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Saturday, August 18, 2018

Volunteer Firefighters Could Air Grievances With Elected Officials

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company is looking for a productive way to discuss ongoing concerns with emergency services leadership.

At an Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC) Board of Directors meeting last Wednesday, the board declared “no confidence” in Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Larmore. The “no confidence” vote is the first ever taken by the OCVFC board and is rooted largely in staffing concerns and requirement for paid firefighters to take on additional overtime and the increased stress being placed on the volunteer ranks as a result of the city being shorthanded.

The rift between the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, which has been around for 100 years or more, and the paid fire and EMS divisions grew wider in February 2008 when the volunteer company threatened to leave the town of Ocean City altogether and set up shop in West Ocean City. The Mayor and Council at that time agreed to come together to hash out the differences. The OCVFC responded to the Mayor and Council’s proposal with a counterproposal that would place the volunteer company in charge of all fire-fighting responsibilities within the town, while leaving the paid fire/EMS division in charge of all medical and emergency response.

Out that rift, the Mayor and Council unanimously approved appointing Larmore as the one chief, hoping it would be a first step in unifying the fractured paid and volunteer departments. The measure was confirmed with an Memorandum of Understanding reached between the town and the OCVFC in May 2008.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

How can the chief double the staffing and then tell the council they can't provide the level of service that they used to provide with less people.it's a sinking ship.the council should of realized he was not qualified to be a chief for a dollar a year.his lies and deceit are catching up with him.he needs to go.they are losing good long term employees over this schedule!

Anonymous said...

What a joke. The Town shuts down the public restrooms on the weekend and the part time employees (transportation, Parks, construction, etc) can't even find a place to pee. Commuters coming from as far away as Pocomoke City can't pee either. All this while (union) workers negotiate for more money. I guess the Town needs to raise taxes in order to provide the necessary services to employees who seem to suffer while they try to deal with the homeless. If so, PLEASE do before I pee (or poop) my pants.

Anonymous said...

i`m sure the mayor and the town council have no problem finding a place to piss or poop anytime of the day or night, so let the peasants eat cake as it were. it`s good to be king.

Anonymous said...

Well it sounds like Jay Jester is lining himself up to be the next Far Cheef.

If the City of OC was smart they would get rid of that Douche Bag. The most hated Farmin in Ocean City and Salisbury.

This clown has never been a real firefighter because he is afraid of fire. He is also a big Ass Kisser. How do you think he go promoted in da 'bury Far Deeparmint.

Anonymous said...

why do I keep hearing about this crap? why can't anyone just do their job and go home? Thank you for putting out fires, thank you for getting someone to the hospital, maybe even saving their life in the process, thank you for responding to vehicle crashes and pulling people out of their vehicle.

You people provide a valuable service. We appreciate it. But do you need a medal or pat on the back each time? Lose the ego.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
why do I keep hearing about this crap? why can't anyone just do their job and go home? Thank you for putting out fires, thank you for getting someone to the hospital, maybe even saving their life in the process, thank you for responding to vehicle crashes and pulling people out of their vehicle.

You people provide a valuable service. We appreciate it. But do you need a medal or pat on the back each time? Lose the ego.

August 19, 2018 at 9:39 AM

If you don't like it then don't read it, Douche Bag!!

BTW, you are confused and thinking to the Salisbury Fire Department, now go back to sleep, HOMO!