The Evergreen Fire/Rescue board censured one of its own directors May 21 for stepping outside the group’s bylaws. The board voted to censure Suzanne Campagna for her attendance and alleged conduct at a May 1 all-hands EFR personnel meeting.
Board members said Campagna’s actions at the May 1 meeting violated their censorship policy, a decision they reached after firefighters said her participation made them uncomfortable.
The board also agreed to write a letter explaining the decision and offering Campagna the opportunity to address the issue at the June 18 board meeting.
In late 2023, the board voted to revise its bylaws to avoid just such situations, adding rules of communication among the board, staff and volunteers.
Chief Mike Weege read two letters about Campagna to the board during its May 21 meeting, one from the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Protection Board and a second that he wrote.
Campagna, who joined the board in 2023 after an uncontested election, was not at the meeting when the letters were read and did not participate in the censure vote. She has yet to respond to requests for comment from the Canyon Courier.
Weege said the May 1 all-hands was designed to be an open discussion about planned operational changes, including hiring six paid firefighters to support the agency’s volunteers.
“Director Campagna’s presence confused members and the few comments she made were perceived as accusatory,” he said, reading from a letter written by the volunteer board. “Her demeanor was in direct conflict to the other respectful and constructive questions the general membership were asking … Director Campagna’s attendance and comments served as a disruption to the functionality and intent of the meeting.”
The letter concluded by asking the board to “renew its commitment” to requiring district board approval for a board member to attend such meetings.
Weege’s letter had a similar message.
“What was a sincere and transparent meeting to present and discuss an operational decision was interrupted by an attempt to influence or sway the group to a single board members’ line of thought,” he said. “I am asking the directors to please follow their bylaws and allow the management of Evergreen Fire/Rescue the opportunity to work with all of our members unimpeded by a district board member’s individual influence.”
Weege said that’s especially important as the district rolls out initiatives outlined in its recently adopted master plan, which he said, “will impact all of EFR, (and) most importantly the community we serve.”
Director Julie Ann Courim led the motion to censure, saying she was embarrassed by Campagna’s actions.
“One of the things we keep trying to get people to understand is we are a board of five, we are not a board of one,” she said. “We can have differences of opinion, but when we vote on something, we are all under that decision whether we want to be or not. It is detrimental to have any of us doing something on the sidelines.
“It was loud and clear that you (firefighters) were uncomfortable; you were put in a position when you didn’t feel you could speak freely,” she continued.“ This is deeply concerning. I’m not willing to let it go.”
“I tend to agree with you,” said Director Evan Jeffries, who called Campagna’s behavior “troubling.” “We have to do something with it for the benefit of everybody to at least know where we stand as well.”
EFR Board President Stacey Ballinger said Campagna’s attendance alone wasn’t what drove the board’s decision to censure, but how firefighters said it impacted the meeting.
“If we as directors would like to attend a function, we let the other directors know to see if they believe there’s any conflict,” she said. “The concern is the fact that it rose to the level that the volunteer board addressed it with the district board. Had we not taken action, it would have diminished the level of responsibility we’re asking everybody else to display.
“I wish she had been there to be able to say something to the people who felt the concern,” she continued. “Hopefully, she will still do so, but that will be up to her.”
The communication rules adopted in late 2023 include a censorship policy that prohibits board members from interacting with any staff but Chief Mike Weege outside board meetings and district functions and require board approval for any single board member to attend district functions.
Campagna declined to sign the censorship policy, saying it worked against EFR’s vision statement of creating “a positive work environment through effective internal communication, relationships, and leadership.” Nevertheless, she said during the December 2023 meeting that because a majority of the board had approved it, she would adhere to the policy.