CVFD, WARS Resist County Takeover

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Cheifs' revolt.
Cheifs' revolt.

Western Albemarle’s superb volunteer fire and rescue services—the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department and the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad— joined eight other volunteer organization July 29 to plead for citizens to speak on their behalf at a public hearing set for August 11 when the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance that would commandeer the volunteer services under the authority of the county fire chief.

“We stand united opposed to the ordinance Albemarle County is considering,” said Larry Claytor, president of the Charlottesville/Albemarle Rescue Squad, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. “Please, please, please come out and rescue us.

“We have been recognized many times for our excellence,” noted Claytor, flanked by the uniformed chiefs of the Scottsville, East Rivanna, Seminole Trail, Stony Point and Earlysville fire departments. Leaders of some volunteer services could not attend the mid-morning press briefing, but all oppose the ordinance. “Several companies have asked the county for assistance, but none of us has asked to be taken over. To subject the volunteers to this unworkable ordinance is a slap in the face to the volunteers.”

The ordinance being considered is the same one the county withdrew last year after protests from the volunteer services. If enacted, the ordinance would give the county fire chief the authority to set policies for the volunteers and oversee their operations. Proponents of the ordinance, such as Supervisor Ken Boyd, say it will force coordination among the volunteers. Judging by the occasion, they seem to know how to coordinate already.

“We have tried to work with the county,” said Claytor. “We feel under attack. We are having to fight to continue to serve our neighbors. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired over this issue. Big government and higher cost is not the answer. We are trying to save the volunteer system in Albemarle County and we are not being heard.”

Ron Williams, a CARS board member who participated in meetings with county staffers developing the ordinance, said, “The structure of the ordinance was preordained. We participated and explained that it would be harmful to us. No real problems [with the current system] have ever been found and the county had no problem in mind that it was trying to fix. This is their definition of collaboration. We were there to be window-dressing for their meetings. One valuable result of all this wasted effort is that the county now knows [the ordinance] will harm the volunteers. It will mean more bureaucracy and higher taxes.”

Claytor said that the difference in the language of the ordinance since last year is that previously it said the goal was “the strong fire chief model” and now the word “strong” has been dropped. The county says it has the power to prohibit volunteers from serving, Williams said. The chiefs predicted that if enacted the ordinance would result in a drop in the number of volunteers. The county has paid firefighters at stations near Monticello High School and Hollymead.

Williams noted that CARS serves the City of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia as well, and that the county’s designs constituted interference with those jurisdictions.

“We need the help of the community now,” he said. “We ask people to contact their supervisors, write to the newspapers and show up at the public hearing.”

Pete  Davidson, vice president of CARS and a volunteer since 1978, said, “We have been extremely cooperative. There are things we need financial assistance for. Needs versus wants is what needs to be the deciding factor.” He said the training requirements to be a volunteer are the same as for paid firefighters and medics.