Firefighters have points to make with council

By By Fredie Carmichael/staff writer
Feb. 19, 2002
Meridian firefighters plan to present their point of view tonight when they appear before the city council to talk about problems between the department and the city administration.
Capt. David Fason of the Meridian Fire Department said today that firefighters want the city and public to know about the department's problems. He would not be specific.
Mayor John Robert Smith could not be reached for comment today. The city council meets at 7 tonight; the mayor and other city officials are expected to attend.
Fason said he also plans to tell city officials that government activist Bill McBride is not associated with their department.
During the past three months, McBride has complained to the council about the fire department's working conditions and low pay. A large group of firefighters attended two of those meetings.
After McBride's presentation to the council late last year, a large group of firefighters stood and applauded.