By Peggy Lim
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Copyright 2007 The News and Observer
SELMA, N.C. — Ten of Selma’s 25 part-time firefighters turned in their gear Thursday night at the driveway of Mayor Charles Hester, protesting a move to replace their volunteer fire chief with a paid full-timer.
“Everybody considers it an immature stunt,” said Stan Farmer, Selma’s town manager. “They’re more concerned about protecting their fraternity than the town of Selma.”
But the firefighters, including Assistant Fire Chief T.J. Heath, said the town would be better off hiring an engineer, who could help with maintaining trucks, hydrants and station equipment, than paying for a replacement for Fire Chief Joe Price.
“We want to keep our chief,” Heath said. “Why stick a $50,000 chief in there when you can get one for much less?”
Price, who gets a $350 monthly stipend for his work with the fire department, has decades of experience with the department, Heath said. Price, who also serves as the town’s water and sewer manager, declined to comment. He had not been among the group that submitted gear.
Selma firefighters have butted heads with town leaders over the issue in the past, including a near-walkout about three years ago.
The fire department is a town organization, similar to the police or recreation department, but for decades operated as its own entity, Farmer said. A full-time fire chief, whom town officials would appoint instead of allowing firefighters to elect from their ranks, is needed to make the department more professional, Farmer said.
The town will discuss the possible new position in a budget meeting Tuesday.
Heath said the goal Thursday was to get town officials’ attention and not necessarily to quit for good. The message the firefighters hoped to send: “You may think you can replace us, but it’s tougher than you think.”
Heath said the firefighters had become upset after seeing their chief get choked up at a general meeting when discussing the possible changes. But he said they did not leave the town without fire protection.
“We had a few firemen left,” Heath said. “I also called communications and had us put on automatic mutual aid.”
Heath said at Price’s request he and the other firefighters had also agreed to return at least temporarily until the issue could be discussed next week. But Heath learned Friday that the town manager had suspended the 10 firefighters without pay for a week pending further review. Selma firefighters receive a monthly stipend ranging from $176 to $275.
In the meantime, the town will get assistance from firefighters in neighboring districts, Farmer said. Typically, the department answers 30 to 50 calls a month.
Farmer doesn’t expect insurance ratings to change for the estimated 7,000 town residents the fire department serves, although it could go up for some rural residents outside town if the standoff continues.