My name is Paul Padua, and I am a long-time, active member of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department. However, I am writing this email as a resident of the town of Norfolk and not in any official capacity on behalf of the fire department.

I was disappointed, to the point of feeling disrespected, after reading the recent View From the Green article, “Main Street by Another Name,” written by Avice Meehan in the July issue of Norfolk Now.

The article begins by describing questions that emerged from a brainstorming session held during the July workshop on the economics of Norfolk’s town center. It then explains that the meeting was convened under the auspices of the NCOG before noting the organizations that were not represented, including the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD).

I found the inclusion of the fire department in that context both unnecessary and perplexing. The NVFD is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare for and respond to emergencies in order to protect the lives and property of Norfolk’s residents and visitors. Economic development is simply not part of our mission.

In my opinion, the absence of emergency first responders from this particular workshop should have been no more noteworthy than the absence of the Economic Development Commission from one of our fire department weekly training drills. I have read the article several times and discussed it with other first responders, and I remain unsure why it was considered necessary to publicly identify the fire department as absent. I struggle to see what purpose that served other than to invite criticism or provoke a reaction.

For me, the result was a feeling of being singled out and disrespected. I wanted to share that perspective with you as the editor. I also want to extend an open invitation: if you, or any member of the Norfolk Now staff would ever like to attend an NVFD business meeting to learn more about our work and responsibilities, we meet at the Hub at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of every month. You would be welcome.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

— Paul Padua