Fire chief - with a pay cheque?

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

Kentville town council endorsed July 9 having a full-time, paid fire chief.

Councillors discussed the budget for the Kentville Fire Department at a recent council advisory committee meeting, which includes a salary for a full-time chief. The impact of this additional cost was considered, as well as the procedure by which a full-time chief should be hired.

Councillors generally felt, to provide transparency in the process and governance for the position, any newly hired, full-time, paid fire chief should be an employee of some level of municipal government, and not responsible to a volunteer board.

Council voted in favour of endorsing a full-time, paid fire chief - only if that individual is an employee of the town, the County of Kings or an inter-municipal body.