Yarmouth’s firefighters are urging the town not to eliminate four local emergency dispatch positions.
In a release, the Yarmouth Firefighters Association says the decision was made without full regard for its impact on public safety.
They want the town to halt plans until a plan is presented to the public.
President of the association Lynn Seeley says the town has not consulted with those that could be affected.
“Whether it be the local union or the outside departments that the dispatch centre normally dispatches for. We saw issues, we asked for a plan and it couldn’t be provided.”
Seeley says firefighters were shocked when they were confronted with the news.
He says private dispatch companies typically operate in call centres that could be hundreds of kilometres away, with staff that aren’t familiar with the local area.
Seeley says that can lead to errors and delays in getting emergency personnel to a scene.
“Our current dispatchers know the area very well so we’re losing a vital service here.”
On Wednesday, Mayor Pam Mood told Acadia News that the town will inviting various proposals throughout the province, and that their research tells them they can meet all the requirements at a fraction of the cost.
She says the level of service will not deteriorate.
Listen to the Y95-CJLS Weekender this Sunday morning beginning at 9:04 for a live, call-in program on the issue, with Mayor Pam Mood and Lake Vaughn Fire Chief George Emin in studio.
