Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press commission on fire‑chief appointment, firefighter safety and federal funding requests
Summary
Online commenters at the June 29 Livingston meeting asked whether the city submitted a stormwater project under a public‑safety funding opportunity, whether the commission approved the interim fire‑chief appointment under Montana law, and whether the city manager completed required de‑escalation training; the commission said the appointment is subject to pending litigation and provided clarifications on submitted spending requests.
Two online residents used the public‑comment period at the June 29 Livingston City Commission meeting to press the city for records and answers about public‑safety funding and the appointment of an interim fire chief.
Bernie Chabowski asked what the city submitted under a congressionally directed spending opportunity discussed at a prior meeting and whether a stormwater project qualified under a program Chabowski described as intended for public‑safety capital projects. Chabowski asked a series of follow‑ups about an interim fire‑chief appointment, citing Montana Code Annotated section 7‑33‑4106 and asking whether the commission had provided consent and whether any public record shows such concurrence.
"Was the commission involved in the appointment of the interim fire chief? And if so, when did that concurrence occur? Was it discussed in an open meeting? Is there a vote or other public record reflecting the commission's consent?" Chabowski asked.
Sarah Matson, another online commenter, urged the commission to apply the same exhaust‑exposure protections being discussed for police officers to firefighters, saying firefighters "work there. They eat there. They sleep there" and that starting diesel apparatus inside the building exposes personnel to particulate matter.
In response, city staff explained that, at the commission's direction, the city submitted three congressionally directed spending requests to Senator Shehi's office: a regional water project for Greenacres/Montigu, a stormwater project tied to the underpass, and emergency‑response equipment that would include fire and police apparatus. Staff said the requests were not funded and noted that prior budget requests can affect whether apparatus requests are accepted.
On the interim fire‑chief appointment, a city official told the commission the topic is the subject of pending district court litigation and declined to discuss it in open session. "Given that it's the subject of pending litigation, not inclining comment," the official said, adding that the city attorney and the city's insurance counsel reviewed actions taken on the matter.
Regarding the city manager's training, the city manager said he had "reviewed deescalation training options and opportunities" but had not yet pursued the training because of commentary following the last meeting and that he expected to complete it "in the near future." The commission did not take formal action on appointment or disciplinary matters during the meeting.
The public‑comment exchange prompted a motion to schedule a special meeting (including a closed session) under state open‑meeting law so commissioners could provide availability; staff said a special meeting could be called as soon as 48 hours after availability is collected. The interim fire‑chief appointment remains the subject of ongoing litigation and was not resolved at the June 29 meeting.
