While city council approved the fire department’s strategic plan, not all councillors were happy with the recommendations.
The plan has over 100 recommendations in it. At the top of the list is rebuilding the Neebing Fire Station and moving the Brown Street Station closer to Rosslyn Road and Neebing Avenue.
But a recommendation to hire four new staff was the reason Coun. Trevor Giertuga, one of four councillors to vote down the plan, chose to turn it down. Giertuga said the city has gone many years with the same amount of staff without issue.
“It’s going to result in a $500,000 increase in the budget each year and I just can’t support that,” he said. “I don’t know why there’s a need for it now.”
Chief John Hay said the increase would still need to be approved by council but Giertuga said he’s seen council approve things in principle too many times over the years that go into the budget later.
“We tell all the other departments that we want to see no increase in staff and if they do have an increase then they should find it within their existing complement not add new staff when we’re trying to hold taxes,” Giertuga said.
“I wanted to stop it right now.”
Hay said Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue has the least amount of administrative staff for a department of its size. Failing to increase staff, which includes two assistant chiefs, will result in major overtime costs.
“We just held our own for a long time,” Hay said.
He added that responsibilities to the department have added up and a change in priorities are also reasons for the increase Hay said.
“Training and fire prevention is going to be where we focus our time.”
