By Cecilia Nasmith
At its committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday, Cobourg council voted to give budget pre-approval of $240,000 for long-needed renovations at the fire hall.
Dating from 1975, it has needed some work for a long time, Chief Mike Vilneff told council, but the impetus for securing permission from acting Chief Administrative Officer Ian Davey in March to hire an architect to prepare some costings was the hiring of their first female fire fighter.
This move brings a requirement for renovated washroom, shower and bunk facilities, Vilneff said, but they also need appropriate storage area for personal protective equipment – now being kept in a closet. And with what has become inadequate office space, they have been accommodating some of this work in their board room.
Vilneff expressed hope that this work could be accommodated through the $303,900 in resilience infrastructure grants to be made available to the town, though it is not yet 100% certain either that this money might be directed to other priorities – such as flooding mitigation, Mayor John Henderson noted.
Having just announced her intention to bring in a budget whose increase amounts to 1% or less, Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin said that – while she applauds the hiring – she is not convinced that the renovations are enough of an emergency to qualify for budget pre-approval that would bypass the regular process.
Especially at a time when materials and work come at a premium due to the pandemic, she added.
It's not an emergency, Vilneff agreed.
“However, I do have a staff member that has to make concessions with how she operates within our building,” he pointed out.
That steep cost can only rise, he added, the longer they wait to put the project out to tender.
“With equity and diversity and inclusivity a high point with everybody today, I think we need to get moving on this,” Vilneff stated.
“We have to do something. Whether it's now or eight months down the road, it has to happen.”
“We know we have got do to it sooner or later,” said Councillor Brian Darling – a retired fire fighter.
“The sooner we bite the bullet and get it done, the better.”
Councillor Emily Chorley confessed to being puzzled, having seen female fire fighters with the Cobourg department. Those were volunteers, Vilneff said.
“Volunteer fire fighters take their stuff home in their kit bag, and carry spare clothes in the kit bag so they can change in a washroom,” the chief explained.
Given council's espousal of accessibility, diversity, equality and inclusion, Councillor Nicole Beatty said, how could there be any question of not supporting the chief's request.
“I would have to agree with Councillor Beatty,” Councillor Adam Bureau said.
“How can we promote equality, but only at the right time or price. Our job is to make sure everybody is treated equally.
“It's not super-big – they need their own space, and I am in full support of this motion 100%.”
“I am in full support of equity. I am in full support of women getting ahead in any environment. We have hired some exceptional women in the last few months, so we certainly have proven that,” Seguin said.
“But this is a quarter of a million dollars, and it should be processed like any other budget request.”
“I am all about compromising. I think that's how the world works,” Bureau said.
“But when it comes to equality and a quarter of a million dollars to make our fire house female-friendly when we have female fire fighters, I don't think there's any compromising we have to do.”
The vote to support the motion was carried, with only Seguin and Henderson voting in opposition.
