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Public commenters press for transparency as board tussles over minutes and Brown Act procedure; Dakota Cotton sworn in as board secretary
Summary
Public speakers urged release of a forensic-audit report and criticized City of Big Bear Lake planning; directors disputed whether past minutes should state that agencies were 'directed' to seek RFPs, asked staff to review recordings, and appointed Dakota Cotton as board secretary (Cotton was sworn in).
Public comment at the April 14 Big Bear Fire Authority meeting included calls for greater financial transparency and the release of a forensic‑audit report, and a speaker sharply criticized the City of Big Bear Lake’s 2050 planning process and related spending.
Brian Param, who identified himself as a long-term resident, urged the board to restore transparency and asked for public access to the forensic-audit results and accounting for consultant and attorney costs. Another attendee characterized the city’s 2050 plan as a ‘‘boondoggle’’ and said consent‑calendar items containing significant spending should not be handled without specific public notice.
During the consent‑calendar review, directors pulled the minutes (item three) for separate discussion and debated whether the minutes accurately reflected a prior meeting’s statement that the board had "directed" two agencies to seek RFPs, or whether the record should say the board "suggested" they do so. Several directors asked staff to review the audio recording and either amend the minutes or accept a director’s written statement attached to the minutes. Legal counsel (Nicholas) and staff explained that directors may request brief comments for inclusion into minutes at the meeting where the comments were made; otherwise several boards use summary or action minutes that do not capture extended discussion.
The board approved most of the consent calendar but recorded a split vote on adopting the disputed minutes; directors opposing and supporting adoption were recorded during roll call. Staff was directed to review the recording and return recommended edits or an attached director statement at the next meeting.
Separately, the board passed the consent resolution appointing Dakota Cotton as board secretary (Resolution No. Big Bear Fire Authority 20260001). Dakota Cotton took the oath of office at the meeting.
What’s next: Staff will review the recording and return to the board with suggested minute edits or an attachment from the director who requested the change. Dakota Cotton will appear on future agendas in her role as board secretary.
