Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Fire Merger topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents call for more town halls and a pause on proposed Pender EMS and fire merger
Summary
Multiple residents urged the board to slow or halt the proposed county takeover/merger of EMS and fire services, citing cost, transparency and staffing concerns and asking for county-led town halls before final agreements are signed.
Multiple residents told the Board of Commissioners on July 14 they are concerned about the proposed county merger or takeover of Pender EMS and local fire services and asked the board to slow the process and hold more public meetings.
Speakers including Jim Harris and Amy Schooley said the merger represents a significant structural change with long-term financial and operational implications. “We're looking at $1,800,000 in new personnel costs each year,” said Amy Schooley, a Hampstead resident, during public comment.
Harris, who identified himself as a Hempstead resident, asked the board to hold at least two to four town halls with multiple commissioners present and to publish the proposed agreements in advance so residents could ask questions during those meetings. Connie Nelson and other speakers described the transaction as a “hostile takeover” and said the public has had little opportunity for input while memoranda of understanding are still being finalized.
Several commenters also said they had heard that EMS and fire personnel were leaving jobs ahead of the transition, which they said could affect service immediately as well as after any consolidation. Commenters asked the board to disclose which geographic areas would be included in the consolidation, and why some areas would be treated differently.
County Manager (title provided in meeting) told the board the memorandum of understanding is intended to memorialize key factors for the parties and that public engagement is planned; she said some town halls were held earlier in the process and additional engagement could be scheduled, including possible fall meetings tied to a finalized agreement. “The MOU for now is just to make sure that we will memorialize the factors that are important to each of the parties so that we're all on the same page,” the manager said, and she indicated the final agreement timeline includes work through the remainder of the year.
Commissioner Gross urged county staff and the parties to organize additional town halls sooner than currently scheduled, saying it would help answer questions and reduce public confusion. Commissioners agreed to work with staff to schedule additional community meetings and to provide clearer financial and operational information before a final agreement is presented to the full board.
No formal vote on the merger itself was recorded at the July 14 meeting; speakers repeatedly requested town halls and more detailed financial analysis before the board advances or approves any final agreement.
