MONROE — The voluntary deputy chief of Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 has been suspended for six months after he created and circulated a petition to stop the possible elimination of the company’s two paid firefighters.
Fire Chief Lonnie Pipero suspended Scott Kivet, charging that he used his title and position in a way that could imply it was fire company opinion. However, Kivet said he was circulating the petition as a concerned citizen and not in his role as deputy chief.
Kivet and others involved with the petition collected several hundred signatures, although he did not have an exact number. He said he was acting within his First Amendment rights, a view that has the support of Jimmy Grande, president of the union representing the township’s 52 career firefighters. Grande said he believes Kivet had the best interests of the community in mind.
Kivet said he would appeal the suspension.
Pipero did not return calls seeking comment for this story.
Kivet, who is a police officer in Robbinsville, said that he basically grew up in the firehouse. His father, Jeff, a life member of the fire company who is now inactive, brought his son to the firehouse as a child, and Scott became a junior firefighter at the age of 16. He has been a volunteer firefighter ever since.
“Everything I do is because I love helping people,” Kivet said. “It’s my life.”
He also volunteers as an emergency medical technician for the first aid squad. According to Kivet, while there are excellent volunteer firefighters in the company, most are out of the area at work during the day. The paid firefighters are on duty between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., guaranteeing that a fire truck can go out to calls during the day, he said. Kivet noted there are schools and day care facilities in the district’s coverage area.
“I’m obligated. We take an oath to protect life and property,” he said. “Volunteers or paid firefighters — we need to work together for the main purpose of what we do: protecting life and property.”
According to the company’s website, it protects 17,000 people over 14 square miles and answers approximately 800 calls annually.
Kivet wrote in the petition notes that the District No. 1 Board of Fire Commissioners “prides itself on having the lowest tax rate in Monroe Township. Additionally, they continue to support and provide the volunteers with adequate training and equipment. Due to this support, Monroe Volunteer Fire Company has become one of the strongest companies in Middlesex County.” However, he said his concern is that the two terminations would have a negative impact on the operation.
The two paid firefighters in question, listed on the petition as Michael Mangeri and David Shapter, have been advised not to speak with the media until the matter is settled, according to Grande. He said the possibility of laying off the two firefighters was discussed at a Dec. 29 meeting of fire commissioners because some felt their jobs were no longer justified.
Grande said he did not have a date for the possible elimination of the positions.
“We’re still gathering facts. We remain hopeful that elected officials and the volunteer chief will do the right thing,” Grande said. Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Charles DiPierro did not return calls for comment.
A meeting will be held Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the district firehouse, 24 Harrison Ave., at which some of the issues are expected to be discussed.