Vol. 7, Issue 26 Newsstand Price $1.50 per week Thursday, February 27, 2020 Council IN THE PROVINCIAL SPOTLIGHT behind chief in exit of eight Wyoming firefighters Heather Wright The Independent Wyoming residents waiting for answers on the departure of eight firefighters won’t be getting any. Plympton-Wyoming council - in a news released issued after two private meetings about the dismissal of three senior firefighters and the resignation and retirement of now five others in protest - says its fire department is strong. But it says nothing about the circumstances which led to the departure of now eight members of the Wyoming station. On Feb. 11, The district chief, lieutenant and a 26 year-veteran firefighter were dismissed by Plympton-Wyoming Chief Steve Clemens. Clemens said a private human resources firm had been hired in December to start an investigation. That probe led to another investigation. Clemens says he reviewed both investigations and then let the members of the fire service go. DAWSON CURRIE PHOTO Clemens wouldn’t say what the specific Brooke Sinclair, seen here through the lense of a camera, was ready for her close up as a film crew came to LCCVI recently to issue was, but did say the investigation interview the Grade 12 student who won the prestigious Marion Drysdale Award from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ centered on issues concerning the Federation. Sinclair submitted a poem she wrote about Indigenous singer Buffy Sainte-Marie. It was a school assignment where Occupational Health and Safety Act. students had to find someone who inspired them and write a poem. Sinclair says at the time Saint-Marie was singing and Multiple sources have told The politically active “it was not common for women to have that kind of a voice or for an indigenous person to have a voice...She Independent the firefighters were given no brought out issues people needed to talk about that weren’t being talked about then,” says Sinclair. The teen, who is considering specific reason for their dismissal. a career in the sciences, says she’s not normally good at writing. “I find I work better if I’m kind of passionate or inspired. I thought A day later, four other firefighters this was something other people should know about.” Sinclair’s story will be shared at the OSSTF convention in Toronto in March. criticized the move and announced their She’ll be on hand to accept the $1,000 scholarship. resignations and retirements. Last week, another long-time firefighter retire in protest. All the firefighters involved have declined Armstrong suggests Inwood fire hall not needed comment at this time. Heather Wright utes, the councillor expressed concern about The municipality has budgeted $165,000 On Friday, just before the municipal office The Independent closed, the town issued an unsigned news the possible tax increase and suggested “the in capital costs for the Inwood department. release. removal of the fire service from Inwood.” The town doesn’t have a hall since it “Mayor (Lonny) Napper and council Brooke-Alvinston Councillor Jamie Arm- All the other councillors spoke against the couldn’t reach a lease agreement with the are confident in the abilities of the strong says the municipality may not need move, as did Mayor Dave Ferguson and the Inwood Firemen’s Association last year. fire department, fire chief and chief an Inwood fire station. fire chief who said he was concerned about A new building is expected to cost about administrative officer,” reads the news He made the comments during a Feb. 12 removing the fire service from Inwood and $200,000 but the cost will be offset by the release. budget meeting but was not available for what impact it would have on a service sale of the rescue truck. SEE NAPPER PG 2 comment Tuesday. According to the min- agreement with Dawn-Euphemia. SEE INWOOD PG 2 425 Broadway Street • Wyoming HOURS BRAND NEW 2019 Monday-Friday 519-845-3352 8:30am-6pm FORD WWW.RONCLARKFORD.COM Saturday 9am-3pm EDGE ST • 20” Polished Aluminum Wheels • Unique ST Interior • 2.7L V6 Engine Ron Clark Ford • Heated Windshield OVER $10,000 WAS $ • Wiper De-Icer RON CLARK OFF LIST PRICE 52,499 • Heated Steering Wheel • Ford Co-Pilot Assist CLEAROUT • Evasive Steering Assist NOW $ • Adaptive Cruise Control PRICE ONLY 41,736 +HST, LIC. • Voice Activated Navigation 2 – The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton Thursday, February 27, 2020 FLORENCE MILL INC. March 2020 Quantities are limited. While supplies last. $ 99 64 Reg. 97.99 6-Cu. Ft. Wheelbarrow Poly tray, lacquered wood handles and 16” 4-ply pneumatic tire for increased traction. 1212109 $ 99 24 Reg. 32.99 Portable Heater DAWSON CURRIE PHOTO Plympton-Wyoming firefighters on the scene of a fire on Eleanor St. off Lakeshore Road in the Highland Glen area. The chair of the fire board says the response proves $ 99 the fire department is strong despite losing eight firefighters in the last two weeks. 8 Reg. 14.99 100-Ft. Speed-Line® Reel & Chalk Set Napper: “no doubt” Wyoming safe Light weight ABS Housing and robust steel handle. Abrasion-resistant poly CON’T FROM PG 1 municipality. “I’ve been an elected line provides 5-6 strikes per pull. The released confirms There have been three official in this community Red chalk / Blue Chalk. there were two, third- recent protests outside of for 32 years and when it 7059199 / 7059181 party investigations at the town hall of between a comes to my confidence in Wyoming station as well as dozen and 45 people asking our fire department’s fire $ 99 an Internal Fire Department for an explanation of the safety and preparedness, I’m 99 Reg. 129.99 Review. dismissals of the three sleeping just fine at night. Adirondack Chair The release says both senior firefighters. “Our community is safe, Slanted back/seat. White finish. council and staff saw the One of the organizers, there is no doubt in my 5165295 investigations reports and Conner Weed, expects the mind,” Napper is quoted as “the municipality has since council chamber will be saying. made staffing changes and, filled with people seeking Councillor Bob Woolvett, as per municipal policy, answers at its next meeting the chair of the fire board, cannot comment publicly March 2. echoes Napper. $ 99 on personal (sic) human Former fire chief Mike “Just yesterday (Feb. 20), 39Reg. 59.99 resources issue of staff, past Vasey also has voiced there was a large structure 3-pc. Large Nylon or present. concerns about the fire in the Highland Rain Suit $ 99 “We have and will experience which has left Glen area and our team 3558913 continue to take the the department and what responded with more than 19 Reg. 31.99 safety and security of burden that lays on the 33 firefighters to battle the Louver Shutter & all staff in our town firefighters who are left. blaze,” Woolvett says in the Blinds System extremely seriously,” Chief Plympton-Wyoming, release. 8926198 Administrative Officer according to the news He adds there was at the Carolyn Tripp is quoted release has 53 qualified same time, a team ready to as saying in the news firefighters available for receive calls in Wyoming.” release provided by the calls. $ 99 109 Reg. 149.99 50-Gal. Rain Barrel Inwood will have station, but smaller 9231663 CON’T FROM PG 1 we would like to keep a distress call, what then? Ferguson says council was presence in Inwood; it will It’s always that one time. surprised by the suggestion not be as large as it was You have to balance that considering Armstrong had before.” with the costs and what sort wanted council to sign a Just before the new year, of people (firefighters) we five-year lease agreement the equipment at the Inwood have.” for the former Inwood hall a fire hall was removed Brooke-Alvinston has set $ 00 few months ago. when the town and the aside $200,000 for a hall Reg. 8.99-52.99 And Ferguson says the rest association failed to reach which is expected to be 4 get your email added of council believe there is a an agreement. Ferguson say an addition to the Inwood Hole Saw to our e-flyer need for an Inwood station. the trucks and gear is being Library. Some of the costs Various Sizes. All sizes. check instore for “We need a presence in stored in the Alvinston area. will be offset by selling more monthly items Inwood, we need a new “There is no equipment to the rescue truck which was email: [email protected] building,” says Ferguson. respond with in Inwood,” he purchased about five years But the mayor admits says adding the Brooke Fire ago. The 2020 budget shows Inwood won’t have the Rescue “can be there in very the department expects to same fire presence as 2019. adequate response times.” sell it for about $50,000. “We’re looking at how can But he doesn’t want that to Ferguson says there will be FLORENCE MILL INC. we reconfigure (Inwood) to become a permanent thing. no fire equipment in Inwood Hardware, 532 Florence Road have costs savings. What “If I’m sitting in Inwood for the foreseeable future, Plumbing, Farm, Building Florence, ON N0P 1R0 Supplies & Service G2/CDT do we really need there and and nothing happens, great. saying it may be 2021 Gas Technicians Ph: 519-692-4711 have some cost savings. But if I’m sitting in Inwood before construction begins I’m not a fire chief, but and there is a medical on an Inwood fire hall.