Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors voted to move ahead with the recommendation made by consultants to convert the existing emergency planning coordinator role into a manager of protective services position.
The budget allocation would see 60 per cent allocated to emergency planning and 10 per cent allocated to each of the four fire departments under SCRD’s purview: Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and Egmont.
Another part-time emergency planning support role would be created that would be exclusively funded through the emergency planning service.
“The reason why staff are recommending the creation of two distinct roles is to ensure there is always proper cross-training coverage, business continuity, while intentionally building redundancy and resilience into the delivery of the program,” said CAO Janette Loveys when introducing the budget item during the second round of deliberations on Monday.
Directors voted to move ahead with the extra $70,312 required to fund the manager and support positions, as well as to spend $20,000 on expert advice for a legal review of bylaws and other regulations. Sechelt director Darnelda Siegers made the motion.
Elphinstone director Donna McMahon made the sole opposing vote, arguing the recommendations were based on a “top down” report researched and written “without consulting the major stakeholders such as the municipalities and emergency program volunteers.”
“That’s not the right process for making these decisions,” she said.
Roberts Creek director Andreas Tize disagreed, telling directors the report on which the recommendations were based was “quite appreciated and endorsed by at least some of the members of the fire departments that I talked to.”
Halfmoon Bay director Lori Pratt said she was in favour of the new positions, but acknowledged, “There has been sentiment in the community that there was some missed consultation opportunities.”
Area A director Leonard Lee supported the changes and suggested the positions could be reviewed at a later time.
Area F director Mark Hiltz, who also voted in favour, called it a “backbone service,” while Town of Gibsons director Bill Beamish said he would support the position since his council was “generally favourable.”
