PLUMSTED: Four commissioners seeking election

By Mae Rhine, The Packet Group
   PLUMSTED — Four of the five seats on the Board of Fire Commissioners are up for grabs in this Saturday’s election.
   Voters also will decide whether to approve a $1,287,700 tax levy in a total budget of $2,185,093, which will mean a tax rate of 12 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. For a home assessed at $300,000, this will mean a tax bill of $360 a year, which is within the state-mandated 2 percent cap increase.
   The tax rate for last year was 10.6 cents with a total tax levy of $1,134,321.
   The total budget is a sharp increase from last year’s total of $1,420,214. Most of the increase is because voters approved the district putting aside $50,000 a year for a new ambulance and radio equipment and spending $575,000 for a new firetruck, according to board Chairman Gene Pullen. The new equipment and rig will arrive in May.
   The Fire Department has paid firefighters during the day and volunteer staff at night, Mr. Pullen said.
   Salaries are budgeted at a total of $677,114, up from $610,568 from last year. Benefits for fire fighters, including insurance, are budgeted at $274,250 compared to 238,971 last year. Benefits for fire prevention and EMS salaries are calculated at $126,676, up from $121,258 last year.
   Administrative costs are budgeted at $75,700, up from $74,200 last year.
   Operating costs are tabulated at $1,509,544, an increase from $1,369,665 last year.
   ”To offset the impact to the taxpayer and still maintain the high level of service the residents and visitors have enjoyed in the past, the board has been actively pursuing alternative sources of revenue,” Mr. Pullen said in a prepared press release. “To date, the district has received in excess of $250,000 in grant money, which has been used for equipment and training. We have been able to secure nearly $30,000 from FEMA for reimbursement for expenses incurred during our response to recent major storms and flooding. EMS billing, fire inspection and permit fees have generated approximately $300,000 in the last year.”
   He added, “Last September, our tanker truck was involved in an accident and was totaled by the insurance company. Since the vast majority of the township does not have fire hydrants, this had a significant impact on our water supply capabilities. We have been using another apparatus that has been on loan to the district from another fire department, free of charge. As a result, we have been able to avoid any negative impact on safety without placing any added burden on our residents.
   ”The board is in the process of purchasing a pre-owned pumper/tanker which will meet our needs and will be paid for entirely by the monies received in the settlement with the insurance company.”
   Voters also will elect four members to the board.
   Incumbent Aaron Heller and Dave Gindlesperger will be challenged by Michael Mains for the two three-year seats available.
   Mr. Gindlesperger was appointed to the board this year, but opted to run for the full three-year term being vacated by Patricia Tilghman, who opted not to run again.
   Vying for the one-year expired term Mr. Gindlesperger vacated will be Sam LeNoble and Vic Seidman.
   Eric Heiss is running unopposed for the two-year unexpired term he was appointed to this year.
   Mr. Heller is a lifelong resident of the township.
   His personal business provides training to other firefighters all over the country, he said.
   He is a career captain of the Hamilton Fire Department and has served as a fireman for New Egypt for the past 24 years.
   He serves as vice president of the Plumsted Board of Fire Commissioners and wants to continue to improve the emergency capabilities of the district, he said.
   Mr. Gindlesperger is a 10-year resident of the township and a 28-year veteran of firefighting.
   He is a past chief of the Jacobstown Volunteer Fire Company and is clerk of the Plumsted Board of Fire Commissioners.
   While working for the Akron Brass Co. as Northeast senior district manager, he works with fire departments all over the northeastern United States, he said.
   His goal for the board is to maintain the quality fire and EMS services township residents expect and receive, but also to look for better ways to provide a cost-efficient and higher quality service, he said.
   Mr. LeNoble is a nine-year resident of the township. He has background in emergency management and search and rescue.
   He said he wants to continue working with the board to realize a higher level of service for the community with increasing efficiency.
   In addition, he wants to provide residents more transparency regarding the operations of the board.
   Mr. Seidman has been a resident of New Egypt since September 2001 and has been involved in many different facets of the area, including recreation, including coaching for almost nine years in soccer, baseball and basketball.
   In October 2001, he joined the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company. In 2004, he was awarded a Medal of Valor, a lifesaving award and was Firefighter of the Year along with three other members who had saved a life in a fire that year.
   He has been captain, trustee, vice president and president of the fire company in his almost 11 years of service. He also has been a member of the New Egypt Volunteer First Aid Squad for almost three years.
   He said he enjoys being a part of the community and helping others whenever possible.
   Mr. Heiss is a 25-year resident. For 24 years, he has volunteered for the Fire Department and EMS as a first responder.
   He said he seeks re-election to continue his contributions to providing a sensible and balanced budget to the taxpayers of Plumsted.
   Mr. Mains is self-employed. His business of tractor and other farm equipment repair is based from his house on Lakewood Road in New Egypt.
   He has lived in the township for most of his life, he said; 39 years.
   He has not been involved with the fire company, but his parents were, he said.
   He is running because “There’s too many fireman involved,” he said, adding, “We need someone who’s not a fireman to be involved to keep it even.”
   Mr. Mains has three children.
   Voting will be between 2 and 9 p.m. at the New Egypt firehouse at 59 Main St.