Folsom fire department to fight in court to keep its equipment after borough contracts with neighboring department

 Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012 7:30 pm

By LEE PROCIDA Staff WriterpressofAtlanticCity.com

Firefighters said the move by Borough Council took them by surprise, but it was the result of department leaders and elected officials sparring for years over the company's operations.

The department, which has a dozen volunteers, repeatedly refused to submit to government oversight, Mayor Tom Ballistreri said, and the council made its decision after talks broke down several months ago.

"Council's had concerns that the fire company was starting to slip into a situation where they were bare-bones staffing, and we were starting to have concerns about the fire company being able to sustain themselves," he said.

Fire Chief Larry Smith said the move was based on few facts, was emotionally motivated and leaves Folsom residents vulnerable at times when Collings Lakes and other departments are busy handling other calls.

"What the town did, unfortunately, was legal, there's no argument there, but that doesn't help the people in town," he said. "Personally, the mayor does not like us, and we have no love for him, either."

On Monday, Smith met with Northfield attorney Keith Bonchi to see what they could legally do about the agreement Folsom made with Collings Lakes. Bonchi advised they had little recourse, since the agreement explicitly states that "Neither party may terminate this agreement for any reason other than a violation of the agreement by the other party."

The borough is seeking to acquire all of the department's equipment as well as the fire hall and property on Mays Landing Road, believing that because the department served in the public trust with taxpayer funding and donations that the property and equipment should be used by the public.

The agreement also outlines that the borough must make an effort to seize all of the Folsom department's equipment and give it to Collings Lakes. It may eventually sell the two fire engines, which Ballistreri said are being stored at an undisclosed location.

On Friday, the two parties will meet before in Superior Court in Atlantic City to address the borough's order to restrain the department from selling, removing or disposing of any of its equipment or property.

The fire department was established in 1946. It has always been supported by volunteers and donations, but the local government has helped pay for its operation.

Last year, the borough budgeted nearly $16,000 for salaries and other expenses for the department. Ballistreri said insurance and other costs make the true bill higher, and that the $16,000 does not account for individual purchases of equipment.

Folsom will now pay $15,000 a year to the Collings Lakes Fire District in Buena Vista Township, which funds the Collings Lakes Volunteer Fire Department.

Collings Lakes, with more than 30 firefighters, has provided mutual aid to Folsom for decades. Collings Lakes Fire Commissioner William Collins said they started discussing the shared services agreement weeks ago.

He also said he hoped Folsom's government could resolve the issue with its department and that they could somehow start operating again in the future. It is unclear how that would be legally possible within the first five years of the agreement, at which point it is up for review by both parties.

"We just made an agreement with them so the people of Folsom have fire protection while they sort all this stuff out," Collins said.

Folsom responded to more than 60 calls for service last year, including fires, accidents, downed trees and electrical wires, carbon monoxide alarms and even to pump out residents' flooded basements. Smith said the department did not miss one call.

Contact Lee Procida: 609-272-7227 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.