Editor, The Spotlight:
I read the editorial in last week’s edition about EMS consolidation [“Kudos (and attention) in order for EMS”]. I would like to address the remarks about the fire departments and the claim that “There’s effectively been zero movement on the suggestion.”
I can understand why you have this perception since there hasn’t been any “publically” tangible progress or publicity generated from the town fire service. This likely stems from the nature of volunteer fire fighters who focus on getting the job done and moving on to the next task at hand without regard to self-adulation.
As a commissioner for the Elsmere Fire District, I can report that significant progress has been made in the fire district’s collaborating and working towards recommendations identified in the referenced study. Fire districts are constrained by different laws than EMS, and each fire district has a primary obligation to the residents in their particular fire district as prescribed by state law. EMS in the town is controlled by one governing body, the Town Board, making progress much easier.
The study you referenced was completed at the end of 2011. During 2012 there were many hours and impressive efforts put forth by the volunteers of all the districts in the town to work towards the recommendations outlined in the study. There were several collaborative meetings with representatives from each of the fire districts during 2012 discussing different opportunities for collaboration and identifying obstacles that need to be addressed. Subcommittees were formed to address specific tasks relating to the study.
One issue identified at the meeting was inconsistent qualifications and requirements for being a firefighter, officer, chief, fire police and safety officer. The subcommittee and town fire officers put together common standards that will be used by all the fire districts.
The districts understand the need for proper personnel management to ensure adequate response times. In Bethlehem, we are very fortunate to have six to 10 fully qualified members responding on a truck where paid departments only send three members or possibly more. To maintain this level of response, the chiefs of Selkirk and Elsmere agreed to capitalize on the available manpower of the two districts. The chiefs signed a mutual aid agreement that permits members from both departs to respond to alarms in either district. Also, members in Elsmere that are proximate to Selkirk’s fire district will soon be available to respond to Selkirk’s fire house and have the opportunity to be trained on their apparatus. In addition, every week, each of the town’s five fire departments conducts a training drill for their members. Any member of any department is welcome to participate in any of the training events (cross train). Cross training among the fire districts increased during 2012, which was encouraged by each of the department chiefs.
As each District considers a major purchase, renovation or change, recommendations from the study are considered and information shared with the other districts at the collaborative meetings, each district operating within the constraints of the law. For example, Selkirk recently sold their ladder truck. Elsmere is currently providing 24/7 truck company coverage for the Selkirk Fire District while Selkirk does an evaluation of their district’s requirements. The aforementioned progressive agreement has provided that firefighters from both Elsmere and Selkirk man Elsmere’s Truck 30.
Combining procured services is also beginning. Elsmere and Slingerlands combined a contract which resulted in a savings of approximately $2,500. Besides the savings to the districts, this example provides insight to the successes we can realize in future ventures as well.
Each fire district in town has a “Length of Service Awards” Program. Due to the exponentially increasing costs of the current program, Elsmere’s Board of Fire Commissioners proposed changing from the defined benefit program to a defined contribution plan. This was put up for public referendum and passed by the voters of the Elsmere Fire District. This change will result in an immediate savings of tens of thousands of dollars in 2013 and help contain costs in future years.
One suggestion the study recommended was that in 10 years, the fire departments in town merge into a single unit. There has been dynamic grown in town over the past 10 years (Wal-Mart, Lowes, Vista Park, traffic circles, new housing developments, etc.) and fire districts have to include that trend in their planning, something not included in the study. The legal impediments and the organizational differences in the different districts may make formal “merger” impractical but districts are actively working towards operating more like single entity by engaging in a more cooperative and collaborative working relationship. Fire districts are also talking with the new Delmar-Bethlehem EMS and Albany County Sherriff’s Department in order to ensure an ability of fire and EMS collaboration on resources when possible. The collaboration also helps to enhance the outstanding fire and EMS services provided to the residents of the town.
All these activities have been taking place in addition to the normal operations of providing fire services. The people providing these services are all volunteers; firefighters, officers, chiefs and commissioners. There are many fine organizations (churches, sports, legion, scouting, the arts, etc.) in our town run by volunteers. As with the fire service, the time and effort provided by volunteers are spent on planning and preparation in addition to the services they provide. The actual services are only a part of their overall contributions.
Overall, when quantifying collaboration and cooperation efforts among the fire districts, you see success. To some, they may not appear to be colossal savings, but they show responsible leadership and community stewardship. The greater successes are the collaboration of services and the ability of different groups to benefit, both their communities and their organizations, all while working towards operating as a single unit. We are much farther along that path than what might be public knowledge, but as volunteers, our focus is simple: to serve the community and to do it in a way that will maximize the benefits for all.
Rick Zigrosser, Elsmere Fire District Commissioner