On March 14, we will have a special election to approve a bond to fund a building for our First Aid Squad and our Fire Department. I urge you to vote “YES.” Keeping our neighborhood fire and first aid squads is our best choice. It is the cheapest, safest and best option. PEOSH and the State Fire Marshal will re-impose daily fines of thousands to tens of thousands of dollars if we don’t fix this soon.
The Roosevelt First Aid Squad answered approximately 280 calls last year. We average 24 to 36 Fire Department calls each year. 18 of your neighbors volunteer for our Fire Department and 12 for First Aid. Let’s give them something safe, clean and mold free to work with.
Let’s clear up a couple of things. We hear a lot about the fact that there was no “No” option last November. The referendum was to determine what residents want us to build IF the bond is approved on March 14. We needed to know this to describe how funds were to be used. A “No” option would just have left it up to the Council. You voted 268 to 68 for a four-bay building for First Aid and Fire.
We are, and have been, in compliance with all the laws that govern our emergency services. Who says so? The State Fire Marshal (who inspects our facilities), PEOSH, and JIF (the Joint Insurance Fund, which is the final arbiter).
We donate approximately $16,000 per year to each of our volunteer Emergency Services teams. That is the only amount we pay and includes all expenses, including equipment maintenance. We pay very little more for insurance. We will not need to buy a fire truck. We have not paid for a fire truck or ambulance since 1947. They are donated, paid with grants or paid from private donations.
A simple steel pole building will cost us approximately $160,000. The rest of the bond proceeds will pay for all of the things that make the building suitable for our first aid and fire departments. This is one half to one tenth of what other towns pay.
DUMP OUR FIRST AID SQUAD? THAT IS EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS. There is no regional EMT squad. I have personally waited 20 to 40 minutes on three occasions for an ambulance to arrive when Roosevelt wasn’t called. If your husband or wife has a heart attack, chances are they will be dead – and you will be charged personally for the ambulance service. That is just a very bad idea.
The only fire company within five miles is Millstone. If services are more than five miles, most homeowner policies will be more expensive. Monroe is based at Halsey-Reed Rd. (six to eight miles by road) and Hightstown is also more than five miles. What we save in service fees will be overshadowed by increased insurance rates. Even if we receive fire services for just $30,000 a year, the cost of a two-bay First Aid building and contracting fire services will be the same as the cost of a four-bay building. So, let’s keep our local volunteers here, where we have depended on them for help in storms, flooded basements and so much more.
Know the facts, not the hype. Vote “YES” on March 14.
Thank you.
The Roosevelt First Aid Squad answered approximately 280 calls last year. We average 24 to 36 Fire Department calls each year. 18 of your neighbors volunteer for our Fire Department and 12 for First Aid. Let’s give them something safe, clean and mold free to work with.
Let’s clear up a couple of things. We hear a lot about the fact that there was no “No” option last November. The referendum was to determine what residents want us to build IF the bond is approved on March 14. We needed to know this to describe how funds were to be used. A “No” option would just have left it up to the Council. You voted 268 to 68 for a four-bay building for First Aid and Fire.
We are, and have been, in compliance with all the laws that govern our emergency services. Who says so? The State Fire Marshal (who inspects our facilities), PEOSH, and JIF (the Joint Insurance Fund, which is the final arbiter).
We donate approximately $16,000 per year to each of our volunteer Emergency Services teams. That is the only amount we pay and includes all expenses, including equipment maintenance. We pay very little more for insurance. We will not need to buy a fire truck. We have not paid for a fire truck or ambulance since 1947. They are donated, paid with grants or paid from private donations.
A simple steel pole building will cost us approximately $160,000. The rest of the bond proceeds will pay for all of the things that make the building suitable for our first aid and fire departments. This is one half to one tenth of what other towns pay.
DUMP OUR FIRST AID SQUAD? THAT IS EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS. There is no regional EMT squad. I have personally waited 20 to 40 minutes on three occasions for an ambulance to arrive when Roosevelt wasn’t called. If your husband or wife has a heart attack, chances are they will be dead – and you will be charged personally for the ambulance service. That is just a very bad idea.
The only fire company within five miles is Millstone. If services are more than five miles, most homeowner policies will be more expensive. Monroe is based at Halsey-Reed Rd. (six to eight miles by road) and Hightstown is also more than five miles. What we save in service fees will be overshadowed by increased insurance rates. Even if we receive fire services for just $30,000 a year, the cost of a two-bay First Aid building and contracting fire services will be the same as the cost of a four-bay building. So, let’s keep our local volunteers here, where we have depended on them for help in storms, flooded basements and so much more.
Know the facts, not the hype. Vote “YES” on March 14.
Thank you.