As recent events have made abundantly clear, and the resignation of Vauxhall’s emergency services chief Brian Schafer highlights, there are concerns regarding the relationship between volunteer staff in the department and the town.
At Monday’s town council meeting,a delegation from Vauxhall Emergency Services outlined a number of concerns which, above all, indicate an apparent lack of communication between the department and the town.
The delegation alleged communications between the department and town council, facilitated through the chief and CAO Barb Miller, were being blocked  by Miller, while the town’s response would seem to suggest issues currently being resolved by council, such as a replacement fire truck, have not been properly communicated to the volunteer staff, through the chief’s position.
The meeting between the delegation and town council, at some points, deteriorated into a he said, she said form, which little is likely to be gained from, on either side of the issue.
Whatever the outcome of the discussions between the town and the department, and whether a deal can be reached to bring Schafer back to the table, will be revealed in the coming days.
On the other hand, it should be clear to any observer that if progress is to made moving forward, there will need to be some reconciliation and clear lines of communication open on both sides.
If the department and the town are to have an effective working relationship, which is to the benefit of all in the community and its surrounding areas, this will need to be achieved.
Engaging in rounds of discussions designed to assign blame or tender criticism will not be to the benefit of either party. What will is a level of professionalism and a willingness to work together towards mutual goals, on both sides.
In the end, some give and take will likely have to be part of any consensus reached between the town and the department — whether or not there is to be any resolution with regard to the current chief’s position.