Council to decide fire district’s fate

Petitioners call for its dissolution

By: Purvi Desai
   WASHINGTON — Township Council will have to schedule a public hearing on dissolving the fire district after receiving a petition to do so last week.
   Mike McGowan, a fire commissioner who was not representing the Board of Fire Commissioners, submitted the petition containing 456 signatures, said Township Clerk Michelle Auletta.
   Under state law, the petitioners needed only 369 signatures, or 5 percent of registered voters in the township, for the petition to be considered valid. There are currently 7,377 registered voters in Washington Township.
   "The Township Council will have to have a public hearing on the petition and make a decision on it," Ms. Auletta said, though she did not specify a date.
   Mayor Dave Fried said Tuesday that there will be no mention of the petition by township officials during tonight’s Township Council meeting.
   The petition, submitted on May 19, is the latest step in an ongoing feud between Mayor Fried and the township firefighters’ union. The union has accused the mayor of unethical behavior and, in response, the mayor filed a lawsuit alleging he had been defamed and his character slandered.
   "At this point in the game, it’s completely up to the council. I know they’re going to take it very seriously," Mayor Fried said.
   Fire Commission Chairman Pete Marsch said in an e-mail Tuesday that the Board of Fire Commissioners voted 3-1 against the dissolution of the fire district at its May 10 meeting. One commissioner, Greg Zalenski, was absent during the meeting, he wrote.
   "Unlike the township, our budget is subject to citizen review every February when they vote to approve or disapprove," Mr. Marsch said. "This year the citizens of Washington Township expressed their approval with the quality of service they receive for both fire protection and EMS, when they approved our budget."
   Mayor Fried said previously that the fire district has become a $3 million company that cannot be left in the hands of five volunteers.
   "I believe the council will ask me to present the administration’s thoughts and the pros and cons involved," he said Tuesday, adding that he will consult with the chiefs of the police and fire departments.
   "These are people we’re going to rely on," he said, as they’ve been around for over 25 years and they are the experts. "These are individuals that have a lot of experience. The deputy chief of the Fire Department is also a lieutenant in the Police Department."
   Mr. McGowan said Monday that the fire commissioners are not volunteers, but each gets paid $3,000 per year. Mr. McGowan, the only commissioner who supports the dissolution of the fire district, said all of their meetings seem to be repeats and go off topic and off agenda.
   "It is the worst 3,000 bucks the taxpayers have ever spent and the worst 3,000 bucks anybody can ever earn," he said. "We just sit there and get battered by the union left and right. It’s amazing that we’re supposed to be (the union’s) superiors and be representing taxpayers. Right now the commissioners are in paralysis mode."
   Mr. Marsch said he is not sure the citizens are ready to give up the power to review the fire and emergency medical services budget to the mayor and council. But he said he is sure the district has one of the best staffed, funded and organized fire and EMS services in the county, if not the state.
   "We are staffed and equipped for the continued growth in the township and we are proud of the forethought that went into our plans," he said.
   Mr. Marsch said he is concerned with what might have been said in order to convince people to sign the petition.
   "We are looking into these complaints," he said. "We are following up with the residents who called in with complaints and concerns with what was said about the Fire Department."
   Mr. Marsch said that should the fire district be dissolved, he would still be involved with the department.
   "I have always been and will continue to be a big supporter and advocate of our career and volunteer firefighters," he said.
   He added that although the Board of Fire Commissioners voted to not support the dissolution of the fire district, the power to dissolve rests with the Township Council.
   "As I understand it, the council must hold a public hearing and then vote on dissolving the district," he said. "If the council votes to dissolve the fire district, I believe this decision is subject to review by the Local Finance Board."
   Mayor Fried said that if the fire district does come under the municipality’s control, he will not change anything immediately, but rather will bring in a consultant to come up with a long-term strategic plan of what to do.