Big changes at the Central Fire District

Big changes ahead for the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County, covering Capitola, Live Oak and Soquel. On Tuesday, the district’s fire chief is let go with a big severance package. Union leaders are left scratching their heads, after fighting pay cuts over the past two years.

“This strikes us as the sort of action that you would have found in the city of bell. I believe it was the city council that ended up receiving significant criminal prosecutions for political corruption,” said Union President, Brian Aluffi.

Union leaders say they’ve been at odds with the central fire district board members for about the past two years as it considered an 18% cut to firefighter’s salaries.

“There was about a dozen members of our local that would have ended up losing their homes as a result of it,” said Aluffi.

But after looking at major budget cuts within the department, in August, board members ended up agreeing on a 9% raise for the firefighters instead.

“It seems to us that that was being used as a negotiating tactic, but whether that was the case or not we don’t have confirmation,” said Aluffi.

We tried to speak with board members, but no one was available. During Tuesday’s board meeting, members originally planned to consider a 9% raise for Central Fire Chief Jeff Maxwell, but they had a change of heart.

“They reported out of closed session that there was a 6-1 vote in favor of terminating Chief Maxwell’s contract,” said Aluffi.

Union President Brian Aluffi says firefighters weren’t opposed to him being fired, but rather the 95-thousand dollars in severance pay he is getting. They are also questioning a big pay raise for a business services manager over the next three years.

“When a public employee signs a contract for 90-thousand dollars a year, and then increase it by 58% with a generous severance package, it begins to look like favoritism, abuse, and dare I say corruption,” said Local Resident Wil Wingert.

Now the union says its considering legal action, saying the board is not acting responsibly.

“We will be seeking conversation with the district attorney’s office, the grand jury, as well as the attorney general’s office. We hope to bring some attention to that,” said Aluffi.

Four new board seats are also up for grabs during the November election. The union is hoping to see better leadership.

“We’re just trying to make sure the taxpayers get as much as they can for the services they expect,” said Aluffi.