HomeMy WebLinkAboutfire district evfc_0013Enfielders debate switch in firefighting organization
By JONATHAN ROSENBLUM
Journal Staff
ENFIELD — Residents could have more say
in fire protection services if they go along with a
plan to create a townwide fire district with an
independent board of fire commisioners, ac-
cording to fire officials.
But the plan, scheduled to be -debated tonight
at the Enfield town board meeting, could also
lead to higher fire protection bills, they said.
The proposed change in fire protection ser-
vices stems from last year's contract dispute
between the town hall and fire hall, said John
Miller, the county's. fire and disaster coordi-
nator.
In the fall, officials from the two sides
reached an impasse over a service contract for
1904. Until town and fire officials reached
agreement on a budget shortly before the new
year, fire officials had threatened to end ser-
vices on Jan. 1.
In the wake of the dispute, Town Supervisor
Roger Hubbell said, the Enfield town board has
decided to consider forming a fire district to
replace the current fire protection district.
Changing the status of fire protection services
would bring the town under different state laws
and avoid a repeat of last fall's prolonged
dispute, officials said.
At present, the town contracts with the
private volunteer fire company. Town and fire
officials negotiate how much the town pays for
operating expenses and capital purchases.
With a fire district, the town would appoint a
board of fire commissioners with the power to
set fire protection budgets and tax levels, Miller
said.
The fire district arrangement would free the
volunteer fire company from having to negotiate
with the town, but it also would diminish the
control members have over the volunteer de-
partment, said Fire Chief Dennis Hubbell, a
cousin of the supervisor.
Volunteer firefighters are split about evenly
on the question of whether to convert to a fire
district, he said.
Hubbell said fire protection probably would
cost taxpayers more under a fire district plan
because some of the expenses his department
now holds fundraising events to pay for would be
met by additional tax levies.
With the fire district plan, the commissioners
could not raise the tax rate above 3 percent of
full valuation without the voters' approval,
Miller said. Capital equipment costs also would
have to be approved through voter referendum,
he said.
Miller said he favors the change because it
takes fire protection "out of political circles."
Supervisor Hubbell said he does not expect a
vote on the fire district plan at tonight's 7:30
p.m. meeting in the town hall.
Miller said that a town board vote at a later
date would not change matters overnight.
If the town board approves the creation of a
fire district, voters would have 30 days to
request a referendum. The New York secretary
of state's office would have to approve the
change as well, Miller said.
Also at tonight's meeting, the Enfield town
board is scheduled to discuss a request to
declare two roads in Robert H. Treman State
Park abandoned and to block off another.
Andrew R. Mazzella, regional director of the
Finger Lakes State Parks, said he wants the
town to barricade Woodard Road during the
warm months so the park can set up picnic
tables along it.