The Times asked the three officers of Friends of SFD a few questions.

What is your working relationship with the Sandisfield Fire Department?

Friends of SFD is an independent 501c3 organization that will function independently from the Sandisfield Fire Department. Our mission is to raise funds to fill any gaps that exist following the approval of the Town budget. Primarily we will help purchase equipment, pay for training, hold safety educational programs, and provide general support and related charitable activities.

Do you plan to expand your now-three-member board of directors?

Yes. Three members is a minimum number. Ideally our board should be five-to-seven members. Anyone interested can volunteer to serve on either our fundraising committee or our finance committee, as a first step in participation. We can be reached at info@friendsofsfd.org.

Will a fire department member serve on your board?

No. Our policy is not to include anyone from the fire department as we are a separate entity.

Do you plan scheduled meetings? Will they be open to the public?

We plan on conducting regularly scheduled board meetings. They will not be open to the public. Board meetings of nonprofits are not generally open to the public. However, we will keep the community updated via regularly published monthly reports and quarterly financial reports.

How will the SFD be supported other than through fundraising?

There is no other connection to the Fire Department.

How will you raise funds?

Funds will be raised through standard nonprofit fundraising vehicles such as events, annual appeal, individual solicitations, and grants (when available).

Do you have a bank account yet?

Yes. We've opened an account at Lee Bank.

Will you have any interaction with SFDI?

There will be no interaction with SFDI.

How does FOSFD differ from SFDI?

Friends of SFD is run by experienced nonprofit leaders, including Liana Toscanini, founder of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, and Patricia Hubbard, who has served on multiple boards and is currently on the board of Volunteers in Medicine and heads their development committee. Jeff Bye has experience in the development and management of multi-million dollar budgets and serves on multiple municipal boards.

Our Board's combined years of public service, business, and financial management, nonprofit experience, and upstanding reputation assures the public that Friends of SFD will be run in a legal and ethical way.

In addition, the organization:

• Owns no property.
• Does not take or receive money from the Town of Sandisfield.
• Offers full transparency.
• Is not connected in any way to the Fire Department.

Jeff Bye is a candidate in the coming election for the Town's Select Board. If elected, would that create a conflict of interest or does his chairmanship of the Planning Board?

We asked the Massachusetts Ethics Commission that question. We were informed that elected officials are "special employees" and as such are allowed to serve on nonprofit boards while simultaneously serving on the Select Board. Should Jeff be elected, there were two conditions:

• His name can not appear on any personalized solicitation letters from Friends of SFD.
• He cannot sign Friends of SFD checks for purchases to support the Fire Department.