WASHINGTON – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board voted to establish a Special Review Committee that will review issues raised by Board member Sherriff Paul Fitzgerald at FirstNet’s April 23, 2013, Board meeting.

[Note: Fitzgerald said FirstNet has been tainted by secret meetings of small groups of directors, the withholding of financial information from some board members, conflicts of interest in the hiring of consultants and the exclusion of police and fire officials from the planning process.]

The committee will look at FirstNet’s compliance with applicable federal hiring and procurement rules, conflict of interest rules and open meeting requirements. The committee will also make recommendations on any process improvements the FirstNet Board should implement to address the concerns raised by Sheriff Fitzgerald.

“The issues raised by Sherriff Fitzgerald at the last Board meeting must be addressed thoroughly and promptly,” said FirstNet Board Chairman Sam Ginn. “I will do everything I can as Chairman of this Board to follow their recommendations and keep us focused on our shared commitment to the millions of public safety users who need the broadband network we are here to build.”

The committee will be chaired by former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb. It will also include:  New York City Police Department Assistant Chief Charles “Chuck” Dowd, Chief Jeffrey Johnson (Ret.), and Ed Reynolds. The three federal officials – Tony West from the U.S. Department of Justice, Suzanne Spaulding from the Department of Homeland Security, and Dana Hyde from the Office of Management and Budget—representing the permanent federal board members will also participate.

Separately, the Board voted on a resolution to modify the Board bylaws to clarify the role and responsibilities of the FirstNet General Manager.  The resolution also changed the bylaws to allow the designees of the permanent Board members to serve on Board committees.