Council votes down motion on volunteer firefighter staffing
Posted Jan 12, 2016 05:11:09 PM.
Last Updated Jan 13, 2016 06:30:32 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX — A sometimes heated debate over staffing at municipal fire stations came to a close Tuesday as Halifax Regional Council voted 11-to-5 against proposed staffing changes.
Halifax Fire Chief Doug Trussler’s recommendation to staff Stations 4 and 13 with career fire-fighters during the day, and volunteers during the night, as well as converting Station 11 on Patton Road to volunteer only, was rejected.
District 4 Councillor Gloria McClusky voted against the recommendation and says her main point of contention was whether or not volunteers are qualified for the job.
“There is nothing wrong with volunteers, they’re great and wonderful. But the problem there is I don’t think you’ll get any in Downtown Dartmouth, and if you do the worry is how long will it take for them to get there,” said McClusky.
One of the five who voted in favour of the proposal was District 2 Councillor David Hendsbee who believes the idea brought forward by Trussler had its merits.
“They have the same certifications and same dedication as career fire-fighters. In some cases, they may have more practical experience because they’ve responded to more incidents than our career fire-fighters. I really think that this recommendation has merit and should not be discounted so quickly,” said Hendsbee.
As it stands, the three stations in question will continue to be staffed 24/7 with career fire-fighters.
