The city of Rosemere’s decision to close down its fire department and sell off its equipment is not sitting right with the department’s union and at least one city councillor.
While the decision to close the station and outsource fire services to neighbouring Blainville was originally announced in March, the city council announced a deal to sell off three fire trucks and a Zodiac boat after a late night meeting on Monday.
The timing of the deal has raised questions as on Tuesday an administrative tribunal is set to hear the union’s appeal of the decision to close the department. The city has said the decision was meant to save money over the course of 20 years.
Rosemere Mayor Madeleine Leduc said Monday’s meeting was necessary since the deal was with a fire school and had to be signed before the school’s fiscal year ends on June 30.
Leduc was not available for an interview but said the town had the right to sell the equipment when it wanted, and that the town also had the responsibility to maintain the equipment and that the deal to sell it to the firefighting school was a good one.
A decision from the tribunal is not expected for several months.
City councillor Eric Westram said he disagrees with the mayor’s decisions and has now chosen to sit as an independent.
“She proceeded for them, not for the population,” he said.
“If the judge decides to get the station reopened that means investing in new equipment," he added. "You’re talking about $1,000,000 or $800,000 the population is going to have to reinvest. I think the council could have waited until the court decides on whatever is going to happen.”
Rosemere resident Jean-Francois Ricard said he and others aren’t giving up on their fire station.
“It's a small mess, but it's a mess. We should have been consulted, more than they did,” because, he said, residents had asked the town to hold off on the sale at least until the next municipal elections.
“Maybe in the other election they will try to reinstate the fire station,” he said.
