There will not be a report done for council on the number of full-time firefighters in Chatham-Kent, but it will be a topic of discussion during budget talks.
Councillor Frank Vercouteren presented a motion to council Monday night, requesting a full report on how many firefighters Chatham-Kent really needs.
The motion didn't sit too well with Mayor Randy Hope. During the meeting he addressed the council in saying he doesn't support the motion.
"This motion kind of troubles me," says Hope. "Every time at budget process we go through this - about the level of service. It's this chamber that decides the level of service and how many firefighters we have."
Hope proceeded in saying this point of discussion should take place during the next budget process, not at a regular council meeting.
"I'm not going to discuss the level of service without totally understanding the total budget impact that it's going to have," says Hope.
The motion failed 8-9.
Councillor Vercouteren says he's disappointed the motion failed but doesn't hold anything against Hope for not supporting it.
"I wasn't surprised, it was going to get turned down," says Vercouteren. "Personally I really thought that it was the right thing to do [bringing up this motion]."
Adding, the whole purpose in requesting the report was to provide some answers for locals who were asking how many full-time firefighters there are and why.
As for Vercouteren's standings with the fire department, he says it was never his intention to cause any ill will and says the Chief was willing to complete the report.
"I had it worked out with the Chief, [and] he was happy to answer those questions, he was going to," says Vercouteren.
Later adding, he will be bringing this topic up again at the next budget meeting.
