Fire District 13’s part-time secretary, Deborah McFarlane, resigned unexpectedly last week.

Her resignation came the day after the year’s first meeting of the three-member board of commissioners, with newly seated Commissioner Arne Fohn, whose election in November has apparently shifted the balance of power on the board.

McFarlane’s resignation prompted the commission’s new chairman, Doug Avery, to call a special board meeting Friday afternoon.

“The reason we’re here is that District Secretary Deborah McFarlane has resigned,” District 13 Fire Chief Roy Horn began the meeting s...