There is still some hope that fire dispatch service can be maintained in Yarmouth.
The Yarmouth County Mutual Aid Association met last night in Tusket to discuss the issue.
A recent proposal from the town fell flat, because many rural fire departments said it would cost too much.
Mayor Pam Mood, who attended last night’s meeting, tells CJLS News that town council may be willing to revisit the proposal and will ask
fire departments for a letter.
“Considering mutual aid and those types of things. We’ll look at how will we re-work that formula to make it easier for those that are paying for the service.”
Yarmouth dispatcher Corey Burke says he’s remaining positive.
“With what I heard tonight, there’s always a hope. It’s a ways off, but it’s a hope. They’re willing to sit down and look at a funding model with the tax base providing enough money to cover the cost.”
Mayor Mood reiterated last night that town taxpayers are putting out a disproportionate share for dispatch service and any new formula must be equitable.
Yarmouth dispatcher Rob Lowe told Mayor Mood the town’s entire approach has been misguided.
“Since I was given my termination notice on the 30th of April, nobody has even talked to any of us. We don’t know where we’re going or what we have. You’ve put us through a living hell since April.”
Fire departments will be asked to send a letter to the town detailing their concerns with the latest funding formula and asking that the September 24th deadline for a response be extended.
