Wellington North council has approved a restructuring of its fire service that will see the positions of department chiefs at the Arthur and Mount Forest stations replaced with deputy chiefs. Chief Jeff Dahms is working on details of the plan.
“As the organizational chart reads to create a more efficient and streamline organization you will notice the elimination of the station chiefs position as the full-time fire chief has assumed these roles and responsibilities,” Dahms said in a report presented to council at its Dec. 16 meeting.
“There will be a competition (for deputy chief) for any person in each station who has a minimum of five years as an officer and has completed Level 1 company officer or equivalent qualifications.”
Dahms told the Advertiser the competition for the deputy chief positions is open to “anyone” with the qualifications.
The station chief positions are currently held by Jim Morrison in Arthur and Ron MacEachern in Mount Forest.
The restructuring will also see a reduction in the money paid to top fire officials. According Dahm station chiefs are currently paid $12,730 at the Arthur station and $13,112 in Mount Forest.
The deputy chief positions will pay $8,000 for each department. Last year the fire department’s operating budget was $684,681.
Attempts to contact station chiefs MacEachern and Morrison for comment were unsuccessful.
