A financial consultant painted a bleak picture last week when he offered a report advising the fire board on how to address its financial situation.

Dr. John A Granito of St. James City, a recognized leader in financial consulting for fire-rescue service and emergency management, said Lehigh’s 143 square miles is too large for the five existing stations to continue to provide response coverage which he said meets the national standard for fire protection of emergency, medical first responder service.

But he noted there were “no reasonable prospects for the near-term construction and staffing of any additional stations, so some response times will continue to be overly long.”

Granito said at the outset, while addressing the five-member fire board and the fire chief and his administration that his report was also to analyze what he called “the rather unique complex challenges the Fire District faces brought about by an unusually severe economic situation.”

The report stated that should there be a shortfall in financial conditions when the SAFER grant runs out in August of 2012, “then a scenario similar to that used before the SAFER grant seems inevitable.” That will means massive layoffs again as happened in August of 2009.

Fire Chief Donald Adams, who wrote the application to apply for the SAFER grant, noted that it was one of the largest in the country awarded a community under 100,000 in population. He also said it seems unlikely that another such grant would be awarded the department from FEMA. The grant for nearly $9 million allowed the chief to hire back about three dozen firefighters that he had laid off earlier.

All the while, Granito noted that economic predictions for Lee County are negative for the next several years. He also suggested better communications through public information with the community.

Other recommendations in the report included changes in ranking of the administrative staff. He also suggested that the fire board retain its ambulance service in Lehigh Acres. The public may view the report by calling the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue Board at its Station 105 on Milwaukee Blvd. and Thomas Sherwin Ave.

In other action, newly elected Commissioner Kevin Shea said he was not happy with the way the board’s attorney submitted his billing invoice to the department.

“I was aghast in the manner of the submitting of legal billing. It does not meet legal standard for legal billing. I am distressed over the state of billing,” Shea said. He displayed a recent bill to the department from Attorney Richard Pringle for the month of August of 2009 which listed services entered by the attorney without any separate costs listed in the amount column, except at end for a total amount due.

Shea had another invoice from Pringle for the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District for June of last year. Pringle also serves as the Beach fire department’s attorney. In this invoice, Shea pointed out that each item performed by the attorney carried its own separate cost with a total at the end.

Pringle said he would be glad to provide more detailed billing. He also questioned why Shea wouldn’t call him as did another member of the board suggesting to him to that he start listing services and costs by item. Shea came back saying he didn’t think such communication was proper for a public board.

“This should be discussed in the open,” Shea said.

Last week’s meeting at the Microtel Inn & Suites meeting room was the second in which the commissioners will be compensated for their services. More than a year ago when the fire department found itself in financial straits, the board at that time voted to take no pay for its services.

But when the new board met after the elections, Shea and Commissioner Larry Becker said they believed they should receive compensation. The previous board had been making $500 a month for meetings, but had cut compensation to zero for themselves.

On Dec. 14 at the last fire board meeting, Shea moved to compromise the $500 and the salary be $475, taking a 5 percent cut keeping in line with staff starting January 1 of this year. Becker seconded the motion; however, he said commissioners should make it 20 percent and go with $400 and Shea seconded the amendment to the motion. The motion failed 3-2 with opposing votes from Commissioners David Adams and Linda Carter. The motion failed due to a lack of a super-majority.

Then Shea motioned for a $250 a month compensation and Becker again seconded such a motion. The $250 fee per month was agreed upon by four of the five commissioners with Commissioner David Adams voting no. Those for the new compensation included Chairman Jeff Berndt, Larry Becker, Linda Carter and Kevin Shea.

At last week’s meeting, commissioners also agreed to provide dental coverage and also make it official that proceeds left over from the SAFER grant be used for employees’ dependent insurance coverage.

Chief Don Adams said that any funds left over from the SAFER grant would have to be returned to FEMA and that is was permissible to use funding in this way for employees hired back last August.

For more information about meetings including agendas and minutes, go online at: www.lehighfd.com/.