Eighth Utilities District firefighters petitioned the agency’s board of directors Monday for sweeping changes, including appointment of a new chief, a financial audit and “the redevelopment and rebuilding of the department.”
“We, the volunteer members, want to reclaim the department and form it into the department and family it once was,” the petition, signed by 27 current and former firefighters, said. “We will no longer sit back and watch it crumble.” Danielle Cowee, a former district firefighter, presented the petition to board President Mary O’Mara after the meeting because the board decided not to hear discussion of the issue during the meeting. The petition was signed by 17 current firefighters — out of about 80 listed members — and ten former department members, Cowee said.