By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Woods Road Fire Company will see the delivery of a replacement tanker this summer to enhance firefighting services in the township.
Other than salaries for fire marshals and office staff, it’s the biggest item in the $2.1 million fire district budget voters will decide up or down Saturday in an election from 2 to 9 p.m. at the township hall on South Branch Road.
The budget asks for $1,706,673 in local property taxes to pay for the fire district budget, which benefits the four companies that serve the township.
State restrictions put a cap of 2 percent on any increase in the tax rate for fire services. The fire budget takes a little more than 3 cents of the total $2.21 tax rate or $33 for each $100,000 of assessed value. A property assessed, for example, at $300,000 pays about $99 for fire services.
About one-quarter of the proposed budget covers $423,683 in salaries and benefits for one part-time and five full-time employees in the fire safety office.
One of the biggest increases is in insurance, which rises more than 15 percent to this year’s $239,900. That’s more than 10 percent of the budget.
Each of the three companies within the township has a budget that ranges from $70,600 to $91,000.
Hillsborough Fire Company No. 1 requested only one item in the new equipment budget, a six-wheel drive utility vehicle with a skid and sked setup for firefighting and rescues primarily in the Sourland Mountain area where it can’t get in with the brush truck or the deuce and one-half.
”The lack of access to the mountain area was a very important conversation during our OEM and emergency service special meetings after the 2011 October snowstorm and Hurricane Irene,” said Michael Merdinger, who was township administrator as well as president of Fire Company No. 1. “It was clear that Zion Road, Longhill Road and other mountain roads were impassable for days and weeks. Emergency access could only be through the woods since power lines and trees were all over the roads.”
Company 3 would be getting a extrication cutting tool and a second inflatable rescue boat, which is required by law, said Charlie Nuara, chief of the company through the end of 2012.
Fire Commissioner Ronald Berju said, if it can be done, the district might buy an Army-type truck to tow boats.
Fire Company 2 is slated to receive two command vehicles to replace ones that are more than 10 years old and have more than 100,000 miles, Dr. Berju said.
The budget also includes $70,600 ($1,300 more than last year) for the Neshanic Fire Company, which is based in Neshanic Station, but is contracted to cover western areas of the township.
The budget also includes $125,000 for Length of Service Award Program retirement benefits for active members who respond to fires and drive the trucks, perform interior or exterior firefighting or are officers in charge at the scene.
LOSAP awards $1,100 per qualified member in the 2012 budget and goes up to $1,150 per member in the proposed budget. It would be the first increase in 10 years.
The tanker for the Woods Road Company would be a replacement for a 25-year-old vehicle. In addition to safety improvements, like stability control and antilock brakes, the new truck will carry 3,000 gallons of water to service areas that not supplied by hydrants, said Christian Fulmino, company chief.
The tanker will have a 1,500 gallon-per-minute pump, which can supply the built-in deck gun as well as two pre-connected hand lines, he said. Delivery is expected in June 2013.
The fire district avoids the expenses of bonding by putting aside $200,000 to $300,000 each year for ongoing vehicle repair or replacement, Dr. Berju said. The district bought two engine trucks in 2008 and two ladder trucks in 2005, he said.
Voters last year approved the purchase of the tanker to be delivered this year.

