The transition into a stand alone fire department in 2012 will see that department’s budget soar by 64 per cent.
The Town of Canmore’s fire services will operate separate of EMS as of April next year as a result of the municipality divesting in providing that contracted service to Alberta Health.
The 2012 proposed operating budget for the stand alone department estimates the cost of the change to be $1.35 million, an increase of $489,278 over the 2011 budget of $764,667.
Interim Chief Administrative Officer Lisa de Soto explained that in addition to personnel changes from 13 full-time firefighters/paramedics to eight, including the chief, a number of services that were shared with the ambulance side of the department will change.
“A number of services within the fire hall were shared between ambulance and fire like supplies, telephone and office supplies,” de Soto said. “Next year, those will be wholly funded by fire.”
The 2012 strategic plan for a stand alone department, added financial services manager Terry Holt, was $1.36 million and the 2012 budget sits at $1.35 million.
Council accepted the plan earlier this year.
Mayor Ron Casey said the ambulance side of the department, in his opinion, would use the lion’s share of the supplies budget.
Holt, however, indicated that the stand alone department must also go through a rebranding and signage exercise as a result of the change.
Instead of Canmore Fire EMS the new department will be called Canmore Fire Rescue and uniforms and signage will need to change as a result.
Fire Chief Todd Sikorsky provided council with a full accounting of the entire budget to council this week.
The rebranding is proposed to cost $39,700 and includes building signage, truck decals and design of a new crest.
Education, training and conferences in the budget totals $31,750 and new to the budget is a $10,000 inspection and clean of all fire fighter turn-out gear and a $5,800 contingency fund to repair aging equipment.
As a result of EMS services leaving the hall the cost of freight, telephones, professional fees, contracted services, supplies, natural gas and power are all expected to increase.
However, the changes in the fire department from having 13 full-time employees in an integrated service to having eight in a stand-alone department was a source of debate at council.
Currently the staff splits their time 75 per cent and 25 per cent between EMS and fire. However, not all staff will remain with the fire department with the changeover on April 1.
Councillor Hans Helder put forward a motion requiring administration to treat the three of the FTE firefighters as new positions, assuming eight FTEs will be taken by the new EMS contractor, and return for council approval before hiring.
“This is not about approving resources but fulfilling the requirements like we do for all new FTEs council approves,” Helder said.
However, de Soto said the motion may be hard for administration to follow as all employees currently work for the Town.
