Volunteer responders dislike proposal

With volunteer fire and rescue leaders opposed to a proposed new system-wide ordinance, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has postponed a public hearing previously scheduled for this week.

Instead, a tentatively scheduled work session has been set for June 17.

Supervisors said they hope a consensus can be reached at the work session on an ordinance they believe will allow the volunteer fire and rescue system to operate more smoothly.

The key issue in the ordinance appears to be the “chief model,” which, according to several supervisors, volunteers believe would give too much power to one person, who would be appointed by the board. The current fire and rescue chief is Dan Eggleston, who could not be reached for comment.

While supervisors praised the volunteers for their dedication, they believe an ordinance is needed to ensure that the fire and rescue system runs on a clear and consistent model.

Supervisor Kenneth Boyd, who along with Supervisor Ann Mallek worked closely with fire and rescue representatives in a committee focused on the issue, said there need to be specific guidelines for the volunteer system.

He said such guidelines would help with several issues that need addressing, such as where to build new stations; how to determine coverage areas; and how to determine response times, to name a few.

Supervisors Boyd, Dennis S. Rooker and David L. Slutzky believe the ordinance proposal is a solid model.

Mallek does not support the ordinance. Supervisor Sally H. Thomas opposes it because the volunteers do. Supervisor Lindsay Dorrier could not be reached for comment.

In a prepared statement provided to The Daily Progress on Friday, the county’s volunteer fire and rescue companies said they have and will continue to work with the supervisors and county staff “to refine the fire and rescue services in the county.”

Two volunteers served on a committee established to draft an ordinance, following guidance issued by the supervisors in October 2008.

“That draft, in its current form, was voted on in a recent fire/rescue meeting and had no support from the volunteer fire and rescue companies,” the statement said. “Fire and rescue volunteers serving the communities of Albemarle County are proud of the part they played in receiving top marks from the public in the 2008 Albemarle County citizen survey. As we move forward we hope to be able to continue and improve upon this high level of service, while continuing to save the taxpayers of Albemarle County millions of tax dollars with our service.”

Boyd believes it’s clear that the ordinance would not give the county or a fire and rescue chief the power to make decisions without volunteer input.

He said the ordinance would give volunteers a say in matters and allow them to appeal any decisions.

But Mallek said the ordinances’ chief-based model is not the right way to go.

The “goal of the proposed work session is to have further conversation about system issues and about the charge of the study committee, which was directed to develop an ordinance with a strong chief model,” she said in an e-mail. “This model proved to be a roadblock to the development of a successful collaborative process for system decisions.”

Slutzky said the chief-based model would work well for volunteers, especially since current fire and rescue chief Eggleston is cut from the same mold.

“Dan is a volunteer and comes from a volunteer family,” Slutzky said. “And that makes him ideally suited to understanding the perspective of our volunteers.”

“I’m a little disappointed we’re not going on with the public hearings,” said Boyd, who noted that regardless of the disagreement over the proposed ordinance, he has the “utmost respect” for volunteers.

“The bottom line is they don’t want [it],” he said.