Berwick considers new fire chief; some volunteers want to keep Rink

BERWICK — The Volunteer Fire Department appears likely to have a new chief soon, although some of the volunteers would prefer to keep the old one.

At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, in the week following the firing of Fire Chief Allen Rink, Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur announced his intention to appoint current Morgan City firefighter Jody Acosta as the new chief over the objections of some of the volunteers.

Arthur wouldn’t talk for the record about the reason for the firing of Rink, who had been with the department 18 years.

But with volunteer spokesperson Rachel Carinhas and Rink at the lectern, there was discussion about the department’s ability to get approval for equipment purchases.

Rink said he has asked for equipment, only to be told to wait until the end of the fiscal year to see whether money would be available. And then, he said, he’d be told there was no money.

Arthur, who praised the volunteers for their work, objected.

“We have never, ever stopped you from buying equipment,” the mayor said.

Carinhas said the volunteers had voted for Rink to be their chief. And under state ethics rules, she said, appointment of the chief by municipal officials represents a conflict of interest.

But Berwick’s charter says the mayor appoints the fire chief, who is a town employee, subject to approval by the Town Council.

“You probably won’t have a lot of volunteers” at the next fire, Carinhas said at one point.

Arthur said after the meeting that he wouldn’t allow fire protection to be affected by the dispute over the chief’s firing.

“All I want,” said Rink, also after the meeting, “is for them to leave the volunteer department alone.”

Arthur said he wasn’t prepared to appoint Acosta on Tuesday because the appointment didn’t appear on the meeting agenda. Acosta has an LSU-Eunice degree in fire science and has training in fire investigation, the mayor said. He has also served as a reserve police officer.

Also Tuesday, the council passed a resolution that was 12 years in the making.

The resolution declared the downtown sidewalk improvement project complete. The project was funded with a Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development grant that was first approved in 2011, and then put off until funding was available .

The council approved about $32,900 in payments to Gray Construction Co. for work on the $223,000 project and another $4,590 to Miller Engineers and Associates Inc.
In other action:

—Arthur and the council awarded a ladle-shaped trophy to Rouxin’ on the River team, which won the gumbo competition at the 2022 Lighthouse Festival. The team members are Pamela Richard, Marissa Champagne, Chris Crappell and Councilman James Richard.

—The council recognized senior members of the Berwick High baseball team, which won the Non-Select Division III state championship last month.
Appearing with assistant coach and newly appointed BHS Principal Toney Linn were seniors Hayden Robinson, Cru Bella, Dawson Richard, Evan White and Zack Gonzales. Not present were seniors Jayden Milton, Luke Thomas and Aaron Askew.

The coaching staff was led by Seth Henry, assisted by Linn, Councilman Lud Henry and Zack Stewart.

“We’re proud of our Panthers,” Arthur said, “and you all did a heck of a job.”

--The council gave Beacon Shines On recognition to the Deep South Dog Rescue and Advocacy for helping with a rescue of several animals.