Fire district gets its money back from board member who sold it recliners

Board Member David Woods has returned the money that he received from the sale of furniture last year to Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.

Michael Wapnowski, deputy chief of Stanislaus Consolidated, said that Woods brought a check for $6,161.53 to the fire district Friday evening. The envelope was locked up over the weekend and its receipt was confirmed by Wapnowski on Monday.

Woods, an appointed board member of Stanislaus Consolidated who owns a business called Fire Station Outfitters, sold a total of nine recliners to the fire district in 2016. The recliners were placed in the living quarters of stations. Political reform laws in California prohibit public officials from using their office for personal gain.

Wapnowski said in an email there is no plan to return the recliners to Fire Station Outfitters. Public officials who violate state Government Code Section 1090 may be required to forfeit the earnings from an illegal contract made with a public agency.

Christopher Diaz, legal counsel for Stanislaus Consolidated, has said he is investigating the purchase of the recliners. The furniture was sold to the district in three separate transactions arranged with fire district staff members, who have authority to approve individual purchases of $5,000 or less without a formal bid process.

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Fire district gets its money back from board member who sold it recliners."