ENGLEWOOD -- Fire Chief Brian Gorski's service with the Englewood Area Fire Control District could soon come to an end.
Asked Monday if he's renewing his contract with the fire district, Gorski said, 'Probably not.'
Gorski said he feels he's accomplished much in his three years as Englewood's fire chief, but he's '90 percent sure it is time to go.' There was no other offer on the table Monday but Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue District representatives have been courting him for the last six months, he said.
Consternation expressed over the past three years by tea party and other critics of the fire district at its meetings were a factor in his decision, but Gorski stressed he has not completely made up his mind.
Three years ago, Gorski, then 54, came to the Englewood district from Sarasota County after serving 33 years as a firefighter and retiring as county fire chief. He signed a three-year contract, agreeing to a $85,000 annual salary with no raises and no benefits. In Sarasota County, Gorski had earned $111,000 annually. He said he retired due to a condition in the state retirement system that would have led to him receiving significantly less in his retirement if he stayed on with the Sarasota County department.
Among his accomplishments with the Englewood fire district, Gorski cited these: Settlement of a long-standing suit, working with fire commissioners on a more equitable assessment rate structure, bringing down the district's budget, lowering the fire district's insurance rating, developing a strategic planning process and negotiating a three-year contract with firefighters that saw wages frozen and other concessions from the union.
Gorski also drew upon his experience at Sarasota County to garner surplus equipment, office and other supplies for free. When the fire district needed a new ladder truck, he purchased one from Sarasota for $350,000. New ladder trucks can cost $1 million or more.
Hearing that Gorski may leave, Fire Commissioner Charles Bray said, 'That would be a shame, a terrible shame. He would be a hard man to replace.'
Bray said Gorski helped get the fire district 'on the right track.' Bray's hope is that Gorski can be swayed to stay, continue his work and keep the fire district on the right track, he said.
Englewood Fire Lt. Dino Fanti, who also serves as the union's membership representative, said, 'It would be a tremendous loss, a tragedy.'
In his three years with the fire district, Fanti said Gorski helped improve the fire district 'by leaps and bounds.' The loss would not just be to the fire district but all of Englewood, he said.
Firefighters campaigned successfully for the re-election of Bray and the election of Larry McNamara to the board. They ran against candidates Paul Scionti and Herb Stephens, who had the support of Taking Our Country Back and fire commissioners Robert Bacon and Jeff Kern.
With Bray and McNamara on the board, Fanti said firefighters hoped Gorski would be encouraged to stay.
Kern said Gorski helped the fire district and tightened controls.
Bacon declined to comment Monday. Fire Commission Chairman Ron Davison could not be reached for comment.
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