New fire commissioner inherits full plate

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This article was published 10/08/2011 (5147 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MANITOBA’S new acting fire commissioner, David Schafer, has had a lot on his plate.

He spent the past week — pardon the pun — putting out fires on the home front, meeting with Office of the Fire Commissioner staff in Winnipeg and Brandon, explaining why four employees, including the top two on the organization’s depth chart, had been terminated or resigned.

He also assembled a revamped management team to take stock of the organization’s commitments and priorities.

The commitments are considerable. They include completion of the amalgamation of building inspection services in Manitoba after the OFC inherited Manitoba Labour and Immigration’s mechanical and engineering branch in May. There is a recent promise to work with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs on a survey of fire protection services in the north. And then there’s a national search and rescue conference in Winnipeg at the end of October the OFC is helping to organize.

And that’s not counting all the office’s important day-to-day tasks such as investigating fires, issuing building permits, inspecting elevators and conducting search and rescue operations.

Schafer, a 14-year OFC employee, said Tuesday the organization’s 100 or so staffers were understandably stunned at the news that its top two leaders — commissioner Christopher Jones and his deputy, Justin Panagapko — had been sacked over alleged travel and expense-account irregularities.

“Obviously, it was a shock to everybody at first. Everybody is very dedicated around here. We take a lot of pride in this organization,” Schafer said in a brief telephone interview between meetings.

Staff spent time last week digesting the improbable turn of events. But now they’re ready to move on, he vowed. “As far as the big commitments that we’ve made, everything will be moving forward.”

Schafer, most recently the OFC’s point man on building safety, was appointed acting commissioner Aug. 2. In a few months, the job will be posted. He said he will apply for the permanent position.

He also revealed Tuesday that a permanent deputy commissioner has already been named to replace Panagapko. The new deputy is Robert Pike, a former operations manager.

In light of the scandal, Schafer said the organization is reviewing its policies and procedures concerning employee travel and filing of expenses.

“We are confirming that the checks and balances are in place and that they’re being followed. If there is a need to amend and update the policies to make sure that we don’t go through this again, that is happening,” he said Tuesday, adding that Manitoba and Immigration, as well as Manitoba Finance staff are assisting.

The province parted ways with two lower-level OFC employees as well as the two senior managers. Three, including the commissioner and deputy commissioner, were fired. The status of the fourth employee is unclear. Last week, a government official said that person would resign or be terminated.

Schafer said morale at the OFC is now positive.

“Maybe we will struggle a little bit in regards to public perception, but we want people to know that the staff here are committed, that they believe in what we do and, hopefully, in a short amount of time people will see that the change is there and that we are an agency that they can be proud of.”

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca