There have been statements recently about whether the Fire Board followed proper process with regard to a complaint: one side says they did, one side says they didn't. We looked at the policy to see who was correct.
Wayne Mercier has posted two documents: a standalone copy of the complaints policy (posted April 2024) and the GFPID Handbook of Governing Policies (June 2024, currently under review). We also obtained a 2017 copy of the policy. The policy has evolved in its details, but relevant clauses remain essentially unchanged throughout. From the most recent version:
Complaints against any of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District's Trustees, personnel, or Fire Chief must be in writing and shall be directed to the Chairman of the GFPID.
The chairman of the GFPID shall within 2 working days, call a special meeting of the Trustees, to be held within 7 days after calling the meeting, to review the complaint and decide upon a course of action to rectify the situation.
...
The Fire Chief shall be present to hear the complaint and explain their position in regard to the complaint after which they may be requested to leave the meeting to allow the Trustees to further discuss the matter.
If the complaint has come from a person or persons outside the GFPID they may be requested to attend as in the above paragraph. [emphasis in red added]
The first section does not include a requirement to meet with internal complainants. However, further on, it differentiates between complaints against members/officers and the fire chief, and states:
Any complaint regarding the Fire Chief shall be directed to the Chair of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District and copied to the Fire Chief's office.
The Chair shall, within 2 working days of receiving the complaint, call a special meeting of the Trustees. The meeting will be held within 7 working days and the Trustees shall review the complaint and decide upon a course of action to rectify the situation.
...
The person or persons who filed or are named in the complaint shall be present and explain their position, after which they may be requested to leave the meeting to allow the Fire Chief/and or Trustees, if applicable, to further consider the matter.
If the complaint has come from a person or person outside of the GVFD they may be requested to attend, as in the above paragraph. [emphasis in red added]
OUR VERDICT
The complaint under question was regarding the fire chief and involved a serving firefighter, so although the board could certainly choose to turn the issue over to a third party for mediation/resolution afterwards, and doing so might be the most appropriate approach in context, the requirement to meet with the complainant would apply.