Brownsburg-Chatham has reached an agreement with its firefighters’ association, ending a dispute that started in November, 2018.
At that time, The Review reported that seven newly-recruited part-time firefighters were being terminated from employment by the town as a cost-cutting measure. The recruits had nearly completed their training, which had already been paid for by the town.
The decision prompted outrage from the Brownsburg-Chatham Firefighters Association, and its president, Karl Boivin. He spoke against the decision at the November 6 council meeting and was joined by many firefighters from Brownsburg-Chatham and neighbouring municipalities as a show of solidarity.
At the January 15, 2019 council meeting, a letter of intent was approved that not only ensures the seven firefighters will have positions on local departments, but one more was also hired.
According to Mayor Catherine Trickey, Brownsburg-Chatham reached an agreement where four of the new firefighters will join that municipality’s department and the other four will join the fire department in Wentworth Township.
Trickey said the agreement includes each municipality splitting the training costs.
The letter of intent also ensures the recognition of Brownsburg-Chatham’s firefighters as municipal employees. The association had argued that recognition was ignored when the previous decision was made.
