UPPER FREEHOLD — Due to budget constraints, two Department of Public Works employees and one Hope Fire Company (HFC) paid firefighter will lose their jobs.
The Township Committee passed resolutions March 22 to reclassify two firefighters from probationary to permanent positions. Township Administrator Dianne Kelly said that Hope Fire Company let the third firefighter go after his probationary period ended April 16.
Upper Freehold Township and Allentown Borough share the costs firefighting services from Hope Fire Company. Kelly noted that Allentown pays the company $60,000 annually, while Upper Freehold pays $472,000 annually.
Committeeman Steve Alexander said, “Allentown has not increased its contribution to the Hope Fire Company. We could no longer shoulder it on our own, and had to let a firefighter go. We were very reluctant to do that, as it is a service people need.”
Alexander said Allentown has not increased its contribution to firefighting services since 2006, when there were four career firefighters at the fire company.
Deputy Mayor Lorisue Horsnall Mount, liaison to the Hope Fire Company, said Allentown’s excuse is that they don’t require as much service as Upper Freehold.
She said that some people argue that Allentown has fewer people or that Upper Freehold has greater acreage. She said that the fire risk is greater in Allentown, where many of the homes are old and next to each other.
Former Mayor Bob Abrams said many residents are not contributing to the fire company, meaning the town could have to establish a fire district.
“And then you’ll hear screaming,” Abrams said.
Steve Gomba, a captain and chief at Hope Fire Company, said the company has six career firefighters and 20-30 active volunteer firefighters.
When asked how the loss of an additional career firefighter would affect the company, he said he did not yet know how scheduling would work.
“We requested a 24-hour driver,” he said. “With the layoff, that can’t happen.”
Gomba also noted that the firefighters are still waiting for a utility truck that Allentown promised to buy for them three years ago. He said it would make sense for Allentown to increase its contribution to the Hope Fire Company.
“We have guys with gear that should be updated and no money to replace it,” he said.