MONT ALTO – The president of the Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Department has labeled as “unfounded” reports in Thursday’s LocalNews1.org‘s edition concerning at least six key leader resignations and the alleged mishandling of a sexual harassment complaint within the department. The original story is located here.
Leon Bond, who was elected president in mid-summer, also decried “harassment by local media seeking to obtain information that they know would never be shared publicly…”
“We wish to make it absolutely clear: the allegations reported are knowingly false, misleading and do not reflect the facts of our department’s operations or conduct,” Bond continued.
The full response of the department to LocalNews1.org’s story has been published here on the department’s Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=mont%20alto%20vol.%20fire%20department.
In response, a spokesman for LocalNews1.org noted
a) The department’s own members approached LocalNews1.org with information and concerns. These concerns were consistent.
b) According to department members, including former officers, and contrary to the official department response, there was nothing routine about the recent large spate of resignations. The by-laws were not followed. Many members were concerned about that. As a private organization the department is entitled to disregard their by-laws if they wish, but they also operate in support of the public. Disregard for their own by-laws does not reflect well.
c) Current department leadership was afforded an opportunity to discuss their views. LocalNews1.org would have preferred to include comments on how the current officers were handling the issues, correcting the record where appropriate. With no response for a week, the decision was made to run the story without their input.
d) LocalNews1.org reporters did not harass anyone. Department members were called and visited to get more and better information. Their efforts were unsuccessful.
LocalNews1.org concluded “The Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Department, like thousands of volunteer fire departments, has reason to be proud of their heritage. However, outright denial of information provided by multiple members who have consistent concerns for their institution does not reflect well upon the leadership of those who continue to serve.
“We are a local news outlet. There is a story to be told to the local community when officers of a decorated organization deny everything, refuse to discuss, and accuse reporters of unreasonable behavior to deflect from the available evidence. We do not stand on some fancy privilege of the press. We stand for telling stories as accurately as possible so the broader community will be properly informed and can make decisions accordingly.”
