MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A vote could come as early as next week by the Berkeley Council on a plan to staff the county with 60 paid firefighters.
The council held two public meetings Thursday to gather comments from residents about the proposal which could triple current fire fees.
Council President Doug Copenhaver told MetroNews affiliate WEPM News the public meetings serve a purpose but public safety remains a priority.
“Is it going be something that’s going to convince me that we don’t need them (paid firefighters)? I can’t do that. Public safety is high on the priority list,” Copenhaver said.
Copenhaver added the public has relied on volunteers for too long.
“The public and the citizens of Berkeley County have ridden on the backs on the volunteers probably longer than they should have been,” Copenhaver said. “It’s still a joint effort.”
The Berkeley County Fire Board has proposed putting 12 paid firefighters in each of the county’s five fire stations at a price tag of $4.2 million. Council is considering raising fire fees to come up with the money. That means a resident paying $35 now could pay as much as $105 under the new plan.
There were those who spoke for the new fee, saying the extra personnel is needed in a growing county. Others said it wasn’t so much a fee as an added tax – one they do not support.
Some firefighters have said the statistics provided to the council regarding scratched calls are not accurate. Copenhaver said those numbers are based on 911 calls.
“The good thing about 9-1-1 is that it’s all recorded. So, it’s very easy to get those stats,” said Copenhaver. “I can tell you that the stats are accurate and that’s what we have to go by.”
Berkeley Council may vote on the proposal at its July 5 meeting.
WEPM Radio Reporter Elias McMillan