Dalton Ladder Truck Donation Unavailable
DALTON, Mass. — The North Collier Fire Rescue District in Naples, Fla., cannot donate its ladder truck because it will return to service as a reserve piece.
During a July Board of Water Commissioners meeting, Fire Chief Christian Tobin reported that while he was on vacation in Florida, his former colleagues informed him that a donation of the 1998 Pierce Quantum 107-foot aerial ladder truck might be possible.
Tobin was suspended in August following allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending, and "employee concerns."
"I can't stress enough that they will donate this truck to somebody ... they want the truck off the books and off the lot," Tobin said during the July meeting.
During last week's meeting with the Board of Water Commissioners, interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat informed the board that this was no longer true and that the apparatus was unavailable for donation.
In addition, Cachat said the original estimate of $5,000 for shipping and handling was inaccurate, and after research, the cost would have been between $10,000 and $12,000.
In other news:
Cachat informed the board that the station's ambulance director, Leon Morin, has left the department.
Morgan McDonough, the department's paramedic, has been with the department for about two years and is currently serving as the interim director.
The department is thankful that Morin will remain per diem because he is a very good paramedic, Cachat said.
Morin could not keep his position because he has two other jobs and is from the Westfield area.
He works over 100 hours per week and has four children, so something had to give, Cachat said, and that unfortunately, it was his job with the Dalton station because it is farther away from his home.
An email was sent internally to the current paramedics and emergency medical technicians to gauge their interest in someone taking over his position.
The station has received some letters and is reviewing them. At a later date, they will contact the board with their recommendations.
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