PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Fire District No. 2, which covers the area around the city of Port Angeles, has hired a new assistant fire chief, and one of his first duties will be to organize a committee that eventually will recommend services and taypayer costs.
Sam Phillips will begin work Monday.
He replaces Deputy Chief Mike Oakes, who retired Dec. 31.
One of Phillips’ first assignments will be to start the formation of a citizens advisory committee to assist the district in responding to a survey conducted in the spring.
Residents of District No. 2 told the district their priorities for service.
The advisory committee will work to determine service levels, how they would be delivered and the cost that would be borne by taxpayers.
In addition, the district is developing a 10-year plan.
Tax rates
Once recommendations are forwarded to District No. 2 fire commissioners, a ballot issue will be developed and presented to voters, who will make the final determination as to the tax rates to be assessed, Chief Jon Bugher said.
Phillips has 30 years of fire service experience and has held the positions of firefighter, investigator, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and, most recently, deputy chief at the Hillsboro, Ore., Fire Department.
He holds a master’s degree in executive fire service leadership and a bachelor’s degree in management and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.
“We are ecstatic to have such a high-caliber individual as Chief Phillips join our organization,” Bugher said.
“He absolutely stood out as the stellar candidate throughout our selection process.”
Phillips was one of six finalists.
He and his wife have one grown son, Drew, who recently graduated from college in Boston and lives in Massachusetts.