by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION — A Whitewater Region volunteer firefighter from the Beachburg Station asked Whitewater Region council to reconsider accepting the resignation of deputy-fire chief Mike Moore.
Mr. Moore tendered his resignation on Monday, July 21. At a special council meeting, the resignation was accepted, as was the retirement notice handed in by chief Wayne Heubner. Both were effective immediately.
“I think there’s been a mistake made with the resigning of Mike Moore,” said firefighter Billy Harris. “The man’s spent 34 years serving the community, 18 years in a leadership role.
“It is significantly dangerous for all of us firefighters to not have him available at scene.”
Mr. Moore is familiar with everything to do with firefighting in Whitewater Region, Mr. Harris said.
“It’s a massive blow to the fire department to have him gone,” he added. “He can’t be replaced.”
Mr. Harris, who was not present at the meeting when Mr. Moore resigned, believes there was “a mistake” in the wording during an interview with Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay.
Mr. Moore did not want to resign, but was given an option to educate his replacement or become a firefighter.
“Mistakes happen,” Mr. Harris said. “But, the guy who’s been leading us for 18 years, we’re standing here because it’s an issue. You can’t just let that guy go.
“To not have that man on scene is dangerous for our community,” he added.
Mr. Harris said he has spoken with Mr. Moore and he wants to remain as the deputy-chief. He was committed to the fire department.
A petition is going around to the five fire stations and most firefighters are signing it, he said.
Mr. Harris said Mr. Moore does not want to leave and he is a “huge asset” to the community and it is a travesty with him gone.
Mr. Moore has spent 34 years of his life volunteering and keeping the community as protected as it has, he deserves time on this decision.
He encouraged council members to contact Mr. Moore and re-instate him as the deputy-chief.
“He’s dedicated his life to this community,” Mr. Harris said. “He deserves more time.”
Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson said it’s unusual not to accept a letter of resignation.
“That person has chosen and we respect people’s decision to do that,” he said. “It’s quite unusual not to accept a resignation.”
CAO Tremblay said this discussion regarding Mr. Moore should not be happening since it was not on the agenda.
“I can reach out to Mr. Moore, if he has made those comments to you, to see where he’s at, but he did come to that meeting with a resignation in hand,” he said.
CAO Tremblay noted since the discussion has come up, he wanted to publicly state, “I wholeheartedly deny the accusations because that did not occur and I was not alone in that room at that time.”
If there is a change of heart, Mr. Moore should let someone know, he said.
“Our door is open, and we’ll have conversations,” CAO Tremblay said. “I would be more than happy to have a chat and a closed session with council, if that would be required, because it his HR (human resources) matters to discuss the matter further.”
Reeve Terry Millar said, “It would be prudent of us to do just that, go into closed and do it one more time.”
Following the meeting, Mr. Harris said the fire department is under review, and the person who spoke to Mr. Moore was “fairly aggressive” in his assessment of how the department is run. Mr. Harris said the person is looking at the department from a city perspective, not a small community.
“Having Mike gone is dangerous to the community and I believe it was just a misunderstanding with a) he felt his department was being attacked, so he’s obviously upset with all the faults this man was hired to find and then he talked to the CAO and there was a misunderstanding whether he was to help his replacement or put back into a firefighter’s position.
“The guy’s 60 years old, he’s not going to be donning a BA.”
When questioned if he felt the community was in danger, as he said to council, Mr. Harris said no. The firefighters are dedicated, and the acting deputy-chiefs, Terry Moore and Roy Church, are quite qualified to take on the duties.
Mr. Harris is happy with the response from council, which is to discuss the resignation once again.
When asked if Mr. Moore was aware he was asking council to reconsider his resignation, Mr. Harris said no.
“Someone has probably told him, but we love Mike, and it’s not just because he’s saved our lives,” by directing us at fires, “he was born for this position and we’re all super unhappy to see him go.
“I was really happy to hear the reeve is keen on hearing it out and I really hope they spend some time and chat with him,” Mr. Harris said.
After the meeting, Mayor Johnson said, it’s always expected that someone would ask council not to accept Mr. Moore’s resignation because when working within a group, there is always a great deal of support.
“My personal experience in management is once you’re given a letter of resignation, you accept it, that’s the only proper decision and you move on,” he said.
However, since council agreed the letter of resignation would be discussed again, it will be, but most likely after the petition has been presented to council.
He also noted that it will be up to Mr. Moore to contact the office if he wants to be at the closed door meeting to discuss the letter of resignation.
When contacted after the meeting, Mr. Moore declined to comment since council has agreed to review the resignation.
