Judge rebuffs fire boards, attorney says
A judge has ordered both the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara fire protection districts to halt their planned contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and accept signatures gathered for a referendum on the question, an attorney representing the firefighters union said Thursday.
The recent decision came as a result of two lawsuits filed Thursday by Local 2400, the union representing firefighters.
According to union attorney Alan Davis, the district was ordered to temporarily stop its proceedings with CDF until the suit is resolved. Additionally, the court ordered the two districts to certify signatures, gathered by firefighters, in favor of a referendum that could overturn the contract decision, said Davis.
In February, firefighters gathered about 2,000 signatures for the referendum. After closed proceedings, the two districts' boards moved to reject the signatures, saying that they had been obtained in a misleading fashion and failed to meet the letter of the law in several ways.
"(The governing boards) need to accept full responsibility for what has happened here," said Davis. "They have known for six months that voters wanted this election. This is on their backs."
Jean Savaree, legal counsel for the district, did not immediately return a phone call for comment.
Gary Burke, president of the Half Moon Bay fire board, said he was aware that a meeting with the judge had taken place but that he had not yet been briefed on the result.
Davis said that a May 4 hearing has been scheduled to reconsider today's orders which are meant as a temporary measure while the suit is resolved.
The recent decision came as a result of two lawsuits filed Thursday by Local 2400, the union representing firefighters.
According to union attorney Alan Davis, the district was ordered to temporarily stop its proceedings with CDF until the suit is resolved. Additionally, the court ordered the two districts to certify signatures, gathered by firefighters, in favor of a referendum that could overturn the contract decision, said Davis.
In February, firefighters gathered about 2,000 signatures for the referendum. After closed proceedings, the two districts' boards moved to reject the signatures, saying that they had been obtained in a misleading fashion and failed to meet the letter of the law in several ways.
"(The governing boards) need to accept full responsibility for what has happened here," said Davis. "They have known for six months that voters wanted this election. This is on their backs."
Jean Savaree, legal counsel for the district, did not immediately return a phone call for comment.
Gary Burke, president of the Half Moon Bay fire board, said he was aware that a meeting with the judge had taken place but that he had not yet been briefed on the result.
Davis said that a May 4 hearing has been scheduled to reconsider today's orders which are meant as a temporary measure while the suit is resolved.
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