Media Release 11/23/2012 105.7 SUNFM
City administration has been formally
notified that 20 of the 26 members of the Okanagan Landing Volunteer
Fire Department will be quitting on January 31st. "Should the OK
Landing Firefighters Association concerns be heard and mutually
agreeable contract be drawn, many of the valuable volunteers that serve
today will continue to serve for many years to come." says Todd
Montgomery, President of the OKLVFA. The OKLVFA requested a delegation at the Nov 26th regular Open Council meeting to discuss the possibility of a contract being renewed
with the City of Vernon. Mayor Sawatzky declined the request based on
the fact that the matter deals with Legal, Labour and Contractual
factors. The mayor also declined a request from a member of the Landing
community to present a petition with 1670 signatures. The delegation to
present the petition was declined for the same reasons. A formal report has been submitted to the City that outlines the
reasons why many members refuse to a part of the proposed integrated
fire services. The OKLVFA have requested that Council reconsider the
Fire Services Agreement in their next In Camera Meeting. A great deal
will be lost at a huge cost to the City of Vernon. On Friday, November 23rd the Okanagan Landing Volunteer Firefighters
Association delivered the petition to City Hall with 1670 signatures
from the residences of the City of Vernon. The petition states that "We the undersigned object to the decision
by Vernon City Council for the City of Vernon to not renew its contract
with the Okanagan Landing Volunteer Fire Department. We believe that
the Landing Fire Department continues to provide a valuable service and
at a bargain to Vernon taxpayers, and that a decision to not renew their
contract should only take place when a majority of Okanagan Landing
residents feel it needs to happen.
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