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Home My WebLink Aboutfire district evfc_0003Enfield seeks fire commissioners By JONATHAN ROSENBLUM Journal Staff ENFIELD — Town officials are looking for a few good fire commissioners. Supervisor Roger Hubbell said town board members are putting out the word that they're interested in getting a list of people who would serve as commissioners in Enfield's new fire protection district. Hubbell said board members are looking for people who have expertise in firefighting, business or finances. Creating the board of commissioners would be one of the steps needed to change the fire protection system in Enfield. Town officials began looking at the new fire district plan after prolonged and stormy negotiations last fall over 1984 service with the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department. The fire district plan was the subject of a May 1 public hearing that drew about 16 people, most of them firefighters, according to Hubbell. He said audience members appeared split on the issue of a fire district. Under the present system, called a fire protection district, the town contracts with the volunteer department for services. The fire budget then is included in the town's overall budget. Hubbell said town officials want t0 switch to a townwide Eire district, in which a five -member board of commissioners, elected by town voters, would set budget levels and tax rates. Although independent of the town board, the commissioners would have to go to a voter referendum for capital expenditures and budget levels over a certain amount, officials said. Hubbell said that the town board will act on the proposal to change fire protection services at its next meeting, slated for June 6. If the board goes ahead with the plan, it would appoint five commissioners and a treasurer. The six would serve until townwide elections in December, he said. Before formally establishing a fire district, Enfield must get state approval. In addition, Enfield voters will have 30 days after the town board's decision to petition for a referendum on the matter, officials said. Persons interested in serving as commissioners or as treasurer should contact Hubbell or a town board member, the supervisor said.