Failing volunteer fire companies seeking mergers
A pair of mergers could reduce the seven volunteer fire companies in Elizabeth Township to five by the end of this year.
Under pressure from township commissioners, Boston Volunteer Fire Company said it intends to merge with Greenock Volunteer Fire Company. Also, Elizabeth Township Fire Department No. 1 president David Kaminsky presented a proposal to consolidate with Victory Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioners said last month that Boston and Victory, both having only a handful of active members, had to present a merger plan within 30 days or be decertified.
The Boston company was granted 30 days to complete the review of assets and liabilities of both companies to devise a plan to complete the merger.
Facing the same mandate as Boston, Elizabeth Township Fire Department No. 1 president David Kaminsky presented a proposal to consolidate with Victory Volunteer Fire Department.
Kaminsky said local funding would be crucial to the success of the proposed merger with Victory.
Besides reviewing financial records, Kaminsky said in the proposal that both companies will maintain their current facilities until a new one is built..
"A more central location for the consolidated fire/rescue service would be ideally placed in the area of Warden Mine at the intersection of Douglas and Round Hill roads," Kaminsky said.
Firefighters with the Boston and Greenock companies are still reviewing their merger possibilities, including use of facilities.
"It's not unreasonable to see the process completed by the end of the year," commission President Joanne Beckowitz said. "Everyone is to be commended for getting this far."
Residents were assured that fire services would not be jeopardized during the process.
Greenock is the primary responder for any calls in the Boston area while Fire Department No. 1 handles the calls for Victory.
"Everyone is working toward the same goal to provide good fire service, the best we can provide at an affordable cost," commissioner Robert Keefer added.
Beckowitz suggested the companies continue to meet with commissioners and the Elizabeth Township Fire Services Advisory Committee every 30 days to review the progress.
In the meantime, officials agreed that Victory and Boston would receive a portion of their annual fire services tax share to cover expenses such as loan payments.
The township designates 0.5 mills of its tax rate for fire services, generating about $200,000 a year that is divided among the seven companies. This year's portion is about $28,000 for each company.
