Fire Rescue News - Wildwood firefighters to close station to voters

By TRUDI GILFILLIAN, Staff Writer

this month it will no longer allow elections to be held at the Washington Avenue building.

"The fire company has taken this action due to the recent decision of the mayor and commissioners to no longer support the volunteer fire companies, namely the action taken to no longer accept financial responsibility for the utilities for the volunteer fire companies of the city of Wildwood. The Holly Beach firehouse has, since its construction has hosted every federal state and local election held in the city at no cost to the city or the taxpayers," fire company Secretary Robert C. Harvey wrote in a letter to the city.

"This year the city is not paying for it," City Administrator Dale Goodreau said Tuesday of the city's decision regarding the utilities.

He didn't have a breakdown of the costs of the fire company's utilities but according to the city's 2010 budget, Wildwood expected to spend $220,000 on electricity and $72,000 on natural gas for all city properties, with the fire company included in that total.

Goodreau said that while the fire company provides "a great service to us," the cuts were part of ongoing budget reductions.

Another line item in the budget allotted $12,500 for the volunteer firefighters operating expenses, but he said the companies used only $1,650 of that money in 2010. In a telephone interview Tuesday, Harvey said the fire company had found itself in a financial position that meant "we have to rent the building out."

Harvey said the firehouse, built at no expense to the city, had hosted elections for at least the past 10 years - also at no expense to the city.

"We set the machines up and we set up the tables and chairs," Harvey said.

But now, he said, the hall must be rented to make up for added expenses, such as the utilities and the loss of a clothing allowance the city once gave to each of the company's 35 active members. He said the company also lost rental income from a city-owned Boardwalk property that it was once allowed to use.

"We definitely don't want to hold any elections there," Harvey said of the firehouse.

City Clerk Christopher Wood, in a letter to the Cape May County Board of Elections, said the loss of the fire station could result in "a very high probability for confusion among voters" at both the April 27 school board elections and the May 10 City Commission election.

But he noted that the Wildwoods Convention Center, currently home to voting districts 4 and 5, is handicapped accessible and has plenty of parking. A golf cart will also be used to transport voters from their cars to the entrance if they need assistance.

Registrar Mike Kennedy said Tuesday that the Board of Elections will be formally asked to switch the polling locations at its April 5 meeting, but it appeared the change would go ahead as planned.

Voters in districts 1, 2 and 3 will join voters in districts 4 and 5 at the convention center, he said.

Contact Trudi Gilfillian:  609-463-6716  TGilfillian@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.