On February 14, the Town of Dupont Board of Supervisors decided to terminate the service of 21 Volunteer Firefighters. Two board members voted to disband the Dupont Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) in favor of awarding an exclusive contract to the Marion Area Fire Department (MAFD). One of the board members is a MAFD firefighter. The second board member is the father of an MAFD firefighter and Marion City Council member.
At a recent town meeting, the Town Board stated the basis for the change was to improve relations with the City of Marion. Board members refused to state that the decision would save the Town money; however, they acknowledged the decision could possibly cause greater loss of life and property due to an increase in response time.
In addition, two insurance companies stated that fire protection insurance rates will likely increase due to the decrease in service. DVFD presented evidence that fire insurance rates would increase due to the decrease in service. One board member responded to the rate concerns with the claim that his insurance company will not increase its rates and individual residents will need to work out their own financial concerns. He is on the board of his insurance company.
To add to the fiscal impact on the Town of Dupont residents, MAFD firefighters charge higher hourly rates than the DVFD. Thus, the bills sent to individual homeowners for fire calls will go up and the Town will have to pay more. In addition, the MAFD does not share the DVFD commitment to saving livestock and machinery, which is hardly helpful to the Town’s fiscal policy, given that farming and agricultural enterprises account for the majority of their local economy.
Given this set of facts, the Waupaca Corporate Counsel has issued an opinion stating that assuming the facts presented are accurate, that there is reason to believe that an ethic’s violation has occurred under Wis. Stat. 19.59. Adding to allegations of ethics and open meetings violations, the Town Board also permitted a DVFD fundraiser to be held on March 3rd, after they had voted to have the DVFD cease operations as of March 25, 2012 and turn over all property no later than March 31, 2012.
DVFD is taking its civic concerns to the media, the Waupaca District Attorney, and to its State Representatives. There really is no justification for terminating volunteer firefighters with the expertise needed to best serve their community. The offer of the MAFD to allow DVFD firefighters to join is unlikely to provoke much interest due to the MAFD refusal to bend on the 6pm meeting time, the MAFD stance on preserving livestock and machinery, and the bad feelings generated by the Dupont Board Members’ unwillingness to talk about this issue before disbanding the DVFD.
A request for an injunction was filed at the Waupaca County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.
MORE NEWS INFO ON THIS SITUATION; http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120329/APC0101/203290536/Decision-disband-volunteer-fire-unit-irks-Dupont-residents
