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Firefighters and EMS leaders urge Pender County commissioners to delay EMS & Fire board appointments amid complaints about candidate
Summary
Multiple Pender EMS & Fire personnel and other public commenters asked commissioners not to appoint a contested candidate to the Pender EMS & Fire board, citing missed deadlines and public postings by the candidate.
Public comment at the Feb. 3 meeting focused heavily on governance of Pender EMS & Fire and a contested candidate for the volunteer organization's board.
Multiple speakers from the local fire and EMS community told the board they opposed the appointment of a named candidate, saying the person failed to meet application deadlines and had posted internal information online. "We tonight respectfully ask that you do not consider Phil Cordero for appointment to our board of directors," Everett Basden, chief of Pender EMS & Fire, told commissioners, citing missed application deadlines and postings he said were inaccurate.
Patricia Fields, a long‑serving member of the Pender EMS & Fire board who was later listed as an applicant for reappointment, and other chiefs and rank‑and‑file personnel described a sustained service record and warned that a contested appointment could disrupt operations. "To take away or alter our service would be a disservice to your community," said Jamie Lorenz, battalion chief with Pender EMS & Fire.
Speakers also referenced an SBI (State Bureau of Investigation) complaint that some said had been reviewed and dismissed. Dr. Benjamin Miles, an area emergency physician and medical director for the EMS service, praised the county—s paramedics and highlighted training and a new opioid‑free pain control device that can assist patients during long transports to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
During board business on appointments (item 11), the clerk presented multiple candidates for several seats. Given the public controversy and an ongoing negotiation between Pender EMS & Fire and Union Rescue, a commissioner moved to postpone appointments to the Pender EMS & Fire Board of Trustees for 60 days; the board approved the motion and directed staff to continue advertising the vacancies during the delay. The clerk told the board existing members whose terms have expired may continue to serve until vacancies are filled.
No appointment was made during the meeting for the contested seat. County attorney and staff reiterated their role in reviewing legal questions raised by public commenters. The board also received several public comments urging transparency, assurances about service continuity and maintenance of wages and retirements if governance changes proceed.
The commissioners did not take disciplinary or personnel action during the meeting; rather, they moved to delay appointments to allow further review and negotiation.
