Centre Wellington councillors have endorsed the idea of looking into establishing a full-time county fire safety advisor.
Such a person would be based in Centre Wellington, but the position would be funded through Wellington County.
The endorsement followed a written and verbal presentation by Centre Wellington Fire Chief / Wellington County Fire Coordinator Brad Patton.
He recommended council endorse the pursuit and implementation of a Wellington County-funded, full-time fire safety advisor to provide guidance and support to Wellington County fire departments in the delivery of fire prevention, fire code enforcement, public education and fire investigation within their municipalities.
The advisor would have office space in Centre Wellington and be supervised directly by the Centre Wellington fire chief and provincially appointed fire coordinator for Wellington County, with consultation with Wellington County Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) Linda Dickson.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj described this as another expansion into new programming and keeping up to date.
Patton said “what we are trying to do is expand upon our successes.” He said the county training officer position has not only benefitted Centre Wellington, but all of the county.
“It is our goal to move forward with a fire safety advisor who would work in a similar type of manner with a similar type of funding.”
However, this person would concentrate on the areas of fire prevention, fire investigation and other areas.
“It is our goal to leave levels of service up to the individual municipalities, but as a group provide the service, guidance or expertise needed.”
Patton said the Fire Protection Act and code enforcement is very complex. He said recent changes to legislation will require local fire departments, including Centre Wellington, to do a lot more inspections.
Patton added the new position will also provide more of a standard across the county in the way various codes are being interpreted.
He said most municipalities only have a part-time fire protection officer, but Centre Wellington has a full-time position already.
Patton said having a full-time person available will be a resource other municipalities can draw upon.
His report noted the County Fire Chief’s Association supports the concept of such a position. This concept would be the most cost efficient method of providing an essential service and aid in managing local fire costs, Patton said.
He added the county positions were developed to be accountable to one person – who remains accountable to all Wellington County municipalities.
“The position has to fulfill the needs of the county and the individual municipalities.”
Councillor Steven VanLeeuwen liked the idea of cost-sharing with the county. He asked if this would result in any workload reduction for Centre Wellington’s fire department.
He noted Centre Wellington has four full-time staff and asked, “Is there anything which will result in a cost savings?”
Patton said Centre Wellington had already experienced a cost savings when the deputy chief retired. That person was never replaced, leaving other individuals to take on considerable work in administration roles.
Patton contended the new position will assist locally, meaning the township will not have to hire a part-time person to do that work. He suggested the level of service will increase, but the cost would remain the same.
Councillor Kelly Linton said since Wellington County would be paying for the position, “what kind of accountability or reporting back is required – as compared to reporting back to Centre Wellington?”
Patton said he considers this a Centre Wellington staff position but he is equally aware of how the position is funded.
“What keeps these positions in check is to be able to meet the needs of all the municipalities in Wellington County,” he said.
Councillor Visser said, “I hate to be negative, but I’m really concerned about creating a new position while we are in such a financial quandary.”
He pointed to additional downloading from the provincial government, and said he had hoped the municipality could carry on without additional positions.
Ross-Zuj said, “The beauty of this being a county position is that all seven municipalities benefit from one position rather than having seven part-time positions.”
She agreed with Visser in that the municipality is feeling financial pressures.
“This is one way we can make this work – by sharing the cost,” said Ross-Zuj.
Council later agreed to endorse the position.
