Fire Department Subcommittee Seeks Public Input

The , along with the Mayor and Council, is seeking interested residents to participate in a sub-committee to review options for the possible expansion and reconstruction of Firehouses 1 and 2.  

The focus of the Committee will be to review the needs, identify possible sources of funding and consider options to meet the requirements for possible expansion and reconstruction. Each project is designed to ensure safe, efficient and quality emergency services to the residents of New Milford for the next several decades.

Residents interested in volunteering to serve on this committee should file a letter of interest with the Borough Clerk by September 21.

According to Angelo DeCarlo, former chief of Company 2, the goal of the Fire Department is to find a cost-effective and practical way to meet the points outlined in a 2009 study authorized by the mayor and council that pointed out deficiencies and assessed needs. 

Because of the drop in the economy, the study was back-burnered until early June of this year when representatives from , along with Rob Conley of Robbie Conley Architect, LLC, met with the Mayor and Council to discuss the structural state of their firehouse and to present the governing body with options for bringing the firehouse into compliance with the codes of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

During that meeting, past and current chiefs said that Company 2 has two immediate needs. One is to be able to fit a new, bigger fire truck into the engine room within the next two years, and the second is to replace to code spaces within the firehouse that have to be renovated and/or improved.  

DeCarlo said that the fire department is approaching this expansion "conscious that cost is a main concern."

According to DeCarlo, within the next two years Company 2 will have to replace their current tower ladder truck that is over 20 years old. DeCarlo said that the truck is not only outdated, but it is no longer in compliance with federal standards. New firetrucks have to meet certain compliance standards set by the NFPA and those firetrucks are now much larger and will not currently fit into the engine room of Company 2. 

 has also requested funding for a construction project in their firehouse. Among other things, their engine room lacks space for the firefighters to safely access and put on their gear when called out to a fire. 

The committee will consist of six members: two from the governing body, two from the fire department and two members of the public.  

DeCarlo said that the scope of work for this committee will include, but is not limited to the following:

·         Visiting the facilities to obtain a full view of the initiatives being sought

·         Meeting with Other Government Agencies to determine whether financing is available

·         Researching available grants for such projects (Public and private)

·         Evaluating costs and listing options to meet needs

·         Reporting findings and making recommendations to the full Mayor & Council

The goal is for the Committee to meet twice-monthly or as deemed necessary following initial discussions. 

Again, residents interested in volunteering to serve on this committee should file a letter of interest with the Borough Clerk by September 21.

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