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The censure resolution was sponsored by the professional firefighters of Renton Fire and Emergency Services, Daniels’ former employer for over three years before he took the top job in Woodinville in January of 2010.

Daniels is currently seeking the position of second vice president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

The censure resolution, which was approved by a unanimous vote of 2,250 delegates representing 300,000 firefighters from the United States and Canada, charged Chief Daniels with multiple safety violations, destruction of department morale, reducing the number of firefighters providing key services to the people of Renton, and creating an environment where many firefighters sought employment with other fire agencies.

Specifically, Resolution No. 34 stated the following: "Chief Daniels takes pride in publicly stating that the health and safety of firefighters is his number one priority and in 2009, while Daniels was still fire chief, firefighter physicals were cancelled, including the recommended tuberculosis tests ... and mandatory SCBA fitness testing for all members was not conducted in 2008 and 2009."

The resolution further asserts that Daniels "made sprinklers inside residential structures a priority inside the city of Renton and had them put in his own home but failed to have sprinklers installed in the crews’ living quarters during a remodel of Renton Fire Station 11 while having them installed in the apparatus bay."

His management decisions were rebuked for "creating an environment in which firefighters on the job were concerned for their personal health and safety," and "the Chief’s unwillingness to communicate adequately with the firefighters had a debilitating effect on the morale of firefighters working for the department, leading some fine firefighters to make career altering decisions to seek or accept employment elsewhere."

The IAFF resolved to join Renton Fire Fighters Local 864 to affirm the local’s vote of censure to formally notify Daniels of its "displeasure," and resolved that the president of the IAFF "shall disseminate notices of this censure" to all IAFF affiliates, the IAFC, the National Association of City Managers and the National Conference of Mayors.

The professional firefighters of Woodinville (Local 2950) were not party to the censure resolution. They did, however, make a supporting statement in favor of its passage. The supporting statement, read by Local 2950 President Greg Ahearn, cited safety concerns, personnel issues, Chief Daniels’ plan to reduce the number of firefighters while increasing the size of administration, and the elimination of a training officer and the position of fire marshall.

Daniels was contacted by the Woodinville Weekly on Thursday and asked his position on the censure and its allegations.

"My position is that I have not been contacted directly by these people," he said. "They never called and never expressed any of those concerns. The allegations are either mischaracterizations or flat out false. That’s the bottom line."

He said the allegations were misleading in their presentation.

"They told part of the story but not all of it. For example, they said I cancelled the physicals, but what they didn’t say is that we were $2 million over budget and we saved $75,000. In fact all of the allegations are related to budget issues they didn’t mention. So to say that somehow I’m a bad guy is, in my opinion, a bit of a stretch."

And where does it go from here?

"I’d say nowhere," he said. "The IAFF may not like me but I don’t work for them and I’m not accountable to them."

He said he would address the issue publicly and in detail at the regularly scheduled board of fire commissioners meeting on Tuesday, September 7 at Woodinville Fire and Rescue headquarters station No. 31 at 5 p.m.　

This house, owned by John and Ellen DeYoung, will become a city landmark Sept. 23. Courtesy photo.

It’s official. The City of Woodinville, through the King County Landmarks Commission, is planning to designate the DeYoung House a city landmark.

The traditional, colonial style house, which dates back to 1931, was originally built on what is now known as Northeast 175th Street.

Years ago, this area was considered the residential part of town. It was here that John and Ellen DeYoung raised their six children who all eventually settled in the Northshore area.

Lucy DeYoung remembers her grandparents’ home well. She says, "We had many family celebrations there and I spent summers there as a child. I have very fond memories of the place."

John died in 1966 and sometime after that the estate sold the land on which the house stood to Shoreline Savings, which was then sold to Washington Mutual (and subsequently Chase).

As for the house, Shoreline Savings gave it to Harland Peterson in the early 1970s under the condition that he would move it off the property.

Peterson had the structure moved in 1973 to its current location on NE 171st Street, a neighborhood just east of the Woodinville Medical Center.

A few years ago, Lowell and Al DeYoung (sons of John and Ellen) bought the house and donated it to the Woodinville Heritage Society for a museum.

"This house is very special to me," remarks Lucy DeYoung. "And the landmark designation is important on several levels. For the Woodinville Heritage Society, it says that the City of Woodinville is serious about preserving landmark buildings. It also means that the society can now qualify for additional grants and funding sources."

She adds, "It’s vital that we preserve Woodinville’s heritage for its residents. Though our area is old, dating back to the 1860s, we’re also young because we don’t have many of our old buildings around. Those that do exist must be preserved because they’re part of history. And knowing our history, our past, is the key to understanding and appreciating where we’re going in the future."

Personally, DeYoung is grateful for the designation as she views it as a way to preserve her grandparents’ memories.

"When I go in there," she says, "It’s like taking a step back in time for me, and it’s a very nostalgic experience."

The house, which is in excellent shape, with many of its original fixtures, floors and windows, will serve as the permanent home for the Woodinville Heritage Society, in addition to being a museum.

According to DeYoung, there will be meeting rooms downstairs and rotating exhibits upstairs.

"There are two kinds of museums," she notes. "The first type is full of items. The second kind is focused on people and the history of a community. This is what we want our museum to be about. We plan to feature exhibits and vignettes about the people that helped shape Woodinville and make it the way it is today. We’ll also present the different areas of the town and show how they’ve developed over time. The museum will allow us to showcase what a rich history this community has."

Before the museum can open, however, the house has to undergo some improvements.

It needs to be made accessible, which involves construction of a 60-foot handicapped ramp and several handicapped parking places, as well as installation of handicapped accessible bathroom facilities.

Additionally, the fence to the west has to be replaced and an electric gate needs to be put in between the house and its neighbors to the south.

"These improvements are necessary under the requirements of our conditional use permit," explains DeYoung, "but, all of this work costs money – about $100,000."

Currently, the heritage society has raised almost $60,000, mainly through the generosity of individual donors. The goal is to open the museum by January 31, 2011.

"We’ve been working toward the goal of opening a museum since the Woodinville Historical Society was established in 1975," says DeYoung. "Though we’ve changed our name to the Heritage Society, our goal has not changed. Now, 35 years later, we are on the verge of making it a reality. It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication, but we’re almost there."

The DeYoung House will receive landmark designation at a special ceremony starting at 7 p.m. on September 23 at Woodinville City Hall in the council chambers.

The public is invited to celebrate this important event with the Heritage Society.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Lucy DeYoung at (425) 408-1820 or lucydeyoung@isomedia.com.