Just over a month with the Sicamous Fire Department, the new chief has come under fire for not living in the community he serves.
At the May 22 regular meeting, council addressed a letter of concern in which writer Amy Boutwell said she was 害羞草研究所渟hocked害羞草研究所� to hear Chief Lorenzo Di Arcangelis bought a house in Salmon Arm.
害羞草研究所淚s it incumbent that the fire chief lives IN Sicamous?害羞草研究所� she asked. 害羞草研究所淎s a taxpayer, I am concerned if our paid fire chief is not available 24/7 locally 害羞草研究所� the same as our volunteers.害羞草研究所�
Boutwell added that though the department has a very capable assistant chief, she questioned why he should have to be the initial first responder outside of office hours 害羞草研究所渨hile the chief is in Salmon Arm?害羞草研究所�
Though district human resources manager Shawna Koll didn害羞草研究所檛 want to go into too much detail regarding personnel issues in a public meeting, she did say there is a command structure and rotating standby schedule in place that ensures there is a always a qualified member in charge. The department, she explained, is comprised of a deputy chief, two captains and four lieutenants, 害羞草研究所渟o there is a formal command structure with education and experience to ensure that at any incidents, there is somebody that can take command of an incident at any time.害羞草研究所�
Koll added that in larger centres, fire chiefs often act in an administrative capacity only, and don害羞草研究所檛 actually respond to calls, 害羞草研究所渂ut just for the record, our fire chief does respond to all calls.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Ian Baillie acknowledged Boutwell害羞草研究所檚 concern, saying other residents have spoken to him about having senior employees living in the community, but admitted that can be a challenge.
害羞草研究所淥bviously people don害羞草研究所檛 have to live in Sicamous, but there is a strong desire, I would say, based from constituents that they see that害羞草研究所� people are looking at that,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut it is a small community and housing害羞草研究所檚 not always available here in Sicamous. It害羞草研究所檚 a challenge everywhere really, trying to find the right housing, the right schools and everything else.害羞草研究所�
In addition to council discussing the matter publicly, staff also sent a response to Boutwell directly.
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