The Butte-Silver Bow Study Commission authorized a three-member working group to research charter language and other legal and fiscal questions tied to the countys fire services, following more than two hours of public testimony from career and volunteer firefighters and residents.

The working groups charge, approved by voice vote near the Nov. 10 meetings end, tasks volunteers Cindy Perdue Dolan, Ben Thielen and Matt Stippen with mapping fire-district boundaries, reviewing prior studies and attorney general and court opinions, and analyzing taxing and equipment-ownership implications before the commission drafts any ballot language or charter changes.

Why it matters: The debate centers on whether volunteer fire districts should remain referenced in the Butte-Silver Bow Charter or be treated as independent districts under state law, and what that change would mean for taxes, equipment, training and legal liability. Speakers from both sides told commissioners that unclear charter and ordinance language has left responsibilities and authority unresolved for decades.

"I respectfully request that the government study commission please place on the ballot to remove any and all language referring or relating to the volunteer fire departments from the current Butte-Silver Bow Charter," said Karen Sargent, a volunteer firefighter who testified that striking charter language would let volunteer districts operate under Montana state law and negotiate on equal footing with the paid department.

Opponents and other commenters urged caution. Shane Worley, a battalion chief with 23 years of service, said the core problem is conflicting legal language that leaves the director of fire services without clear authority. "I do not believe that another administrative position of fire coordinator will fix this issue, but will only add another unnecessary layer of bureaucracy," Worley said, and he urged fixes to charter and ordinance language to give a single accountable leader the tools to manage combined operations.

Public commenters also raised technical and fiscal concerns. Mike Byrne offered to compile cost data after noting the county's fleet includes dozens of apparatus, some decades old. James Ouellette, the city-county safety and health coordinator, asked the commission to clarify who would indemnify volunteer employees and how OSHA and NFPA obligations would be met if taxing structures changed.

Commissioners directed the working group to gather several discrete items of research: a GIS map of fire-district boundaries; a review of the 2024 fire master plan and earlier study-commission reports (199596); an analysis of Montana Code Annotated provisions and relevant Montana Supreme Court and attorney general opinions; a review of levy sources with the budget office and treasurer; and clarification of equipment ownership and indemnification with the county attorney.

The commission also read into the record a letter from Zach Osborne, director of fire services, who urged clarity on whether the community intends a single, combined department or a municipal career department alongside independently governed volunteer districts.

Action taken: Commissioner Dennehy moved to create the three-member working group (Cindy Perdue Dolan, Ben Thielen and Matt Stippen); the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The minutes of the Nov. 3 meeting were also approved by voice vote earlier in the session.

Next steps: The working group will pursue the items listed above, consult the county attorney and other subject-matter experts, and report back to the full study commission. The chair asked the public and commissioners to submit suggested questions and materials to the study commission email to support the group's work.

The meeting adjourned with the commission announcing the next weekly study commission session for Nov. 17, which will focus on neighborhood councils.