A 27-year fire service veteran has been named head of the Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services Department, on a day when officials acknowledged there were some concerns in the community about whether he was the right choice.
Alfred "Al" Terrell's selection was announced late Tuesday by county officials. He has been West Sacramento's fire chief since 2008.
In a discussion at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, County Administrator Veronica Ferguson made a point of noting that questions had been raised about Terrell's selection.
"We've received some concerns from the volunteer fire companies that we haven't done enough due diligence and they're concerned about Mr. Terrell's ability to work with volunteer fire companies," Ferguson told supervisors.
She then addressed those reservations through a lengthy description of the hiring process, saying Terrell was one of about 75 local and national applicants. He made it through a vetting process that included interviews with county department heads and fire officials from in and outside Sonoma County, she said.
"I think we all reached some consensus that Mr Terrell had the kind of background we were looking for," she said, adding that "after that we did a great deal of due diligence" with further interviews.
She disclosed that the other finalist was a local applicant.
Terrell will take over a department that oversees 15 volunteer fire companies countywide and also manages emergency services. Former chief Mark Aston retired after taking medical leave in July.
In the county's volunteer firefighting corps — there are 350 volunteer firefighters — there has been ongoing concern over funding issues and some worry over moves to consolidate districts or at least centralize their command.
Board Chairman David Rabbitt acknowledged the unsettled feelings.
"There's a lot of anxiety in some sectors out there because of the trying financial times, staying afloat, and the difficult challenges, especially on the volunteer side, that those departments face," he said.
In a later interview, Rabbitt expressed confidence in the hiring and vetting process. He said Terrell has demonstrated an ability to work collaboratively and that he expected him to quickly undertake the task of getting to know the firefighters and their chiefs to gain their confidence.
"I think he has to go out and prove it," Rabbitt said. "Especially when you're in that position, when you have 15 chiefs and districts, a lot of it is formed on trust, no matter who came in would have to do that."
Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said funding is an Achilles' heel of the county's fire service and urged Terrell to look to make changes on that front.
"I hope he helps the volunteer fire companies and helps build them into something because it's really sad that they have to have spaghetti feeds and pancake breakfasts to support themselves," Baxman said. "He should go to another county and see how a county fire department is run, that's what they deserve here."
Terrell could not be reached for comment Tuesday night. He is to be paid between $137,400 and $167,000 the county said. Aston was paid $181,312 in 2012. Terrell starts Dec. 2.
You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Hay at 521-5212 or jeremy.hay@pressdemocrat.com.
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