Hamilton residents support consolidation efforts, unions say

"We were met with open arms," Nick Buroczi said of the residents he talked to. "They were very receptive to it."

HAMILTON -- The presidents of Hamilton's firefighters' unions said nearly all of the residents their members spoke with during a petition-signing blitz Saturday were in favor of consolidation and put pen to paper.

"We were met with open arms," Nick Buroczi said of the residents he talked to. "They were very receptive to it."

Some residents who were not home when the firefighters visited sought out the petitioners, driving after them in their cars and pulled over to sign the petitions, said Buroczi, president of the fire officers union, a local of the Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA).

Buroczi was one of about 40 union firefighters and supporters who went door-to-door in Hamilton neighborhoods Saturday seeking signatures on petitions that call for a consolidation of the township's nine fire districts.

The unions need signatures from 5 percent of a district's voters to bring the matter to the township council, which then holds a public hearing and votes whether or not to dissolve the district and possibly merge it with another district.

The two fire unions want to consolidate the township's nine fire districts into one, with Fire District 3 being the surviving district. The union does not plan to seek petitions in District 3.

Buroczi and Mike Kiernan, president of the rank-and-file firefighters union, said all the petitioners reported back that residents were eager to support consolidation, and that many had a lot of questions, which they were happy to answer.

Kiernan said the petitioners also had to reassure some citizens that just because they signed the petition, it does not mean the fire district will immediately be dissolved.

Kiernan and Buroczi said the unions finished canvassing in three districts, and plan another blitz to get the necessary signatures to bring the entire matter to council.

The commissioner boards in several districts are in favor of consolidation, but not the union's plan to have District 3 as the survivor and have been vocal about their dissatisfaction, and that continued Monday.

District 9, in Groveville, released a public statement Monday questioning the District 3 plan again. The statement said the board believes all districts should be petitioned and called for an "objective arbiter" to be designated by the township "to evaluate the best solution and long term viability to the taxpayer of either a single, new consolidated district or a municipal department."

District 9 also took aim at District 3, saying they were dismayed by their actions in becoming the sole surviving district and that District 9 reached out to District 3's board of fire commissioners and has not heard back.

"This is not a good way to start a frank discussion on the future of the fire service," District 9 said in a statement. "This leads us to believe that their actions can be construed as disingenuous at best, and even worse, selfish.

Joseph T. Zalescik, chairman of District 3 board of commissioners said while some want consolidation, "And they want it their way."

District 3 is a logical choice to be the surviving district, Zalescik said, because they have a history of shared services.

Zalescik said previous efforts at consolidation did not make clear how it would be done, and he admits he was initially against it due to unknowns.

"This idea that the (unions) came up with is a really a great solution," he said.

District 3 is the oldest district and has been moving toward shared services for while, he said.

For example, Zalescik said District 3's fire chief is also the chief for two other districts, and they have current agreements to combine apparatus agreements with other districts. "We have a really good track record of shared services," he said.

Zalescik said, like the unions said last week, that petitions are just the beginning, and once the petitions hit the township council, more discussion will take place.

"This isn't going to happen overnight," Zalescik said. He said the unions are meeting with the district later this month, "And I really look forward to the union presenting everything. It's a great idea"

Kiernan, the union president, also said it's early in the process, and reminded residents of their consolidation efforts: "Just because petitions are signed doesn't mean it's going to happen."

The unions are reaching out to the entire township fire service to invite them to hear more about the plan, Kiernan said.

Kiernan said they have sent letters to all commissioner boards, the township volunteers companies, the chiefs, "and even the ladies auxiliaries."

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.