Vernon city council meets tonight with its firefighters, to outline the plan for fire service integration over the next ten years.But not everyone thinks the meeting should be held. The event at the Best Western Vernon Lodge will include members of the Landing volunteer fire department, along with professional and volunteer fire fighters from the Vernon firehall. Mayor Wayne Lippert says the one hour event is open to the city council candidates, and the local media, but not the general public. Councillor Barry Beardsell feels the meeting is 'phony' and should have been postponed until after the elections. "It's tying this firefighting situation right into the election and that's wrong. And also, to have a meeting that the media can be there, without the public, that's how it was designed, that is atrocious."However, Beardsell is pleased Councillor Jack Gilroy has stepped out of the issue due to a concerns that his son is a paid firefighter.Gilroy says he's not in a conflict of interest, but will remove himself to help the process.
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This was the media invite that went out. As you can see the Council Candidates were not invited. I did receive an invitation as I suspect other Council Candidates from the Firefighters Local executive by Telephone on Monday night.
Our Inclusion as participants (despite the Press Release) seem to be confirmed by Mayor Lippert's comments to KISSFM news Director Pete McIntyre above.
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