I have read with dismay the tendency for uninformed, inexperienced and previously non-involved citizens to venture opinions on matters which they are profoundly unqualified to judge. None of the citizens who oppose the merger are experienced first responders who actually understand the organizational and operational conditions under which these amazing folks have operated over the past two years. One commentator actually claimed that the engine crews (including dual-qualified firefighter-EMTs) who have been responding alongside the ambulance crews are “uninvited”. This is absurd on the face of it. How do these detractors think that the first responder network has been able to provide the excellent service that we have seen during the COVID crisis over the past two years?

To those who say “the system isn’t broke, don’t fix it” are missing the point that the departments have already been responding together for months. That is the system that has produced excellent results. Don’t mess with it…. Approve the FIRE/EMS levy.

Francis Smith

Fire Captain/Senior EMT Retired