Fire district elections are this Saturday and several of Hamilton's 9 districts have increased budgets and tax rates.
HAMILTON -- Fire commissioners, fire chiefs and residents spoke in front of the Hamilton council Tuesday night about the future of the township's fire service, batting around a bunch of issues, from fire district tax rates to how many firefighters respond to calls.
With fire district elections this Saturday, and fire district consolidation an ongoing process, the council invited all commissioners to the meeting to discuss the issues.
During a two-hour meeting, numerous topics flared.
For example, the commissioners from District 5, which operates the DeCou Fire Co., spoke about how their budget is decreasing 5.8 percent, from $1,653,786 in 2015 to $1,558,125 in 2016.
But the district plans to levy more money taxation because they are using less surplus, so taxpayers will see an increase in their bill as the rate goes from 88 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 94 cents in 2016.
Council members praised DeCou's commissioners, though, noting how they draw one of the lowest salaries out of Hamilton's nine fire districts, employ a lower number of career firefighters than other districts and are doing their best in an area of town with few large business rateables.
Council members used the district as an example of why consolidation is needed, as taxpayers in DeCou's district will pay more out of pocket than residents in other, wealthier areas of Hamilton.
DeCou fire commissioners publicly backed the idea of fire district consolidation in September, and reiterated their stance Tuesday.
Also at the meeting, during an address by the three fire chiefs present, Fire Chief Mark Antozzeski, of District 9, said with all the talk of consolidation, Hamilton also needs to look at fire staffing.
He warned that while an aim of merging districts into one firefgighting force might be a financial savings, the township currently needs more firefighters, and will so then.
With all districts operating some form of career staff to get fire engines to scenes quickly, but with volunteerism sinking, most companies can only muster one truck to a fire, he said. During a large fire in Hamilton - like occurred when a trash truck exploded recently - other towns' fire units will need to respond into Hamilton.
"We shouldn't say this is going to save money yet," Antozesski said. "We still could be short on manpower."
Also a shortage, Antozeski and chiefs Richard Kraemer and Chris Tozzi said, are chiefs themselves. The four Hamilton fire chiefs typically work day shifts, but there are fewer volunteer chiefs who could lead fireifighting efforts at nights and on weekends.
The chiefs have been experimenting with rotating and staggering schedules, they said. Hiring four battalion chiefs, in a unified firefighting force, to supervise firefighters round the clock would be a good option.
District 7, the Nottingham Fire Co.. has already started to address the issue, and is planning to hire a battalion chief for their district to supervise firefighters at night and weekends, the district said.
The district commissioners did not attend Tuesday's meeting because it was their meeting night also, but they provided a letter of response.
In the letter, District 7 commissioners say they have been informed of recent incidents of firefighters and residents possibly being in jeopardy at fires.
"The board felt so strongly about the safety issues at hand, that we decided to place a referendum on the ballot and let the voters decide if this was the right thing to do." the letter states.
On Saturday, voters will decide on the District 7 'budget, which is increasing, but specifically if they should "exceed the 2% tax cap levy by $170,000 to hire a Battalion Chief which cover salary, benefits and pension."
District 7 said they chose the battalion chief position rather than deputy chief or chief because it is the lowest on the pay scale. A home in District 7 assessed at $250,000 will see a tax increase of approximately $28 a year for such a position, the letter says.
Commissioners from District 4, which operate the Hamilton Fire Co., did not attend the meeting, drawing some ire from the council. Their budget is decreasing 24 percent, but the amount they are raising by taxes is a 12 percent hike and their tax rate will rise to 78 cents per $100 of assessed value, from 69 cents in 2015.
Also speaking, from District 8 and the Colonial Fire Co, was Commissioner Brian Moss. The district has largely been silent on the consolidation issue, not taking a strong stance.
But in a lengthy, uninterrupted speech that was a near history of District 8, Moss laid out real-time data concerning firefighting efforts, their current budget, to their strong community ties through use of their large fire hall, to the future of fire service as their board sees it.
If consolidation is a "good plan," the district would support it, he said. Moss said commissioners are usually old firemen like himself with the community in mind, and reminded the council: "We are not the problem."
Council members had no questions. District 8's budget is increasing slightly, and their tax rate is increasing from 51 to 52 cents per $100 of assessed property.
Several residents spoke in response. Dottie Correnti, who lives in DeCou, asked the council to look into a new law that allows fire districts to consolidate themselves, if the Hamilton fire unions - which have petitioned the entire township - do not turn the petitions over to the council soon.
Vinnie Capodanno, a regular at meetings, said Hamilton residents "should be ashamed of themselves" for not massing at a meeting that could affect all of their checkbooks.
And Bill Paradiso, a retired Trenton firefighter and past union president, urged the council to seek input from every involved party, like the unions and commissioners, but that the residents are the council's real clients.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.