REDFIELD — Alderman Darrell Hedden and Fire Chief Dennis McFatridge indicated they have resolved differences over a proposed ordinance involving firemen. The two men and two additional Redfield area volunteer firemen met Monday evening, they told Tte Progress.
Hedden, who offered the proposed ordinance before the Redfield City Council earlier this month, said the change was necessary to comply with current state and federal laws.
McFatridge maintained last week that members of the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department and Redfield Volunteer Fire Association were not consulted on the proposed changes and opposed Hedden’s proposals.
More than three dozen volunteer firemen and their supporters turned out April 3 at City Hall to question Hedden’s proposals, which was placed on first reading. The proposal stated the chief of the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department “shall be appointed” by the mayor with the approval of a majority of the city’s aldermen, as required by state law.
The Redfield area is served by two volunteer firefighting organizations and McFatridge was elected chief of both groups. “While we are separate, we work as one team,” he has emphasized repeatedly.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A 1977 ordinance called for the chief of the Redfield volunteer department to be appointed by the city council, with the chief responsible for equipment, control and management of the department.
However, a 1987 ordinance noted the Redfield volunteer department had been assisted “for many years” by members of the “Redfield Rural Volunteer Fire Association,” adding aldermen wished “to continue having the functions of the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department performed by the members of the Redfield Rural Volunteer Fire Association.” Action on two additional proposed ordinances, including one to authorize the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department to respond to medical emergencies, fight fires and operate beyond the corporate limits of Redfield, were tabled April 3.
McFatridge and Hedden said as a result of Monday’s meeting, it was agreed that all three proposed ordinances would be “pulled” by Hedden, with portions of two combined into one proposed ordinance “that we can live with.”
Hedden said he was satisfied that a majority of the language from the initial proposal placed on first reading would survive to comply with existing laws.