Rally supports dispatchers
Rally participants met at the Yarmouth Fire Department and then made their way to the town hall in Yarmouth to show their support for the fire dispatchers.
an agreement on a new method of funding the service that suited everyone. For many departments the new costs proposed by the town were too steep and unrealistic in the midst of a fiscal year. For the town, the proposed resolutions brought to it didn’t remove enough of the burden from its taxpayers, who, the town says, have been paying the bulk of the service used by 24 departments in the tri-counties.
MARCHED TO TOWN HALL
People gathered at the Yarmouth fire hall on Saturday afternoon and marched to the town hall, which was closed because it was a weekend. To let their presence be known, people taped signs to the front doors of the town hall.
The rally turnout wasn’t large, but Randy Donaldson, who was an organizer of the event, along with Karen Bullerwell, was pleased to see those who did turn out to show their support.
“It’s a Saturday. We didn’t really anticipate a lot of people being around. The fact that it’s cold and to get people out today from Woods Harbour, Shag Harbour,
Lake Vaughan, Pubnico, it shows these guys are going to be greatly missed unless we can get the town somehow to reconsider,” he said. “Last year they were willing to sit down. We just need a little time . . . We’re not giving up. If it’s a lost cause, I don’t know when that will be. Here we’ve got some people who still don’t know when their jobs are going to be done,” he said.
SHOWING SUPPORT
Erica Gavel-Williams was one of the people who came out for the rally. Asked why, she said, “Dispatchers are the lifeline to our community. They are the ones that if you had to call, they put out the proper equipment that is needed. One of the dispatchers is actually one of my close friends and to lose their job like that is wrong.
“I really hope that the town will reconsider and reinstate their positions because when you’re dealing with fire, every second counts,” she said, saying the familiarity the dispatchers have with the local area is important.
John Cunningham, deputy warden with the Municipality of Yarmouth and a volunteer firefighter, extended his thanks to the dispatchers.
“On behalf of at least the Carleton fire department I can say this, we’re certainly going to miss your calm, competent, assuring voices over the radio,” he said, adding he is a big believer in the democratic system. He told people if they don’t agree with decisions that any councillor makes, himself included, they can have their voices heard at the ballot box.
Guy Surette, a councillor with the Municipality of Argyle who has been a volunteer fireman since 1981, also attended the rally.
“I just want to thank Peter, Rob, Corey and Jeff. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for the 24 fire departments that have been involved. You worked from the bottom of your hearts. You saw, at emergencies, some of the possibilities that we never thought of as firemen at the scene,” he said.
Jason Saulnier, of the Yarmouth Mutual Aid Association, said many in the public don’t know the full extent of what the dispatchers have done for the departments over the decades.
“Unless you’ve sat in that chair you can’t speak to what these guys do,” he said.
“But I’ve seen them, I’ve used them and I’m going to miss them. On behalf of Yarmouth County I want to thank you . . . Digby has got big boots to fill,” he said, referring to the dispatch centre that many of the fire departments and municipalities previously served by Yarmouth dispatch have made the switch too.
In an interview after addressing the rally, Saulnier said his main concern is timelines for getting out on calls.
“As we’ve stated before, every second counts. If we’re an extra five minutes getting out of the door, that five minutes could mean a lot,” he said. “I’m not going to say anything against Digby. Digby is a good dispatch centre and we’ve had them come to our meetings and we’ve talked to them and we’re going to work with them to do the best we can for our residents. Public safety is number one and that’s what we’re going to work for.”
Saulnier also wanted to assure town residents that fire departments in the county will continue to be there for them.
“I want the residents of the town of Yarmouth to know that as a member of a department out in the county, we are still going to help you. We’re not going to put anybody at risk,” Saulnier said. “That’s how we stand. That’s who we are.”