Letter to the Editor: Regarding volunteer fire departments

The Weathersfield Selectboard’s drive to combine the two fire departments with one chief is furthered by the headline: “Volunteer fire departments create territories as strife continues.”

First, it is only one department that refuses to accept the vote of Weathersfielders to keep the departments separate. That is West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department (WWVFD), or Fire Chief Joshua Dauphin. The lines designating main areas of responsibility are the same that have been in effect for years, not something new dictated by Dauphin. What is new is his decision to cease cooperating with the Ascutney Fire department. I wonder if these decisions were made by just Chief Dauphin or with a vote by the members and trustees?

As a former member and trustee of the WWVFD for over 20 years, the departments always had a good natured rivalry and always worked together when the need arose. John Wood, who wanted a combined department, always accented the negative in his report. Select Board members who wanted more power over the departments took Wood’s report to heart and has used it to further their cause.

I can understand Fire Chief Darrin Spaulding not having a response to the reporter as the headline exposed the Eagle Times has shown a tendency to accept the word of the pro-combined departments with a single chief adherents. The paper made it sound as though Spaulding was wrong in presenting his own budget. Is it because Dauphin is incapable of working up a budget for his department and passed the job on to the administration, someone who does not really know the needs of the fire department? In the past each department was responsible for working up their own budget.

It is my opinion that since Fire Chief Dauphin refuses to work with the east side, is incapable of making up a budget with the trustees, and refuses to accept the vote of the citizens, then perhaps it is time to move on and let someone take over that can do the job. Without letting personal feelings interfere with the job that has to be done and worked for the good of the town for many years thanks to previous chiefs.

Galen A. Crandall Jr.

Perkinsville, VT