CWWFD2 Commissioners adopt vaccination policy

WAITSBURG—The Columbia-Walla Walla Fire District 2 Commissioners met on October 13 for a regular meeting at the Waitsburg Fire Station.

Interim fire chief Colter Mohney asked that a vote regarding a policy update to reflect the statewide vaccination mandates be held either at the meeting or within the next couple of days following the meeting.

The mandate, Proclamation 21-14.1, announced on August 20, requires all health care providers, including licensed health care providers and all employees, contractors, and volunteers who work in a health care setting, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021. It also requires operators of health care settings to verify the vaccination status of every employee, volunteer, and contractor who works in the health care setting.

Mohney clarified that the mandate affects personnel, not the volume of calls or how the calls are handled. The fire department will require members to be vaccinated to be active within the fire district.

“As an example, let’s use me,” Mohney said. “If I were not vaccinated, I would not be able to respond unless I go through this process.”

Mohney presented a reasonable accommodation policy for those who are unable or remain hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which included requiring a vaccine exemption form and twice-weekly testing. The policy stated that non-vaccinated individuals must wear an N-95 mask, sterile gown, gloves, and other protective measures. This policy is identical to neighboring districts’ policies, according to Mohney.

Mohney said the policy doesn’t define the type of N-95 mask acceptable while responding to a call.

Mohney said he is aware of a few volunteers who would likely be taking the exemption route, and he would be going over the policy with each individual.

“As of right now, I only have one individual turn their exemption in to me,” Mohney said. “I have a couple of individuals I have been trying to communicate with and work with. Other than that, everyone else is either vaccinated or are not medical people.”

Commissioner Bruce Abbey expressed that the policy felt fair and was glad that the district was not facing an ‘avalanche of people leaving the district.’ He made a motion to pass the policy, which the board accepted.

The commissioners discussed recommendations from the hiring committee and went over tax levy information. A public hearing regarding a proposed levy will be held at the next meeting on November 10.

Commissioner Deb Fortner announced that the signs for the fire station were complete. The four by eight-foot signs were designed and built by Sage Kilts, a Senior at Dayton High School.