By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY Fire district elections in the township will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Feb. 19.
District No. 1 encompasses residences north of Orchard and Sunset roads and east of Fairview and Pin Oak roads. District No. 2 makes up areas south and west of those locations.
Residents in District No. 1 should vote at the firehouse on Belle Mead-Griggstown Road. Residents in District No. 2 should vote at the firehouse on Route 518.
All Montgomery residents are eligible to vote.
Both districts have a board of five commissioners, each of whom are elected to serve three-year terms.
In District No. 1, Thomas Karsay is running for the only open seat.
In District No. 2, Leighton "Toby" Laughlin Jr. is running for a full-term seat and David Mullarkey and Charles Kabis are running for a one-year seat. The one-year seat was vacated by a former commissioner who stepped down due to a move out of the township, said Barbara Griswold, the attorney for both boards.
In addition to voting for open commissioner seats, residents also have the power to approve or reject the proposed budgets.
The total 2005 operating budget for District No. 1 is $757,449 $714,200 of which must be raised by taxes. The total 2005 operating budget for District No. 2 is $773,749, with $738,000 to be raised by taxes.
Copies of the proposed budget details are available in the township clerk’s office.
