Town to lay off dispatchers and seek outside service

of this fiscal year, but there was no commitment to increase contributions, or to remain with the service beyond March 31, 2019.

“One penny on the tax rate could have saved this service and yet not one fire department or municipal unit would agree to that as the solution,” said Mayor Pam Mood. “The town has repeatedly said we are more than willing to pay well above market value to save the dispatch jobs, but in a fair manner. That did not happen.

“The response proves our point that no one would do what we have done for so many years, and that is to subsidize other municipalities and fire departments and pay more than market value,” added Mood. “Like us, each of the municipal units is considering their taxpayers . . . We just cannot continue to expect taxpayers of the Town of Yarmouth to subsidize the fire services from Clare around to Shelburne.”

The town noted in its media release that the Town of Bridgewater contracts out its dispatch services for approximately $7,800 annually.

TINA COMEAU/FILE PHOTO Several fire departments in Yarmouth County were dispatched to this April 2017 fire on the corner of Argyle/William/Forbes streets. An unoccupied house was destroyed by firefighters saved a neighbouring structure that people resided in. Departments were dispatched from the Yarmouth centre for this fire. In future, the dispatch service will come from outside the area.