MORGANTOWN — In his brief tenure as chief of the Morgantown Fire Department, Gary Freshour said he’s already started hearing some rumblings of “the new boss is gonna set the department back 20 years.”
The truth is, Freshour admitted, the rumblings are spot-on. He would like to turn back the clock — specifically in regard to the relationship the department has with city leadership.
“I know that in this city, especially over the last several years, there have been some tensions between the fire department and the city. I’m not going to stand up here and say I have all the answers, and I’m not going to stand up here and say I expect you guys to cave to everything we expect. I’m not asking for any of those things,” he told members of Morgantown City Council on Tuesday. “I wanted to walk up here just to kind of, once again, put it on the record and extend the olive branch.”
The tensions referenced by Freshour have most recently come in the form of a lawsuit over the city’s handling of holiday pay, claims the city used an update to its compensation schedule to retaliate against firefighters and a vote of no confidence in city leadership announced in 2022 by the International Association of Firefighters Local 313 in conjunction with the Mon Preston Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 87.
Freshour, who was named fire chief in December after 20 years with the department, said he believes mending the relationship will take time — but he’s willing to make the effort.
“I’m hoping we can. I just want to get that on the record. I appreciate everything you guys do,” he told members of council. “If you ever need anything from me, I’m right across the street.”
In response, councilors said they, too, would like to see the relationship between city hall and the city’s first responders restored.
Councilor Danielle Trumble said she fully supports the MFD and Freshour’s efforts as chief.
“From recognizing firefighters for great service to trying to smooth things over with the city, I very much appreciate that and look forward to years of continuing to work with him on those issues,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Jenny Selin recalled a number of projects and legislative efforts undertaken as a result of a close working relationship between council and the city’s police and fire departments.
Selin said she’s been “frustrated, melancholy and sad” that those connections have broken down in recent years and “would look forward to anything that we can do to repair small or large items to make things much better again.”
“I think the potential is there. The excellence is there. Why not?” Selin said. “Any kind of reset you can orchestrate, do it, because it would be appreciated by everyone.”
