Madhunt Publishing Company
Alliston, Ontario

Madhunt Publishing Company
founded March 22, 1999.

New Tecumseth Free Press Online
First Posted April 30, 1999

To email: Tony Veltri .

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No difference between adequate police service or fire dept

Posted January 28, 2013

At last week's 2013 budget working session, mayor Mike MacEachern tried to gather Council's collective thoughts on a simple question. The members had to either confirm or reverse their earlier support for the introduction of six full-time persons to our fire department.

What boggled my mind was that the councillors were shrinking from making a decision that was in keeping with one of their own major priorities, that of building more homes and bringing more people to New Tecumseth.

What is so different between supplying an adequate police force and a fire department? Both are essential services.

Council recently approved the rising costs of an ever-growing police force, which the OPP explained was necessary as New Tecumseth is a growing community.

New Tecumseth fire chief Dan Heydo had to implore this council to recognize some facts. There are not sufficient people today who are willing to be called out in all kinds of weather, at any time of the day or night. Fewer employers are willing to excuse them from their work to answer the alarm. Our new subdivisions are not filling the need for more volunteers.

The Chief explained that only 50 per cent of the applicants are suitable and after their training, some or all resign due to the demand on their time and /or their employer changing his/her permission. It is during the morning/ afternoon time slot when there is frequently a necessity to put out a second call, as insufficient volunteers were able to respond to the initial call. Calling in neighbouring crews is not the ideal solution.

Do we need a fatal tragedy before Council takes action and sees what it must do? Our voluntary force has served with distinction over the years but it is no longer enough. How can we afford this change that confronts us?

Looking at the Town's pie chart that shows where our taxes go, there is no alternative at this time except to re-cut the pie wedges until there are enough funds to have a sufficient full-time fire department to serve the three urban centres and rural communities.

This or definitely the next Council will have to set aside today's business plan and its priorities and develop a new plan that reflects what the Town needs and can afford. It should include retrofitting crumbling infrastructure as well as providing for the funding of an expanded fire service.

Is approving six full-time firefighters a tough decision for Council? Of course it is. That is why they put their names on the ballot slip at the last election. Councilors are actually elected to make tough decisions. This is one of those times for one such decision in order to produce the cornerstone outcome laid out by the Town CAO going into this year's round of working budget meetings.

Council, step up to the plate and vote now for the full-time personnel as requested by the Fire Chief.

Gord McInnes