Consultants recommend single governance for Kings County fire services

BY KIRK STARRATT

THE ADVERTISER

NovaNewsNow.com



The consultants studying the structure and delivery of firefighting services in Kings County continue to recommend a single governance structure for all departments.

They presented an overview of their final report to the Kings Partnership Steering Committee (KPSC).

T.L. Powell and Associates president Tom Powell, emergency services consultant, and Cyril Hare, fire and life safety consultant, Cyril Hare and Associates, presented the final draft of their report to the KPSC Monday evening, Jan. 22 in the Kings County council chambers.

Powell said there are 63 recommendations in the executive summary and many are technical in nature. They looked at all aspects of our fire departments and followed the request for proposals closely. The two biggest issues are financing and how the departments are governed.

Powell said governance is a major concern and a steadily contentious issue because of the passion it tends to evoke, but the matter has to be resolved before issues surrounding financing and service levels can be addressed.

Several options were considered, from the status quo to a full amalgamation.

However, the consultants are recommending the establishment of a Valley Fire Authority. This would be established under an inter-municipal agreement modeled after the Kings Transit agreement. A Fire Authority Advisory Committee would be established under the authority. Membership would consist of the various fire chiefs and a fire coordinator hired or appointed by the authority.

Powell said they examined response zones and changes should be made to allow the closest station to respond to an emergency. He acknowledged that the chiefs would fight to keep the boundaries where they are and it’s a very sensitive issue.

The consultants believe the current boundaries are somewhat out of whack.



Plenty of overlap

There is lots of overlap between Kentville and Wolfville with five departments in the vicinity. The consultants recommend a comprehensive hall location study using GIS technology to determine the extent of the overlap.

“We think it warrants a very close look,” Powell said, pointing out that they aren’t suggesting closing any departments because they all have value.

The five departments respond to about 700 calls per year combined. Powell said you couldn’t have a single department because it would be too busy, but vehicles and resources should be rationalized.

He said they aren’t proposing to change the volunteer service because the cost would be astronomical.

“They’re a dedicated group of individuals. They’re talented and well trained,” Powell said, pointing out that we’re fortunate to have such a strong volunteer force. However, stakeholders told them that the recruitment and retention of volunteers is an issue.

In terms of vehicles and equipment, Powell said they visited all 13 fire stations in Kings and found that some departments are well equipped while others are struggling. Some halls are modern and well constructed, while some are poorly constructed.

He said operating costs could be reduced through standardization and purchasing in bulk.

Powell told the KPSC, which consists of elected officials from the four municipal units within the geographic boundaries of Kings County, the report belongs to the KPSC and it’s entirely up to the committee what they want to do.

KPSC chair Coun. Janet Newton said the four chief administrative officers have been directed by the KPSC to meet and decide how to best implement the recommendations of the study. They will report to the KPSC the next time the group meets, although no date has been set.