Flaring tempers will get a chance to cool off in Summit while a committee tries to smooth relations between the squad and fire department.
That compromise came after the Summit Town Board held a two-hour, mostly polite session Thursday at which both sides aired concerns.
Citing deep differences with the fire department, rescue volunteers earlier this month vowed to resign January 1 unless Summit established an independent rescue squad.
Plans to resign are apparently on hold, however, and volunteers will continue to respond.
“Give the committee at least six months, and I hope it’s quicker than that,” Supervisor Harold Vroman told the crowd of about 50 who packed the highway garage.
Named to the committee were Fire Chief Mike Flaherty, fire commissioners Roger Haughton and Dave Kearney, Rescue Squad Captain Maria Cartwright, squad volunteer Diane Giewat and town councilmen Georgia Van Valkenburgh and Glenn Thurber.
Two county officials will help: Director of Emergency Medical Services Bill Averill and Fire Coordinator Matt Brisley.
The decision to form the committee came after the audience heard volunteers describe nearly 40 years of harmonious relations between the Worcester Hose Company and Rescue Squad.
Like Summit, Worcester’s squad is part of the fire department. Unlike Summit, the two get along.
“It’s imperative that we work together as a unit,” said Worcester Rescue Squad Captain Sid Chase. “We maintain an extremely good relationship with our other half.”
Worcester Fire Chief Jim Empie agreed, telling the Summit audience: “Think of who’s your number-one customer: John Q. Public.”
Former fire chief Rudy Gorsch, now a Worcester fire commissioner, reminded listeners that sometimes the chief must be authoritative, which is a sore point in Summit.
“There are times when I’ve been ‘overbearing,’ ” he said, referring to a statement in a past news story. “Sometimes that’s the way it has to be. You have to cut him (the fire chief) a little slack.”
Contrasting her town’s situation with Worcester, Ms. Cartwright described Summit Rescue Squad’s history as “35 tumultuous years.”
But, she added, “I believe everyone in this room believes they’re doing the right thing. The issue is that the rescue squad is not getting along with the fire department. We’re asking you as a town board what you’re going to do about it.”
Mr. Vroman said he recommended a mediator and a cooling off period months ago but got no response from the rescue squad.
Picking up on that, Roy Burroughs of the rescue squad said a liaison should get the two sides talking together “for the best for the taxpayers.”
Chief Flaherty said firefighters “would be more than willing to talk.”
The committee, Ms. Cartwright said, should look at all options, including forming a town or independent rescue squad––or staying with the fire department––and Mr. Vroman agreed.
“We don’t want to quit. We’re serious about wanting to stay on,” Ms. Cartwright said. “I promise to stay on as long as I feel there’s progress forward.”
At least one squad member said the committee’s work shouldn’t drag on for months, but Chief Flaherty said a decision will take time.
“It should be six months,” he said. “This isn’t an overnight solution.”
Mr. Vroman stressed that the town and committee have two goals: Maintaining emergency medical service and keeping the squad intact.
“Volunteers are much needed, and we don’t want to lose any,” he said.