Jan. 27 hearing set on Freehold Borough fire distr

[BrianSullivan]

Very important! Please read...

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-01-05/Breaking_News/Jan_27_hearing_set_on_Freehold_Borough_fire_distri.html

[BrianSullivan]

freeholdvoice.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=firedepartmenttwo&action=display&thread=5270

The above link has past discussions and information

[BrianSullivan]

Just a bump and reminder, this meeting is tonight. Here is the recent NT article:

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-01-26/Front_Page/Proposed_fire_district_to_be_topic_of_meeting.html

[BrianSullivan]

Just found out about a cool thing. Freehold in Jersey will be doing a live stream on the meeting for those who cannot attend. Be sure to visit that site tonight.

[BrianSullivan]

Here is the first write up I have found on the meeting. I hope more people start paying attention. The attendance was not what it should have been. ( I am guilty too and did not make it)

We Are talking about establishing a new authority that can and will tax us.

Freehold Borough Council postpones decision regarding creation of fire district
by Colleen Curry on Jan 28th

freehold.injersey.com/2011/01/28/freehold-borough-council-postpones-decision-regarding-creation-of-fire-district/

[BrianSullivan]

The NT had a very good write up that is a bit more in depth. I really wish I could have been at the meeting to make up my own mind. But, it looks, by this article, that the fire department did not make the case justifying the formation of a district. After reading this article, I see a few things I do not like:

1. tax increase

2. no merging districts with the township

3. the FD has already received most if not all of what it has asked for from the council.

4. We will have a new taxing authority that acts based on a very low voter turn out in other towns. That is not good.

read the whole article, I will only copy a few lines

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-02-02/Front_Page/Officials_want_a_chance_to_discuss_fire_district.html

The mayor asked Youssouf how he (the mayor) would tell the average borough resident that he might have to pay an extra $80 a year in taxes if a fire district is created........


........“I understand home rule, but why have multiple fire districts?” the mayor asked.

Youssouf said merging the two towns’ fire departments would “not be politically feasible, nor legally possible in my opinion at this time......


.............Councilman Kevin Kane asked about fire district elections and what the turnout was annually.

Youssouf said a fire district election generally has a 12 to 15 percent turnout of registered voters. He said the fire district election is held in February to make it “nonpolitical.”..............

[BrianSullivan]

Two letter against the formation of a fire district.....

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-02-09/Letters/Resident_asks_officials_to_turn_down_fire_district.html

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-02-09/Letters/Writer_wants_council_to_retain_control_of_fire_dep.html

[BrianSullivan]

another letter against.....

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-02-16/Letters/Resident_is_opposed_to_plan_for_fire_district.html