Fire Merger Meeting Called Off

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Wednesday, 15 August 2012 16:22
  The Okanagan Landing Volunteer Firefighters Association will spend the next few weeks discussing a controversial city decision with its members. The city won't be renewing the group's contract when it runs out in January, and wants the 30 volunteers to join Vernon's volunteer association. City fire chief Keith Green  says the Landing group called-off a proposed meeting this week with him and city administrator Will Pearce, and have sent a list of questions they would like answered. "Will and I will put together some detailed responses to try and alleviate some of their concerns." Green says the Landing group is concerned about losing their autonomy, and not being able to respond to calls. "But that's not the intention of this, in that it will still operate pretty much as is. They're just going to fall under the VDFA, and we are all going to fly the same flags." Todd Montgomery, president of the Landing firefighters, says his  members are confused and frustrated. He adds they have questions about what the new model will look like. Meantime, more details have come out about city council's in-camera decision last month to end the Landing contract. Councillor Patrick Nicol says he was strongly opposed to the change, and feels the process was handled with a lack of transparency. "Listening to what people are saying and writing now after the fact, is that the Okanagan Landing volunteers felt a little blind-sided." Nicol and councillors Spiers and O'Keefe voted against the change. Supporters say the move will merge volunteer and professional firefighters into one cohesive team.