People should have a say

Galen A. Crandall Jr.
Perkinsville, Vt.
To the editor,

Regarding the push by Weathersfield select board for control over what have been two successful volunteer fire departments for many years now, it appears there is no intention of letting the citizens of Weatherfield having a vote on the issue. Being able to vote on the expenditure for the takeover indicates the board has made it’s decision and it’s final. 

How many of those pushing for control of the volunteer fire departments have ever been firefighters, volunteer or otherwise? Why the push to add an unneeded tax expenditure? What is the gain? Has no thought been given to the fact that the volunteer firefighters may not want a “chief” appointed by bureaucrats rather than one they’ve elected? 

What is so broken by the present system that requires correction by combining two different departments under a chief that may or may not be acceptable to the volunteer members? Or does that even matter to those in the process of destroying the present systems?

As a former volunteer firefighter and trustee of the West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department, I whole heartedly agree with the stand taken by the Ascutney Fire Department. If the present chief of the WWVFD doesn’t like the present set up, perhaps he should resign and let the members elect a new chief, one that believes in volunteerism.

I doubt the power grabbers have any idea what hours volunteers have put into training and studying in being able to perform some of the very dangerous conditions they may face.

 

Galen A. Crandall Jr.

Perkinsville, Vt.