By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 22, 2008
Demands are growing to have Coldstream’s longtime fire chief back on the job. About 150 people attended a Coldstream Ratepayers Association meeting Thursday, and they unanimously agreed that district council should reinstate Leo Lecavalier, who was fired Aug. 1 as the fire chief. “The power of this resolution will send a message to council,” said Andy Danyliu, who made the motion. Those present also demanded that council make a full apology to Lecavalier for the dismissal, and that the politicians provide an explanation for their actions. “Mayor Corner has said it’s not work related so why did they fire him?” said Danyliu. No details have been released about the dismissal of Lecavalier, who had been with the fire department for almost 25 years. The firing comes less than a month after Lecavalier publicly expressed concern about the construction of a new fire hall on Aberdeen Road.
Councillors Bill Firman and Mary Malerby attended Thursday’s town hall meeting, and most of the crowd’s frustration was directed towards Malerby. “What has happened has nothing to do with Leo’s ability as a fireman,” said Malerby. Malerby stated she could not get into specifics because personnel matters are in-camera under provincial legislation, but the district’s lawyer had advised council that Lecavalier and other firefighters are employees, not volunteers. “Like it or lump it, that’s what the law said,” said Malerby as some people openly challenged her. “I’m here trying to tell you what happened and it’s not as black and white as you think.” Many in the crowd questioned the municipality’s definition of the firefighters as employees. “This gentleman put his life on the line and he received $3,000 (for practices and call-outs). That’s not a salary, that’s peanuts,” said resident John Hegler.
A former colleague came to Lecavalier’s defence. “Leo is very opinionated and that’s why he was elected every year (by the firefighters). He was there to represent his members,” said Tony Metz, who served for many years as Lavington’s fire chief. There is also some concern that Lecavalier just can’t serve as a firefighter, although the department has traditionally decided who is a member. “We have to stand behind him and the members. If we let council decide who stays in the hall, we won’t get any members,” said Metz. Some residents are concerned that volunteer firefighters could quit over the dispute and that would leave Coldstream without fire protection. “Our fire insurance rates are reasonable and all because the firefighters are doing the job for us,” said Gyula Kiss, who chaired the meeting. Kiss added that the only other option would be to hire full-time firefighters and taxpayers can’t afford that. Mayor Gary Corner was not at the meeting, but he is aware of the resolutions coming from the association. “They are welcome to bring them forward and council will look at them,” he said. Corner would not comment on the likelihood of Lecavalier being reinstated. “I don’t want to speak personally to that because it’s an in-camera issue,” he said. The association is expected to appear before council Sept. 8 to push for Lecavalier’s reinstatement.
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