By Mark Squibb
November 24, 2023 Edition
Witless Bay council has been asked to amend the coverage area of the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department.
Councillor Ralph Carey moved at last week’s meeting that council defer the motion pending a meeting with Fire Chief Jack Gatherall. Councillor Jacob Hayden seconded that motion.
“Basically, we’ve read through the proposal, and we just have a few questions we want to ask,” explained Hayden. “So, we’re looking forward to getting his full input on this and sitting down and having a discussion.”
The motion to defer passed unanimously. No details were offered as to whether the department wants to expand its coverage area, or reduce it.
The Town has invested heavily in the department in recent years. In May, 2022, council agreed to accept a cost-shared funding offer from the provincial government and move ahead with the construction of a new regional fire hall proposed by the former council. Construction will come in just shy of $3 million dollars, with the Town expected to pay $815,646 over the next decade.
The Town hired its first full-time fire chief in 2021, and has also allocated money for fire department operations, volunteer recruitment and training, new equipment, and new training grounds.
The department serves Witless Bay, Bay Bulls, Tors Cove, Bauline, Mobile, and Burnt Cove-St Michaels-Bauline East.
