Board of Fire Commissioners arguing over age limit as well as relatives when fire equipment is involved
By: Sue Kramer
LAMBERTVILLE The Board of Fire Commission meeting June 12 became heated over who is allowed to drive city-owned fire equipment and how old they have to be to get behind the wheel.
The problem began at the recent Memorial Day parade when a 17-year-old junior member of Hibernia Fire Company drove its fire service pickup truck in the parade. Fire Chief Ron Tillett Jr. said he checked with the insurance company and several state agencies and all agreed no one under 18 should be allowed to drive fire equipment, and the ultimate liability would fall on the board if there was an accident.
Board Vice Chairman Robert Brown agreed, saying, "Everything falls back on us" because in the case of an accident, the insurance company would want to know about the driver’s training and certification.
Mr. Tillett went one step further and suggested no one under 21 be allowed to drive the fire equipment, citing 21 as the age when someone can get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive large vehicles. While no CDL is required to drive fire apparatus, Mr. Tillett said the Division of Motor Vehicles recommended the CDL age guidelines be used.
He proposed members who are over 18 and have been trained and certified as drivers should be allowed to drive, but when fire equipment reached a certain weight classification, the driving age should be raised to 21.
Hibernia Capt. Chris Gazzillo countered by saying it always has been the company’s policy to allow junior members to drive the service vehicle in situations such as parades,hoagie drives and other non-emergency situations. He emphasized they are not allowed to drive the fire engine under any circumstances and can only drive the service vehicle while under the direct supervision of a senior company member.
He then questioned why the chief’s wife, Chris Tillett, is allowed to drive the chief’s vehicle, reportedly for personal use. Chief Tillett responded she is a member of the auxiliary and, therefore, a member of the Lambertville Fire Department and can drive the vehicle.
"So that means that I can put my auxiliary member Doris Zambello in 17-62 (the fire engine) and allow her to drive that, correct?" Mr. Gazzillo asked. "Your vehicle has lights and sirens, also, Ron."
Mr. Tillett said, "If the chief’s vehicle had to be used to get coffee or anything else back and forth by the auxiliary, it is there for that use. That’s what that vehicle is for. So, yes, if any auxiliary has to use it, say they’re picking up coffee or sandwiches or something else."
"The chief’s vehicle, Mr. Commissioner, is a command vehicle and should not be used for that," Mr. Gazzillo interjected, directing his comment to board member Mitch Ege.
Mr. Ege agreed.
"I was just going to say that," he said. "It’s a command vehicle and belongs on the fire grounds."
The board finally moved only active senior firefighters or any fire commissioner who is not an active fireman could drive city-owned equipment. Fire commissioners were included because there have been times when a commissioner has driven the chief’s car or other vehicle to a dealership for servicing or repairs.
Union Capt. Brian Snell asked the board to hold the motion over for one month, saying the Board of Engineers is working on driver guidelines that will be presented for adoption at next month’s meeting.
Mr. Gazzillo interjected that while a motion had been made and passed that no junior members be allowed to drive, "There was no motion on the chief’s vehicle. You’ll allow an auxiliary member to drive an emergency vehicle, but not a junior member."
Chief Tillett responded, "I just won’t let my wife drive the car anymore. I’ll put my daughter behind the wheel."
His daughter, Cindy, is an active senior firefighter.
Mr. Ege turned the matter over to Mr. Tillett saying, "By next month, let’s see an SOP (standard operating procedure) on this." And, he emphasized, until the policy is adopted, auxiliary members should not be driving any of the city’s fire vehicles.
"Then," Mr. Tillett said of the chief’s vehicle, "there will only be one driver, and that will be myself."
In other matters, Mr. Snell said Union’s new 2000 gpm American la France pumper was delivered last week. The final cost of $319,000 was nearly $25,000 less than the amount voters approved for the expenditure. The savings were attributed in part to the board, which paid cash to avoid financing the truck at taxpayer expense, a $6,300 penalty against American la France because of delays in delivery and no charges for last-minute changes such as a larger light bar, an extra foam tank and an extra storage compartment.
Although the new pumper is about to go into service, problems still are occurring with Columbia Fire Company’s light and air truck. Capt. Ricky Fleming told the board the truck still is being plagued with generator problems and is out of service. The generator, despite being fixed numerous times over the past several years, still isn’t working.
Mr. Brown offered the use of the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad’s truck for lights and a generator until the problem can be solved.