LETTER: Councillor responds to reader's commentary about fire chief
By Deb McIntosh
Ed note: This letter is in reference to comments made by Paul Therderahn in a letter to the editor published in the Castlegar News, and to a comment made by Ron Armbruster in response to my subsequent rebuttal of that letter in The Source (see https://castlegarsource.com/news/comment-rebuttal-letter-editor-26720#.Ul8JyRDRUik )
Dear Editor,
As a City Councillor, I always find it interesting how doing business at City Hall is perceived. I know that Mr. Armbruster, a former councillor, is privy to the way things are done, so I was more than a little shocked that the word “demotion” comes in to play in his comment.
I don’t know if there is something more than being rude and petty to this attack of our Fire Chief. I would hope not, as the Chief has displayed exemplary work at both the Airport and the Fire Hall.
The reason for hiring a new Deputy Chief is clearly due to succession planning. Our current Deputy Fire Chief did not want to fill that role.
If Mr. Armbruster and Mr. Therderahn were to come to a council meeting, or make a call to me, I would have been happy to provide them with any information they wanted. (By the way, our plan to hire a new deputy was in the paper at least three times.)
I do believe that both Mr. Armbruster and Mr. Therderahn owe the Fire Chief an apology.
Take shots at me, as an elected official, if need be, but making that kind of harmful and hurtful statement does not do anybody any justice, especially the authors of the letters.
I stand behind the decisions of Council, but more than that, I stand behind our staff.
Sincerely,
Deb McIntosh
