Fire chief quits over no-booze-on-city-property proposal

[matcom]

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HAMPTON — After 10 years with the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department — the last three as its chief — Jeff Ferris said he had no problem resigning Tuesday.

Ferris, upset over a proposed City Council resolution banning alcohol on all city-owned property except parks, quit Monday during the Fire Department’s monthly business meeting.

He said that in the past, alcohol has been allowed at the Fire Department on four different occasions each year, including a dance. And sometimes firefighters will drink beer after a fire call.

“There’s never been a problem there,” he said. “It’s nothing that’s ever gotten out of hand. I’ve always made them aware, ‘If you have had something to drink or anything, don’t come to a fire. Don’t even operate an apparatus. Don’t put me in that position.’ And they’ve always abided by it.”

Ferris attended Tuesday’s Council meeting, during which his firefighters indicated they would quit if the resolution was passed.

He said before the meeting that he was not worried about leaving the city without fire protection.

“I don’t know how they’ll handle that,” Ferris said. “I suppose they’ll have the police or something take care of it.

“It’s just, you know, they’re all volunteers. If they (City Council members) don’t like the way we’re doing it, they can try something different.”

The resolution was tabled and the Council agreed to meet with the firefighters to smooth over their differences.

But it was too late for Ferris. His assistant chief, Kent Wilkinson, is now in charge, City Manager Ron Dunt said.

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