Fire company says it needs new or expanded building, prompting council to examine alternatives.
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
ROCKY HILL Members of the Rocky Hill First Aid Squad attended Monday’s Borough Council meeting to set the record straight on some lingering issues raised during previous council meetings.
In March, the borough’s fire department informed the council of the need for a new or expanded firehouse. Council member Jared Witt asked about the possibility of combining the fire department and first-aid squad into one building.
The council, during its discussion with the fire department, asked if the squad had been contacted about that possibility. Fred Lewis, fire company planning committee chair, said the squad had been contacted but seemed uninterested, prompting the council to seek additional information.
Responding to the question of joining the fire department in a single building, Alan Querec, a longtime member of the first-aid squad, said the organization "would be afraid we would lose our identity."
Mr. Querec, who was joined by a roomful of fellow squad members and residents in support of the squad, said, "I haven’t seen the facility, I don’t know the funding, I don’t know what’s going on." He added, "We’d like to stay our own organization."
But, he said, "If the borough came to us and said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s going to save us a million dollars,’ we’d think about it."
He added that he just didn’t see where the savings would apply, because the rescue squad spends minimal money per year, money that comes from donations and the borough. The 2005 budget allocated $23,000 to the squad, a nonprofit organization. In addition, the borough pays for squad insurance, and in February, the council approved a $130,000 contract to purchase a new ambulance.
Mr. Querec, who said he didn’t appreciate being summoned by the council to answer questions, said, "I am not trivializing the questions. You can ask us a thousand questions you can call us 24/7."
Residents who came to voice support of the squad seemed confused about what the issue was, advising the council to buy the equipment the squad needed like an ambulance. But the council had already approved the purchase of an ambulance nearly two months ago.
In addition to inquiries about an emergency-services facility, the council asked of Mr. Querec how the squad intended to dispose of the 1975 Chevrolet ambulance that is being replaced with a new vehicle.
"Anything we end up with, we’ll offer to the borough," Mr. Querec said, adding that a 1975 model would not likely be worth more than a few hundred dollars.
Council members thanked the squad members for turning out.
"We just wanted you to speak for yourselves," Councilman Ed Zimmerman said. "We just wanted to hear from you so there is no misunderstanding."