Rexton volunteer firefighters return to work after dispute with municipality
CBC
The volunteer fire department in Rexton returned to work Wednesday afternoon following a nearly six-day period with no fire services for the area.
Sean Sullivan, a fire captain, said his department is still negotiating with the municipality on a few terms but was happy to return to the job after most of the issues were solved.
"There were some misunderstandings on both sides, as usual for when things like this happen, but that's been cleared up and we're ready to resume," Sullivan said.
Rexton and Harcourt-Beersville are the two fire departments in the amalgamated community of Five Rivers in Kent County.
While one issue was the budget of fire services allotted to Rexton compared with Harcourt-Beersville, Sullivan said they didn't walk off the job over money, it was mostly about what he called disrespect.
Sullivan said the department's former chief, Brent Goodwin, had been a member of the department for more than 40 years but had been asked to step down by the municipality while he was on sick leave.
Sullivan said the department and municipality have reached an agreement for Goodwin to return to his position once his sick leave ends in a month.
"That's the important thing for us, we got our fire chief back."
Five Rivers Mayor Trina Beers did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon.
A Facebook post from the fire department just days before members walked off the job cited "harassing and micromanaging" by the municipality's chief administrative officer.
"This decision was taken because of the harassment and disrespect shown to us in the recent months," said another Facebook post from the department announcing they were walking out.
In the days before the walkout, the municipality put a post on Facebook signed by Beers that called the allegations from the fire department concerning and unfounded.
The municipality put a brief statement on Facebook on Wednesday announcing the department had resumed service but did not explain what led to the members' return to work.
"The Municipality of Five Rivers and the Rexton Fire Department remain engaged in positive discussions," the post read.