Sackville Fire Chief Craig Bowser's current part-time status will soon be promoted to a full-time position.
Effective July 27, the fire chief will come on board as a full-time member of the town management staff, a move that has been a long time coming, according to Sackville's Chief Administrative Officer Barry Carroll.
"We've been looking at this for quite some time," said Carroll during council's regular meeting Monday night.
"I think it has to do with the society we live in today and the greater need to place more focus on our emergency and protective services."
Carroll explained that with the additional requirements placed on fire chiefs over the past few years - including equipment maintenance and repairs, firefighters' training, education, etc. - it was inevitable the Sackville position would become a full-time job.
"It's quite a responsibility for a volunteer," he said, noting that the fire chief will now be paid a full-time salary rather than the monthly honorarium he received.
Carroll said the demands on a fire chief are high and trying to hold down another full-time job is a challenge for anyone who takes on those duties.
Bowser wholeheartedly agrees. He said he's had to juggle two jobs (his fire chief duties and his manager position at Save Easy) over the past year-and-a-half and said it's been a tough balancing act.
"There's definitely a need there to make that a full-time position," he said. "It's a huge time commitment."
Carroll insisted that having a full-time fire chief on staff will not only enhance emergency services, said Carroll, it will also bring stability to the fire department.
"The department is very excited to move forward with a full-time fire chief," he said.
"I think this was long overdue and our town can afford this move."
In his new position, which council unanimously voted in favour of Monday night, Bowser will take on a greater role in EMO planning as well, which council and staff are hoping to make a greater priority.
Fire chief to take on full-time duties
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Published on
July 15, 2009
- Published on March 5, 2010
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Katie Tower
Sackville Fire Chief Craig Bowser's current part-time status will soon be promoted to a full-time position.
Effective July 27, the fire chief will come on board as a full-time member of the town management staff, a move that has been a long time coming, according to Sackville's Chief Administrative Officer Barry Carroll.
"We've been looking at this for quite some time," said Carroll during council's regular meeting Monday night.
"I think it has to do with the society we live in today and the greater need to place more focus on our emergency and protective services."
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