Why is the TC against the Fire Co

[anon-ro6r]

[anon-opr0]

Thanks to whoever posted the full ordinance. Very useful at cutting through all the nonsense as usual on this board.

Having now read it, it seems pretty clear it merely formalizes the relationship of the Township and the existing volunteer fire department. I didn't realize that wasn't already the case. It makes no legal sense that it not be formalized in our Township ordinances, so better late than never. It doesn't say its replacing the existing volunteer company.

[anon-r1oo]

Nice to see the TC members are back posting. The comment above is ripped from Barbra’s opening statement last night.

The Fire Co can no longer buy what they need without the Administrator approving, the town can cut funding based on resident donations, the administrator decides how the fire co spends money, the Fire co now has to maintain the building that the Town owns not the fire co.

The members now become township employees as the ordinance says members can be terminated by the township officials.

The town doesn’t even fully fund the fire co. And now they are passing a law indicating they will contribute even less and penalize residents? How can they then dictate how the fire co operates?

[anon-opr0]

[anon-nr7s]

The Fire Company is a private entity tax ID, registration, and tax filing. They are not a Fire Department.

They are not employees of the town or even a board or commission. The township pays money and in return they get a service- Fire response. Just as the town hires a road crew and they get a road paved. If the Fire Co were a municipal entity I would agree.

By your definition any company the town buys services from (all comes from tax payer money) they should have the right to control that business, who runs that business and the employees of that business.

This ordinance is taking over a private non-profit business. The town is free to go paid or hire another Fire Co. if they can find one.

I think the state also gives a donation or used to for the turnpike. Does that mean since the state gives tax payer money that they should control the fire company? Since the state gives tax payer money to the town should the state have control whether town hall employees are hired or fired and tell town hall what to do? Where does the line start and stop?

[anon-1q6r]

[Agree-s02s]

I agree with the above poster. Say you own a business, let's call it Cranbury Cleaning Company Inc. The township has had an agreement with you for years that for 100k you provide this cleaning service to the town. You provided this service with no issues, responded to spills and messes at all hours of the day and night, and in doing so you had control over the 100k to buy equipment and supplies to run your cleaning service and hire, fire, promote your employees as you saw fit.
Now all of a sudden the town says "we're not going to give you the 100k for your services anymore, the 100K will be under the control of the Township and we'll dole it out as we see fit."
No one on the Committee and or the administrator have any cleaning experience. You go the Committee when your carpet cleaning machine breaks down and request funds to fix or replace it and they tell you "you don't need that, we don't want to spend the money to get your machine back up and running."
All of a sudden there is a spill on the brand new white carpet and your machine isn't working to clean it up, and now the carpet is destroyed. On top of that they fire your top employee because of this spill.
Would you want the town to control your business this way?

[Michael]

Please sign this petition to create a fire district in the Township of Cranbury

https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-implement-a-fire-district-in-the-township-of-cranbury?recruiter=1286082552&recruited_by_id=cc126670-65b4-11ed-836f-3faab8f56c82&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_medium=copylink

Thank you,
Michael

[anon-470q]

It’s not private It’s not independent If it was, they wouldnt depend on the township to providing funds, insurance, fuel, and vehicles. If the town did not pay for those things the fire dept wouldn’t have anything.

[Township property-17s6]

Typical in other towns as well, the Township owns most of the equipment, including the building, and the Fire Co. are allowed to operate with it.

[Michael]

There a many questions as to why the Fire Company is asking to form a district...

CRANBURY’S FIRE SERVICES ARE AT RISK

On November 14th, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance that if enacted takes control of the Fire Company away from the volunteers and defunds the Fire Company.

The Fire Company and its members can’t accept the terms of the ordinance as written and if this ordinance is enacted the Township Committee will be locking the Volunteer Fire Company out of providing fire response services to the community after 100-plus years.

What can residents do to help keep Cranbury Fire Company responding?

Attend the Township Committee meeting on November 28th at 7 pm at Town Hall and ask the Committee to vote no.

Isn’t the Fire Company a Township entity already?
No. The Fire Company is a private entity that provides fire services to the state, town, and surrounding communities. Each year the Fire Company receives positive remarks from the state on our finances.

We have our own Tax ID, registration, tax filing, and operate via donations from the community, town, and state. The town contribution makes up less than 70% of our budget in 2022.

What does this mean if a fire occurs after enacting the ordinance?
This is a paramount concern. Will not be able to respond and our mutual aid agreements are invalidated.

What happens if the town goes paid?
If the Town goes paid an annual tax increase of 50% or more will be required to cover staff, expenses, insurance, and firehouse upgrades. Payroll and benefits alone would cost the town $2.5 - $3 million.

How does this defund the Fire Company?
It codifies the Township's ability to reduce funds based on donations received.

The Fire Company in 2022 has incurred over $200K of expenses (excluding a Chief’s car paid for by donations) and received $150K in Township funding. This leaves over a $50K gap that is made up for by fundraising and generous donations.

If the Township reduces its contribution based on donations, then the Fire Company will not be able to fund operations.

It requires the Fire Company to do all building maintenance on both Firehouses which are owned by the town. The administrator will decide if money is spent on operations to protect lives or on a building.

Why is this creating potentially unsafe operations?
The ordinance places control, oversight, and approval for the policies and guidelines for operations in the hands of the Township Committee and Administrator who lack the necessary training and experience. Volunteers, their families, and the people in need would no longer have responses predicated on experience and training.

Isn't there another option?
The Fire Company has always and will always place residents first, we are after all residents. Work has been occurring on a plan for a Fire District that puts the emergency services under a board of elected officials. Please sign the petition at: https://chng.it/Gk4TH8CZ8z

[anon-2qn2]

I don't fully understand this situation and it seems like we haven't heard why the TC is doing this/ why it's good for Cranbury? In any event, this situation getting to this point so quickly and now urgently before a proposed ordinance vote is an unfortunate failure of leadership (seemingly on both sides). It's playing out like a grade school argument and this is a shame.

[anon-p26r]

I listened to the meeting and it is in video. It was clear the TC never consulted the Fire Co before doing this ordinance and the Mayor said she was not going to talk to them. It is on the video on YouTube. I don’t understand why the TC wouldn’t talk to the Fire co and try to get an agreement in place. now if this is adopted we have no fire protection because the ordinance is not legally able to be followed.

[anon-2qn2]

But wasn't there something prior to that? Did the chief no show at a TC meeting or something? If so, I understand TC needing accountability for the $ they spend. BTW- donations go to the chief's SUV? Is this the guy who blows cigar smoke at the children's truck a thon and washes his commercial vehicles in the firehouse lot? I feel like I am missing the real scoop here.

[anon-n38o]

[anon-p783]

People. You can bash and complain all you want. Fine.

The issue now is THERE IS NO FIRE COVERAGE AT ALL if this passes. My home and yours will burn down. Whatever your view of the TC or Charlie this can’t pass.