The Centre Wellington council committee of the whole gave the township fire department permission for an amendment to the fire dispatch agreement it has with Guelph.
Fire Chief Brad Patton reported April 11 that the agreement change is required to reflect the new dispatching radio system soon to be installed in the Fergus and Elora stations. The new radio systems have been installed throughout the county, except for in Puslinch Township.
That system is operated by Bell Mobility at a cost of $70 per radio per month. The Fergus and Elora stations would each have one.
Patton said in his report that 2010 service fee for dispatching services provided by Guelph was $9,683. With the addition of the radio service, it would be about $12,000 a year, and the increased service fee had been placed in the township’s 2010 budget, but had not been required or used last year.
Patton said the new radios would aid firefighters with better communication. He said it would also be a step toward resolving the inoperability problems between emergency services.
Patton told the committee the new system has greatly aided northern fire departments in Wellington County, and saved money.
He said the new system will allow firefighters to relay what is going on at the scene of a fire or accident.
Mutual aid
Firefighters across Wellington County have long been involved in mutual aid agreements – but some of them were getting a little old.
Patton recommended that council rescind a couple of bylaws relating to the Fergus and Elora departments that allowed the two to participate in mutual aid work.
Then, he recommended council approve a new mutual aid bylaw authorizing the two stations to take part in mutual aid agreements, and also in the mutual aid plan for the county.
Patton said in his report that the Elora bylaw went into effect in May 1, 1967. The Fergus bylaw went into effect even earlier – on March 5, 1962.
“Our research indicates that these bylaws were never updated since their passing,” Patton said in his report. “Last year, as part of my provincial appointment as Fire Coordinator for the County of Wellington, I was required to write a mutual aid agreement for all Wellington County Fire Departments, which I completed in September.”
He noted the Wellington County plan is a requirement of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act Act.” It sets the policies and procedures used to call for or receive emergency aid from other fire departments.
It also gives each municipality legal protection from liabilities. Council agreed to pass the bylaw.
