The Town of Yarmouth plans to eliminate four full-time jobs at the Yarmouth Fire Department.
The cuts affect dispatchers.
Mayor Pam Mood confirmed the cuts to Acadia News this morning.
She says town will be inviting proposals from various providers throughout the province.
“We are planning to move ahead with that plan which includes sending out a request for proposals that details the service that is expected so we’re ensured we have the same level of service and that is tremendously important. Our research tells us that there are service providers that can easily meet those requirements at a fraction of the cost. It’s taxpayers money. We have to consider the cost of everything. I believe we are one of only three or four (municipalities) that has paid firefighters.”
Mood says the council did not vote on the matter in a public meeting, but discussed it and reached a consensus in-camera, because it involved human resources.
The town is also negotiating a collective agreement with local 2094 of the International Association of Firefighters.
The mayor could not give a timeline on when the jobs would be gone.
We expect to have a statement from the union representing the Yarmouth Fire Department dispatchers in a day or so.
Meanwhile, this has drawn anger from firefighters from throughout the Tri-Counties.
The Yarmouth Fire Department handles dispatch service for fire departments throughout the Tri-Counties.
There is a Facebook movement to organize a protest and march on town hall, though no date has been confirmed.
Mayor Mood says she understands some people will be upset.
“When you have to make the tough decisions there’s always fallout, there’s always concern. I’ve seen social media where it’s certainly not riddled with facts that’s for sure. The first thing we want to say to the people is that the level of service will not deteriorate. It will be the same level of service provided. We’re talking about dispatch and a phone call. It doesn’t matter where a phone call comes in. It’s the level of service that’s provided. The first thing the town is concerned with is that level of service and that won’t deteriorate.”
There are many posts to social media from firefighters and their families and others very upset and frustrated with the news of the cuts.
The uncertainty of when the axe will fall is creating very stressful situations for those affected.
Acadia News will have more on this developing story in the coming days and weeks.
