Published: March 24, 2009 7:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star
Some Vernon politicians are accusing administration of going against their authority. Fire chief Jeff Carlisle decided two weeks ago that the downtown hall would respond to calls in Okanagan Landing although council has not made a final decision on integrating that hall with the volunteer Landing hall, which currently operates independently. “The politicians should be making that decision. It shouldn’t be administration,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. Under the new system, both Vernon and Landing firefighters could respond to a blaze. “I thought it was part of the fire service business plan and it still should be,” said O’Keefe of dual response. “We don’t have the money or the manpower for it.” Mayor Wayne Lippert admits it’s Carlisle’s mandate to look after fire services, but he says council is still grappling with possible integration.
“I’d have preferred that there would have been some discussions with council about what the implications are,” he said. Lippert is also worried that this action could lead some people to believe integration is a foregone conclusion. “It will certainly add to people’s concerns,” he said. But Carlisle says providing dual response in the Landing is separate from integrating halls. “That’s an operational decision and not a council policy decision,” he said, adding that Landing crews can now respond to blazes in the rest of the city. Carlisle also denies that dual response is a breach of the city’s contract with the Okanagan Landing Fire Department Association. “There’s no exclusivity clause to any one zone in the agreement,” he said. Support for Carlisle has come from Coun. Jack Gilroy, a former deputy fire chief. “He’s the chief and he manages that department,” said Gilroy.
Ed Forslund, Okanagan Landing fire chief, admits he was surprised by the Vernon department launching dual response. “We don’t feel it’s necessary. It’s an extra expense for taxpayers,” he said. Forslund also believes dual response could stretch the Vernon hall’s resources. “If they are responding out here, what’s going on downtown or on East Hill?” he said. But Carlisle doesn’t expect downtown firefighters will respond to all calls in the Landing and he says guidelines are being determined.
Despite staff recommendations Monday to bring the Vernon and Okanagan Landing fire halls under one administrative structure, council voted 4-3 to table any decision until public input can be obtained. “The public has not been heard in respect to this,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol, who was joined by O’Keefe, Lippert and Coun. Bob Spiers in voting for a public session. However, opposition to deferring a decision came from Gilroy and Councillors Shawn Lee and Buffy Baumbrough. “You elect people to do the studying and make the best decision possible. We’ve been looking at this for a long time,” said Lee, who added that he has been receiving e-mails from residents. “It’s not like we haven’t been hearing from these people.” City staff have insisted that integration would provide the same level of service to all residents and reduce response times. But they accept council delaying a decision so the public can be consulted. “It’s a definite requirement. The public has to drive what service it wants,” said Brent Bond, president of the Vernon Professional Firefighters Association. Bond says integration is about ensuring public safety, and not about getting rid of volunteers. “The volunteers will still be there. We don’t have enough career staff for that and taxpayers can’t afford all career staff,” he said.
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Plan sounds alarm Published: March 24, 2009 7:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star
Pouring gasoline on a raging fire can be explosive and that’s certainly the case at Vernon city hall. Some council members are fuming that administration has sanctioned crews from the downtown hall to respond to blazes in Okanagan Landing. “It’s a bit disappointing if people go forward with their own agendas. It doesn’t seem appropriate to me,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. And this tough talk is understandable as council hasn’t made a decision on a fire service business plan developed by administration. Among the initiatives outlined in the plan is dual response — which could see crews from both Vernon and Okanagan Landing going to the same emergency.
But the most contentious part of the plan is the proposal to integrate administration of the Okanagan Landing fire hall with its downtown counterpart. Arguments exist on either side of integration and a valid case can be made for both. Does it make sense for a single administrative structure for a single municipality? Yes. But is a strictly volunteer hall financially viable given the number of calls in the Landing? Yes. Jeff Carlisle, Vernon fire chief, is quick to point out that what incidents his firefighters respond to is purely operational in scope and not part of council’s mandate. But even if dual response makes complete sense and will safeguard lives and property, there was no immediate need to proceed with it. And particularly, administration should have considered the unenviable plight of mayor and council. They are the ones taking the calls and letters from people on integration, and no matter what decision is finally made, it is council who will be tarred and feathered with it. For some residents out there, they will see dual response as a clear indication that integration is a fait accompli and it doesn’t really matter what they, or even council, has to say. Administration’s actions could also create a backdraft among their political masters, as some council members may be so turned off by what happened that they shoot down the entire business plan, which includes some positive concepts like upgrading woefully outdated dispatch technology and addressing the service needs of Predator Ridge Golf Resort.
Ultimately, what likely appeared to be the best thing for residents’ safety could blow up during a council gathering on the business plan April 3, and then when the public gets a chance to have its say later that month. But even though administration’s move towards dual response has led to a lot of political posturing and rhetoric, there is no indication that council will force them to reverse thrusters, and if that doesn’t occur, that could leave a lot of residents seeing red.
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