by A consultant hired to review fire services in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will go over his findings with the Regional Fire Chiefs Association, tonight.
This evening’s meeting comes after Charles Jennings with Manitou Consultants from New York State released his final report during yesterday’s meeting of the Fire and Emergency Services Committee.
The 45-thousand dollar study makes 22 recommendations that includes such areas as the buying of new equipment, training and dealing with volunteer firefighter recruitment.
Jennings admits that a recommendation to merge some volunteer stations is potentially controversial.
He singled out departments in Northside East Bay and East Bay, Coxheath and Sydney River, and Scotchtown, New Waterford and New Victoria as examples.
However, he adds the merger would see the departments sharing roles including a department chief with their fire halls staying open.