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Show Fire commission changes members now appointed by RICK BROUGH Record staff writer The three commissioners of the Park City Fire Service District will now be appointed by the Summit County Commission, not elected. The commission approved the change at its July 31 meeting. . When a vacancy occurs on the fire board, a five-member committee has the power to submit nominees, at least two but not more than three. From this list, the county commission will select a replacement. Fire commissioner Jean Buchanan Buchan-an told the Record the change was made because there has been a high turnover rate among fire commissioners. commis-sioners. Buchanan said that in the 10-year existence of the fire district, only she and former Commissioner Bob Burns have completed their four-year terms. Buchanan also said that elections for fire commissioner could lead to divisiveness among the firefighters. She cited a volatile race in 1982 between fireman Jim White and Vince DeSimone for a commission seat. White won. The appointment of commissioners commission-ers also was supported by Park City Fire Chief Jim Berry who resigned effective Sept. 1. Berry said fire elections usually draw a low voter turn-out. "You have 10 percent of the voters deciding for 100 percent," he said. According to County General Services Director Stan Strebel, the five-member nominating committee would consist of: two fire commissioners, commis-sioners, a representative elected by the fire fighters, the planning director of Park City, and the general services director of the county. One city official wondered why the city is represented on the nominating committee by its planning director. Attorney Tom Clyde said it would be more appropriate to include the city building official (currently Ron Ivie) or even the treasurer. In recent years, the fire district has had an uneven record of filling its four-year commission seats, as Buchanan explained to the Record: In the '80s, only one "normal" district election has been held. After Bob Burns completed a four-year term, 1978 to 1982, Jim Wmte was elected to replace him. In 1980, Commissioners Jean Buchanan and Herb Johnson were up for re-election. However, a communications mishap led to both not filing for re-election by the official filing date. Buchanan and Johnson were re-elected on write-in votes. In early 1983, Johnson left his seat and the fire commission appointed Gary Vetterli to replace him. In May of 1984, the district was re-structured and the county commission com-mission also extended the commissioners' commis-sioners' terms by appointment. Buchanan was set to serve through the end of 1986, while White and Vetterli were appointed to serve through the end of 1988. (At the end ' of those terms, however, the seats would be open to election.) This summer, Vetterli resigned and the county commission in June appointed Jim Santy to replace him. It was Vetterli's departure, concluded con-cluded Buchanan, that prompted the fire district commission to ask to be set up permanently as appointed offices. - |