By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Five people will be vying for two three-year terms on the Board of Fire Commissioners, including the one left vacant by the retirement of Ed Bertin, in elections Saturday.
Voters will also cast ballots on a proposed $1.5 million fire budget and two separate spending questions that, if approved, would not affect the current fire tax rate. Polls are open Saturday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Those vying for the two open spots on the board are Hillsborough resident Gary Chapman; Greg Kane, of Old Village Road; Hillsborough resident Mohammed Khashab; Nick Speciale, of Taurus Drive; and current board Treasurer Robert Uniszkiewicz, of Case Drive, who is up for re-election.
Mr. Uniszkiewicz, who has been with Fire Co. No. 2 for about 21 years, said he is proud that, in his nine years on the board, they have not had to raise taxes. He said, if elected, he hopes to continue this, and get new field trucks for the district.
”I want to get a proposal for getting new field trucks,” he said. “(I’m hoping) we can get that money without raising taxes.”
For Mr. Kane, who has been with Hillsborough Fire Co. No. 1 for about 38 years, his main goals are to speed up the processes for repairing old equipment and purchasing new equipment.
”Now, the budget gets voted on, then we send to bid and wait 30 days,” said Mr. Kane, who first served on the commission from 1990 through 1996. “(Once the process is done), it is four or five months we are waiting on it.”
Instead, Mr. Kane said, he would like to see the bids go out prior to the voting on the budget, with the stipulation that they will have to rebid if the budget does not pass.
Although Mr. Khashab, who has been with Hillsborough Fire Co. No. 2 for four years, does not have anything specific he would like to change if he is elected, he wants to just do what he can to make sure residents are protected in the township, and the partnership between the board, fire companies and township is maintained.
”I want to manage the budget in a fiscally responsible manner,” he said. “I will do the best I can to ensure the town is protected.”
Gary Chapman, of Westford Place, said he is hoping to bring the departments in Hillsborough up to date with the latest technology, equipment and training if he is elected. He said he feels the board could make a better push toward utilizing the latest equipment and providing firefighters with all the resources they would need to get the job done.
”By working with the other commissioners, I think we will push for all departments to be given the opportunity to expand on their personal equipment,” said Mr. Chapman, who was a member of Fire Company No. 2 for 10 years, before moving to Fire Company No. 1 for the past four years. “I want Hillsborough to become a model town for firefighting.”
Mr. Speciale could not be reached for comment.
In addition to voting for the positions on the board, residents will be asked to vote on three different questions, Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Ron Berju said. The first question asks residents to approve a budget for the board in the amount of $1,554,890 to be used for expenses, such as apparatus housing, insurance, uniform fire code, administrative expenses and appropriations for the three fire companies, among other needs.
”But there is no change in the tax rate,” Mr. Berju said.
The second question, Mr. Berju said, asks for the authorization to spend no more than $500,000 for the purchase of portable radios, mobile radios and base stations.
”We are switching out all of our radios, portables and mobiles,” he said. “We are switching to the ultra high trunk radios to use the county trunk system. The county has antennas all around, so we would have better coverage and fewer places where the firefighters couldn’t communicate.”
If approved, Mr. Berju said, the purchase will be made sometime in 2010, and will not affect the tax rate of $0.041 per $100 of assessed property value. If approved, the owner of a property valued at the township average of $350,000 would be assessed $143.50 for the fire district.
The final question asks for authorization to spend no more than $212,500 for the purchase of a new tanker truck for Neshanic Fire Company.
”The board has agreed to pay half the cost of the truck, not to exceed $212,500 if the question is passed,” he said. “This would also be done in 2010 with no increase in the tax rate.”
Right now, Mr. Berju said, he is not sure how many people will come out to vote, because the turnout has varied over the years.
”Some years, it has been around 100, up to more than 600,” he said. “There are five people running, so I expect a larger turn out this year.”
Districts 1, 3, 8, 10, 21, 24, 26, 28 and 29 will vote at the municipal building, on South Branch Road. Districts, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 23 will vote at Hillsborough School, on the corner of Amwell Road and Route 206. Districts 9, 11, 18, 20, 22, 25 and 27 will vote at the Woods Road School.

