A proposal to reorganize Whitefield’s fire protection system is headed for the March town meeting warrant.
Since October, a citizens committee has been meeting to discuss creating a Whitefield Volunteer Municipal Fire Department and the impact it would have on the town’s three fire associations. A report is expected mid-January with a public hearing to follow.
The committee is working with fire and rescue chiefs, with input from the board of selectmen, to devise a plan for the structure, operation and costs of a municipal department. Top issues include how to define such a department, what its powers will be, and how it will affect the associations, particularly their fundraising and building ownership and upkeep. Will the town lease the three stations? Will the associations retain their autonomy and identity?
Energizing the debate is whether to build a central fire station adjacent to the town office.
Since the 1940s, there have been separate fire companies with stations in Kings Mills, Coopers Mills and North Whitefield.
The town building committee appointed by selectmen has worked for several years on planning a new town office. Voters rejected a proposal last March and the board and building committee subsequently began considering a central fire station.
Two prior emergency fire service reports (2005 and 2008) raised the idea that single-point leadership and a central station supported by two satellites might be steps toward a more modernized, streamlined service.
Coopers Mills Volunteer Fire Dept. (CMVFD) has been raising and saving money for years to build a new station. Its annual summer auction takes in thousands of dollars.
Chief Scott Higgins said his association’s general membership wondered why they should “go out and raise money for the town of Whitefield.” Chairman Erik Ekholm made the point that all such funds should benefit fire protection. He said that at Kings Mills VFD’s annual 4th of July fundraiser, “People buy stuff only to support the fire service. If this (municipal department) goes ahead, I anticipate Kings Mills will have its 4th of July and the proceeds will benefit the department.”
At the same time, North Whitefield chief Tim Pellerin told Higgins that funds raised by an association “stay with your association for what you need it for.”
Selectwoman Sue McKeen confirmed Pellerin’s understanding that if and when the department is municipally organized, the associations will continue and will have their own checkbooks.
Whitefield fire chief Jim Brann noted that when the town of Pittston “went municipal, East Pittston kept its fundraising money.”
Higgins said, “I would assume the bulk of taxpayer money would pay for equipment.”
A controversial point, introduced by Chuck Vaughan, was that the CMVFD has members from “three different towns. That muddies the waters.” Being on the edge of Whitefield, Coopers Mills more often serves towns beyond Whitefield, and for CMVFD to receive the same amount of financial support from the town as the other two stations “raises questions for Whitefield taxpayers,” said Ekholm.
Higgins and deputy chief Tim Yorks objected to the argument, saying the company “covers just as much area as the others.”
Ekholm said a satellite station in Coopers Mills is “more appropriate.” He also said that one aspect of the proposed reorganization is that the central station would serve as a meeting place with showers and decontamination facilities. Satellite stations north and south of the central station would basically house apparatus.
The debate followed Higgins’ report that Coopers Mills VFD would be “interested in leasing its building and rolling stock (to the town) subject to ratification of the board of directors.”
Higgins’ remark was an answer to one question on a list the committee previously asked him to present to his association.
Responding to whether CMVFD would deed its building to the town, the majority voted no, Higgins reported.
If a central station is not built, McKeen said, “We’re forced with upgrading the stations.”
Neither Coopers Mills nor North Whitefield has a bathroom or suitable records space. Brann said he “wouldn’t have a station without a bathroom” and Pellerin said it was essential to have office space to keep records.
While McKeen last Thursday said she didn’t think a municipal department “would save a lot of money, I see the flow of administration going more smoothly. I don’t like the ‘consolidation’ word but everybody’s out there doing their own thing; there have been a lot of bumps in the road.”
The 2008 report, however, does use the “consolidation” word: “Consolidate the three separate fire associations into a single, cohesive municipal fire department,” consultant Neil Courtney, a fire protection specialist, recommended. “The fire associations would have to reorganize exclusively as benevolent organizations either individually, mutually, or dissolve altogether.”
CMVFD’s response to the Courtney report was critical, citing several errors and complaining there was “no guidance as to how to implement the recommendations.”
Citizens committee member Carole Cifrino asked rhetorically what would be better organizationally, “a municipal department or individual associations making decisions. I don’t know.”
Ekholm said, “The trend is to move from multiple little fire stations to one. The longer we put it off, the harder it will be, and more money will be spent than needs to be.”
If a central station isn’t built, CMVFD would “rehabilitate” its current station, which is “just an old barn or build a new one,” Higgins said. “That was our plan. We still have the money, we’re in a holding pattern.”
Several years ago, the association hired a consultant who drew up plans for a 5000 square foot, four bay station containing decontamination rooms, a training and meeting room, backup generator, kitchen, radio tower and office space.
Both the Coopers Mills association and the town building committee (which had select board support) applied separately last summer for an Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction grant. The dueling applications sparked heated remarks at a joint meeting.
Hundreds of millions of federal stimulus dollars went instead to “big communities,” said McKeen.
Citizens committee facilitator Barbara Welch asked members to report on various topics at its next meeting, including definition of a volunteer municipal department and its organizational structure; building, equipment and training needs; comparative budgets; legal questions, specifically building lease agreements and charter requirements; and transition issues.
The committee will meet Wed., Dec. 30, beginning at 7 p.m. at the town office.
