An agreement between the Palm Coast and Flagler Beach governments is expected to be finalized on Tuesday which would help cover staffing shortages in the Flagler Beach Fire Department. The Flagler Beach City Commission has given approval already, and the Palm Coast City Council is considering the agreement on Tuesday.
Under the interlocal agreement put forth between the two cities, the Palm Coast Fire Department will have one of its fire engines cover the City of Flagler Beach for four weeks. The PCFD personnel will work every third day, covering 24-hour shifts punctuated by 48-hour shifts covered by existing FBFD staff.
In exchange for the Palm Coast Fire Department’s assistance, the City of Flagler Beach will be paying $54,000. This will buy them four weeks of service time. Pending approval from the Palm Coast City Council, the agreement would take effect in the first week of June. Each agency will remain liable for any ‘negligent acts or omissions’ of its own employees.
Flagler Beach’s need for outside assistance came after a sudden and crippling staffing shortage following a series of resignations. Deputy Chief Jennifer Fiveash and Lieutenant Morgan Rainey were among those who left, along with several other employees.
Chief Stephen Cox was fired by City Manager Dale Martin in the fallout of the department’s turmoil. Both Fiveash and Rainey have since come back on a temporary basis, with Fiveash taking over as acting fire chief.
Prior to this newly-proposed interlocal agreement, a cooperative relationship has long existed between the Flagler Beach Fire Department and Flagler County’s other emergency response agencies. The Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue both frequently respond to calls within Flagler Beach city limits, a service often repaid in the other direction when the FBFD has the staffing to do so.
