Who runs Ebbetts Pass Fire District ?

An administrative board of directors, comprised of elected citizens is ultimately responsible for the fiscal affairs of the Ebbetts Pass Fire District.

How was the Board of Directors formed and why ?

The Ebbetts Pass Fire District became a legal entity, certified by Mr. Frank M. Jordan, Secretary of State for California, on July 26th, 1965. By proclamation from the Secretary of State, the District was (and continues to be) governed by a five member Board of Directors, elected at large from the public sector.

What is the role of the Board of Directors ?

The role of the Board of Directors is to act on behalf of the citizens and visiting public of the Ebbetts Pass Fire District. The Board of Directors is the highest level decision-making body within the organization. It is responsible for planning the future or the organization and seeking to achieve results – the right results for the organization.

The Board’s primary functions include: ensuring the right management is in place, setting strategic direction for the District based on its mission and values, establishing policy and monitoring outcomes or results.

Who needs a board of directors ?

All organizations, whether a public entity, a for-profit business or a nonprofit organization, require a governing Board of Directors. A Board of Directors is put into placed to manage or supervise their business affairs. All boards should have a planned system of governance; the design of each governance system depends on the needs, the level of complexity and the financial imperatives of each organization. Good governance should not be underestimated for any Board of Directors.

What is the ‘fiduciary duty’ of the Board of Directors ?

A fiduciary duty is the obligation to act in the interest of the citizens and visiting public of the Ebbetts Pass Fire District. The Board of Directors must make important decisions on behalf of their constituents – they must do so in a trustworthy, responsible manner – that is, with integrity, good faith and due diligence. Directors must avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest – that is any circumstance where a director’s personal interests may conflict with those of the organization.

What is the role of the Board President ?

The President (also chairman, chair) of the Board of Directors oversees the performance of the board. The President unifies and directs the board in fulfilling its responsibilities in an ethical and efficient manner. The President’s main task is to preside over productive, participative board meetings.

The President, along with the Chief Executive Officer, represents the organization to the citizens and visitors to the Ebbetts Pass Fire District, employees and general public.

What is strategic planning ?

Strategic planning is a disciplined approach to planning the long term future of the organization. The strategy flows from the mission of the organization – it is the road map for achieving its vision.

Ebbetts Pass Fire District has a current and realistic strategic plan that answers these questions:

• Where is our organization at now ?
• What major accomplishments do we wish to achieve ?
• How do we do achieve them ?
• It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to:
• ensure a strategic planning process is in place
• ensure realistic and time-bound strategic goals or ends, based on the mission, have been articulated
• monitor progress on achieving goals or outcomes

It is in this brainstorming, planning process that the board can truly add value. Drawing on their varied skills and worldly experiences, directors can provide broad input and advice on strategic priorities, flag risk opportunities and challenges, and assess the ethical implications of strategic decisions.

What happens during executive sessions ?

The Board of Directors is very conscious that EPFD’s business is YOUR business. We limit closed executive sessions to the discussion of confidential matters such as those dealing with employees, contractual matters or legal matters. Occasionally, the Board will use extra executive session time to discuss matters that are of more public nature, but these discussions generally preliminary only. The matters are not discussed in full or acted upon until the time of an open meeting. When an emergency matter must be voted upon outside of the public forum, the matter and vote will be read into the public record at the next open board meeting.

Additional Questions? Contact us!