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Enfield impasse:
Fire company describes
a long dispute
Enfield taxpayers need to be made
aware of events that led to the
present impasse between the En-
field town board and the fire com-
pany over a fire protection contract.
In June the parties met to discuss
the financial problems of the fire
company; the deficits between the
fire contract andactual operating
expenses for the past three years
were unacceptable. For 1983 the gap
will be over $11,000 and the budget
process needed to be amended. At
this meeting the fire company ad-
vised a budget of $39,000 to $40,000
could be expected for 1984.
In September the fire company
presented a budget unacceptable to
the town board, so that figure was
trimmed by $2,500 when it was
presented at the October meeting.
Further negotiations cut building
fund monies from the budget, and
the board placed a figure of $41,000
in the preliminary budget.
Between the October and Novem-
ber meetings the parties met and
agreed in principle to a figure of
$36,400 for basic operating expenses.
However, the town board refused tc
reinstate $5.000 toward the truck
-
replacement fund which had been in
the contract for the last two years.
A contract hearing scheduled
before the Nov. 2 town board meet-
ing was canceled for lack of an
agreement. At that meeting a "take
it or leave it" attitude was adopted
by the board when they inserted
$36,400 as a final budget figure for
fire protection, effectively cutting
off negotiation.
So for $5,000, which equals a tax
of 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed
valuation for Enfield taxpayers, the
board takes the risk of losing the fire
and rescue service that the town has
had in the past. All of which could
have been avoided by retaining the
preliminary budget figure while at-
tempting a settlement. .
Taxpayers should be concerned
where their fire and rescue service
is going to come from. The Enfield
Volunteer Fire Co. wants a fair and
equitable contract but has been shut
out by the town board's action, even
after overwhelming support for the
fire company was shown by tax-
payers at the October and Novem-
ber board meetings.
Perhaps at the next town board
meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 7, we can
all get some answers.
Larry Saulsgiver
Fire company vice president
Enfield
She prays they'll still
be there if needed
As a resident of Enfield I find it
hard to believe that the town council
has so little concern for us, that they
would vote down our fire and rescue
protection. It's unfortunate they put
so little value on our property as
well as theirs.
My home, family and friends are
very important to me and to a lot of
other concerned residents of En-
field. It really scares a lot of us that
our protection is in the hands of
people that do not consider us worth
protecting.
Our Fire Department and Rescue
Squad has always been there when
we needed them. It's a shame we
can't be there for them. I hope to
God I never need them, but I pray to
God they'll still be there if I ever do.
Darleen Clark '
Enfield
Without the fire
company, our houses
aren't worth ashes
As a volunteer fireman's wife and
a member of the fire company my-
self, I am surprised_ at the apathy of
the Enfield people. The firemen
have responded to calls of help from
most of the town and now the com-
pany has asked for the town's help,
and what is the response?
My husband has been a fireman in
Enfield for three years. In that time
he has bought his own equipment,
attended classes, meetings and
trainings all on his own time and
money. We pay taxes and have
helped at the fire company fund-
raisers. Why should thefiremenpay
taxes, run fund drives, attend work
parties which benefit the town, at-
tend classes and trainings and be a
volunteer fireman responding to
calls all hours of the day and night?
What more is expected of a volun-
teer fireman and his family? What
has the town done to repay the
volunteer for their services? The
fire company needs the support of
the town and it is needed now.
After Dec. 31, Enfield people will
lose the service of the fire and
rescue company. The 31st is ap-
proaching fast. All I'm asking is we,
the Enfield community, stand to-
gether and save our town. Because
without our fire company and its
services, our houses aren't worth
ashes. I
Enfield Louise May