The investigative report on previous Anderson Fire Protection District fire chief Joe Piccinini was requested Aug. 11 by the Shasta County Grand Jury, board chairman Keith Webster said at a district meeting Tuesday.
“We will say ‘no,’” Webster said. “We have to say ‘no,’ it’s part of the contract (with Piccinini). The grand jury will have to ask a judge to release the report.”
The board consented to pass the grand jury’s request on to legal counsel Mike Fitzpatrick, who was not present at the meeting and did not respond to messages left with his office.
Results of the district’s investigation was held confidential by the fire district board despite Freedom of Information requests from Anderson Valley Post and the Record Searchlight. Piccinini resigned July 1, 2009 following the board’s review of the report.
Board member Butch Schaefer reiterated his preference to release the report, adding that the report cannot be made public without Piccinini’s signature.
The report is also required before the district’s yearly financial report can be completed, according to CPA Don Reynolds.
“His concern is whether there is any impropriety in the finances (contained in the report),” Webster said.
The board directed Reynolds to speak with district legal counsel.
In other business, Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed suspension of Proposition 1A may cost the district $70,000, Acting Chief Howard Fincher said.
While not yet passed, the suspension lowers property tax revenues for agencies including special districts by 8 percent, according to district documents.
“That’s about one and a half firefighters,” Fincher added, translating the loss in the district’s general fund into manpower.
The state government indicated that the funds will be repaid in three years with an undisclosed amount of interest, Fincher said.
http://www.andersonvalleypost.com/news/2009/sep/08/grand-jury-seeks-piccinini-report/
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