Dear Editor:
While it should be a huge relief to taxpayers to see one of the highest salaries in the city retire (more than $180,000), don't relax too much, as I am sure that our wonderful city staff will quickly replace Fire Chief Barrie Penman with the same or even a greater salary (Final Bell for N. Van's Chief, Aug. 19, North Shore News).
One might not mind if one lived in a large city with a large population and a high number of fire situations, but we are 54,000 people living in just over four square miles, and most of the calls the fire department go out on are medical situations and accidents that paramedics and police officers are also qualified to address.
Since we are shelling out more than $7 million on salaries and benefits for 66 employees at the fire department, I find it extremely alarming that Penman would comment: "You do the best job you can, keeping in mind that it's taxpayers' dollars." Really? Why then is it almost impossible for the general public to get the full facts and figures regarding the cost of the fire department?
How many vehicles do they actually have besides the large fire trucks, and why are these vehicles used on a 24-hour basis by fire staff? What is the total cost of the large fire trucks, and how often are they replaced?
Whenever the RCMP contract comes up, there is a huge wailing and wallowing from City Hall about increases, so why is it always silent when the fire department contract comes up?
If Penman is so concerned about city taxpayers (most of whom earn $50,000 or less) then perhaps he could have persuaded his fellow firefighters to pass on their continual and lucrative increases in salaries?
Let's keep in mind that city firefighters are earning well over $50,000, and many of them are earning more than $100,000 per year. Why is there such a huge gap between the earnings of the citizens who pay the bills and the city workers/firefighters whose wages they are paying?
Everyone knows and appreciates the work that firefighters do, but there is a limit, and I think those who work for the City of North Vancouver have, for the most part, exceeded that limit a while ago.
Sue Lakes Cook North Vancouver
