PENDER COUNTY — Pender County leaders took the next step in moving forward with the Pender EMS and Fire merger, despite concerns about costs and employee turnover.
READ MORE: Pender’s draft EMS and Fire merger plan faces commissioner scrutiny
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding for the merger on Sept. 2 in a 4-1 vote, with Jimmy Tate the lone dissenter. The agreement was reached with Pender EMS and Fire, Maple Hill Fire Department, and Penderlea Fire Department.
As explained by Strategic Director Sarah Fulton, the MOU details the county and fire departments’ intent for shared goals and “good faith assurances” to work together toward the merger. The merger, which was initiated by county commissioners in March, aims to consolidate emergency services under the county. According to Chair Randy Burton, the merger is intended to streamline services, and integrate employees into the county system for improved benefits.
Not a legally binding document, the MOU was suggested by North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting. The group was contracted by the county in May for $35,000 to assist in facilitating the merger. The MOU includes a continuation of volunteer fire services, health and safety considerations, organizational structure and an authorization to proceed with the merger.
Tate didn’t sign off on the measure due to concerns about specific costs, not yet known. He iterated how he has been asking for data since March.
“I’m not opposed to the merger, but I’m opposed to voting on something where I don’t have the numbers,” Tate stated. “I’ve said that so many times, we gotta have the numbers. We’re showing up to a baseball game, as I said before, without a bat. I mean, we don’t know how to play, we don’t have the tools.”
Specific costs Tate requested include insurance estimates for future employees. Interim County Manager Meg Blue explained staff has “done the math” for insurance costs, but did not want to give commissioners those prices now as they would likely change later down the road as the merger isn’t expected to be finalized until next year.
She added county staff are still in the process of working through insurance plans with each individual employee, which will take time.
In a merger update from June, Fulton explained employee salaries, benefits, and retirement programs would be a large annual expense, estimated to cost $2.6 million annually.
The MOU’s approval came amidst concern during public comment over the number of Pender EMS and Fire employee resignations since the merger was first announced. As reported by WECT, 39 employees have left Pender EMS and Fire since March, when commissioners initiated the merger. Pender EMS and Fire Assistant Chief Mark Haraway reasoned the merger prompted their exit but assured, even with employees leaving, service levels have not been impacted. Current staff are working increased overtime, with limited time off as well.
Burgaw resident Frankie Saunders shared her perspective on the merger’s impact on staff and public safety during public comment.
“I have heard from a couple of you commissioners that claimed the Pender EMS and Fire employees wanted this merger — what a load of bull,” Saunders said. “Now, with that many employees that have quit, it’s really going to put Pender County in a very dangerous situation with our lives, also an extremely heavy burden on the remaining employees, not to mention also all the extra costs for overtime expenses that are really burning into the overall purse.”
Concerning salaries, Tate also wanted to see a salary study done to ensure the county will be paying PEMSF employees competitive wages. Fulton said county staff will be doing salary comparisons before they get to a final cost.
Chair Randy Burton openly addressed PEMSF employees and first responders, saying he didn’t want to “lose track of the good men and women that do a good job each and every day.”
Burton distinguished PEMSF employees from administrative staff: “They’re not coming to you at two o’clock in the morning, the men and women, the boots on the ground, the ones that are scared to death to stand up, the ones that ring my telephone, the ones that send me messages confidentially saying thank you for doing what’s been needed to be done for a long time.”
Ten members of the public addressed commissioners, many with questions about the merger’s status.
Retired firefighter and fire investigator George Lackso said he has been in communication with some Pender firefighters regarding the plan. He questioned how the merger would affect the day-to-day duties of firefighters, particularly how they would prioritize their responses to different types of calls.
“Is the firefighter’s new job being also an EMT for a paramedic? Is he going to respond to calls for the EMS? Is he going to take his time with the EMS and miss calls to go to a fire?” Lackso asked. “You have brave people that are here doing these services, some volunteer, some career, they deserve to know what’s going on.”
Others addressed upcoming town hall meetings. Burgaw resident Tom Brown was concerned commissioners were voting on the MOU without holding at least one town hall meeting to gauge public input.
The commissioners agreed last month to host town hall meetings about a multitude of issues, including the county enveloping Pender Fire and EMS into its services, as well as its future land use plan, and changes to the noise ordinance.
The meetings were announced this week to take place in September and October. As explained by Fulton, the town halls will give Pender residents an opportunity to ask questions and receive information.
Scheduled dates — times have yet to be announced — and locations include:
- Tuesday, Sept. 30: Board of Commissioner’s meeting room in Burgaw
- Wednesday, Oct. 1: Heide Trask Media Center in Rocky Point
- Thursday, Oct. 2: Penderlea Auditorium in Penderlea
- Monday, Oct. 13: Surf City Town Hall in Surf City
- Tuesday, Oct. 14: Hampstead Annex in Hampstead
After the town hall meetings, Fulton said the plan is to have a legally binding agreement with the fire departments and the county by spring of 2026. The goal is for the merger to take effect on July 1.
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