s meeting by breaking into the recording and broadcasting system and repeatedly shouting racist expletives. One person in the room who could see the computer screen of the administrative assistant in charge of operating the meeting technology told the Estes Valley Voice that the interloper appeared to have been indecently exposed and suggested that the interruption may also have been a looped recording.
The platform that records meetings and allows people to observe them remotely was quickly disconnected, and another method for recording the meeting was employed. The Board president asked the administrative personnel to consult with the District’s IT department to ensure that the situation does not happen again.
Last month, following the ambush of firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the Directors voted to have police security present at its board meetings. Estes Park Police Chief Ian Stewart was in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
In other business, the District voted to hire CPS HR Consulting, a human resources and management consulting firm. In a bid to the District, CPS HR wrote, “We understand that the District’s Board of Directors is seeking a consultant to assist with Human Resources needs in the organization and to help strengthen its organizational culture by providing a safe, professional and welcoming work environment. This may include creating an anonymous, secure, and effective platform for reporting safety concerns, incidents, or unethical behavior within the District.”
During the discussion, Directors indicated they were impressed with the firm’s “Safe to Tell” program, which allows employees to report concerns anonymously.
The brief meeting was adjourned after only 35 minutes.
The EVFPD Board will meet today at 3 p.m. in the Town Hall boardroom with the Town Trustees for a special joint study session to discuss the Town’s sales tax support for the District.
The Town has an intergovernmental agreement with the EVFPD related to its sales tax contribution to the District. As the Town prepares to evaluate options for a new police department and public safety facility, it is exploring funding options, including sales tax revenues.