Fire-Rescue News- Mullica Township to Appoint Liaison for Fire Departments
By LEE PROCIDA Staff Writer | Posted: Saturday, April 17, 2010 | 0 comments
MULLICA TOWNSHIP - The township's governing body is creating a new position to streamline firefighting operations and cope with budget cuts, Mayor Michael St. Amour said.
At its next meeting, the council plans to appoint a director of fire department affairs, an unpaid role that will serve as a liaison between the township's four fire companies as well as an aide for the fire chiefs.....Continue Reading
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The new director will serve in a similar but expanded capacity to that of the township fire chief, a liaison role in which the chiefs from each company are currently rotating and which will be eliminated when the council adopts the ordinance creating the new position.
"It got down to the point that no one wanted to do it," St. Amour said.
According to the ordinance, the new director would be appointed for two years, must have at least 15 years of firefighting experience - three of which need to be in a command position and 10 in a Mullica Township fire company - but he or she cannot be a chief or assistant chief.
The director's duties would include auditing the Fire Association, chairing meetings of the full fire department, researching and applying for grants, and keeping an inventory of fire equipment in order to make recommendations for new purchases.
The position would not have any authority over the individual chiefs, and would assist the chiefs only at their discretion. He or she also could not enter into binding agreements on behalf of the town or fire department.
Elwood Fire Company Chief Anthony Tomasco, who runs the largest operation in the township, would not comment on the new position until council approves it.
Tomasco said the new director would most importantly organize the needs of the various companies in order to economize the entirely volunteer department's operations.
"We're trying to figure out where it would be best for the community make future investments," he said, which they would do by pursuing grants and buying in bulk.
He said that will be imperative in years to come, as budgets will likely tighten and there will be less money to spend on replacing routine items.
This year the town is cutting one Class 2 officer from its payroll, and increasing the local-purpose tax rate 2.5 cents in the budget it introduced Tuesday.
The township recently bonded for a new fire apparatus, which St. Amour said would probably be the last one for some time.
The council plans to approve the ordinance and appoint someone to the position at its next meeting on April 27.
Contact Lee Procida: 609-457-8707 LProcida@pressofac.com
This story was taken from the news source stated above. It's content and comments are not necessarily the opinion of The Elwood Vol. Fire Company or it's members.
