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CANFIELD --Members of the Cardinal Joint Fire District have issued a statement regarding the union's stance on the proposed merger of the Boardman and Canfield fire departments.
The statement was sent to clarify comments the union said were made regarding its members supporting such a merger.
The letter stated, "Our local has not in any official capacity made any statements about the merger in its current format. We have met with the exploratory merger committee on numerous occasions to present our concerns and have been met with open disdain and empty promises, and, on occasion, hostility, for not discussing negotiable items in a meeting forum that was supposed to be exploratory in nature."
The letter also made it clear IAFF Local 4507, which represents the Cardinal Joint Fire District, is not in favor of the merger at this time.
"We would like to see a concrete plan on how this merger will function," Local 4507 President Joshua Grossman said. "We would like our concerns and questions answered and discussed. We don't want to be a part of a media campaign without the union's approval, and we would like to continue to be a part of the merger discussion."
Canfield City Councilwoman Christine Oliver is new to the fire board this year, but she said she feels the union members should be heard.
"As a member of the fire board, I want to know how our firefighters feel about the proposed merger and know every detail," she said. "Also, it is my priority as a council member to serve the city of Canfield and do what is best for our city."
While the issue is referred to as a merger, from a legal perspective, it is not. At the January Fire Board meeting, CJFD legal adviser Chip Comstock said, "If Boardman comes into this district, they are joining the CJFD, not merging with it."
He said the Boardman fire trucks and ambulances would become CJFD vehicles. The fire stations would be leased by the CJFD. In essence, there would no longer be a Boardman Fire Department.
jwhitehouse@tribtoday.com