Millstone cuts fire budget, reducing its tax impact BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer "I hope it was apparent to everyone that the cuts to the fire budget were arrived at in a collaborative manner between the Township Committee and the fire commissioners." - Nancy Grbelja MILLSTONE - The Township Committee unanimously approved a $1.1 million budget for the fire district at its March 7 meeting. Most of the fire company members attended the meeting in uniform, and a firetruck was parked outside the municipal building in case there were any emergency calls during the meeting. In a vote of 154-186 on Feb. 17, voters turned down the fire district's proposed $1.5 million budget. Mayor Nancy Grbelja explained that when a fire budget fails, the governing body has an obligation to review the budget within 30 days and make recommendations. "We make a decision if there needs to be cuts, and how much," she said. According to Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey, the tax impact of the budget will amount to $4 for every $100,000 of assessed value. For example, a homeowner with a house assessed at $300,000 would pay an additional $12 more for fire taxes in 2007. "The rate for 2006 was $.078 and the rate for 2007 is anticipated to be approximately $.082," Kinsey said. George Gilbert, the chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners (BFC), said that after voters defeated the budget, the district held a special meeting to present budget information to the public and the Township Committee. He said the BFC went through every line item with Township Administrator James Pickering. In an effort to reduce the tax impact of the budget, Gilbert said the fire district decided to take $50,000 out of the operations part of its budget, and to use $100,000 of the budget's unrestricted funds. Gilbert said the BFC would go into an interlocal agreement with the township for cooperative purchasing of things the fire company needs. Grbelja said that reviewing a defeated budget is always a very difficult process for the parties involved. "I hope it was apparent to everyone that the cuts to the fire budget were arrived at in a collaborative manner between the Township Committee and the fire commissioners," she said. She said that members of the Township Committee and Pickering attended the fire district's budget hearings and listened to the commissioners' comments regarding proposed appropriations. "Jointly we were able to modify the budget to the extent that it would be acceptable to the residents of Millstone," she said. Grbelja added that under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey and Pickering, the township made suggestions to the BFC regarding sound financial investments, shared services, and interlocal agreements that can increase revenue and reduce costs as the year progresses. Kinsey said that while the budget did not get public support, the fire district had twice as much voter turn out in this year's election than it did in the past. He said the turnout is a reflection of the work the fire company put in to get the word out about its budget. Gilbert said a meeting the fire district had earlier that day with township officials was one of the best meetings, with everyone "putting their cards on the table" and working for the betterment of the township. Committeeman Elias Abilheira said the tightening of the budget had to be done. "If it's not tight enough, the voters will tell us again next time," he said. Grbelja agreed that the budget is tight, and said the public can rest assured that the numbers are realistic. Resident Ben Quagilierini asked if it is true that the four paid firemen living in the township cannot respond to a fire when they are off-duty. Gilbert said that is correct, due to a federal law that states a paid employee cannot volunteer in the township where they live. Grbelja said that paid, off-duty firemen who fight fires must be paid, while volunteers do not have to be paid. She said if the township did not pay some firefighters, they would likely work somewhere else during the day. "Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., the number of people who would volunteer were not sufficient to answer fires," she said. "It's not like we hired four volunteers and lost four volunteers. They would not be here when we needed them." Quagilierini also asked whether the fire commissioners are still in need of a second fire house. Quagilierini was one of the most vocal opponents for a proposed substation on the corner of Baird and Gaston roads. Eleven years ago, Quagilierini owned a home in the Pheasant Run development, which started a legal fight against the firehouse. The case went to the state Supreme Court, which decided in favor of the residents. "After 11 years, you still don't have [the substation]," he said. "If you didn't need it for 11 years, how come you need it now?" Grbelja said, "They do need it, but unfortunately were told they couldn't put it next to your house." For the substation, Grbelja said Pickering would contact property owners who are planning to sell off pieces of their properties while the county is negotiating for a larger parcel. Quagilierini asked how many fires occurred in the township last year, and Gilbert said there were 11 fires. Grbelja said she is extremely happy with the development of a new working relationship between the township and the fire department. "As this collaborative relationship continues to grow, it can only increase the public's confidence in the process, and perhaps defeated budgets will be a thing of the past," she said.