JACKSON – Recent sessions of the Township Council served as both discussions and an opportunity to make and close financial arrangements with representatives of Township Fire Districts 3 and 4.
The compromises were reached regarding how much would be cut from the districts’ budgets which both failed at the polls during the annual fire commission elections held in February.
The Council gave both districts an opportunity to discuss their budget with them and residents. The process involved the administration reviewing the budgets and then presenting them to the council for further action.
“I asked counsel (Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin) if we could have this discussion in an executive session (away from the public); we were not allowed to do that. I wanted to make sure that you folks had the opportunity to have your voices heard to council. The budget that was suggested to us was $350,000 cut from District 3 and $350,000 cut from District 4,” Council President Jennifer Kuhn said.
The district representatives explained why a full cut of $350,000 would negatively impact the operation of their fire districts.
Kuhn said, “District 3 is in conversation to consolidate and I know our EMS is definitely having problems and we are here to help. We may have questions and they may be hard questions. Let’s just work through it and move on.”
Frank Hruschka, the chairman of the district 3 Board of Fire Commissioners said District 3 “is located in the north east section of town, It is physically the smallest district and is also the most densely populated fire district in town. We border districts 2 and 4 as well as Howell and Lakewood.”
The district contracts with Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 – Station 55 located at 113 North New Prospect Road for fire suppression coverage around the clock. Volunteer members of the department are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Districts 2 and 3 have formally by resolution moved forward to consolidate. It is a work in progress and will be happening,” he added. “Consolidation will help streamline and help coordination of all aspects of running the fire service here in Jackson. This year’s failed budgets must still be worked out. Our budget was within the cap rules and it failed.”
Hruschka said a small percentage of voters this year participated in the annual election held on the third Saturday in February. He noted an increase in operating expenses including insurance costs, fire hose doubling in cost, and the possibility of replacing a 16-year-old power ladder and a 32-year-old heavy rescue “sooner than originally anticipated.”
He also noted the need for replacing turnout gear as another cost outlay.
Councilman Mordechai Burnstein asked if any studies had been made as to what savings would be realized with the consolidation of districts. Hruschka responded “we haven’t gotten that far yet but previous studies show that if there are any savings it will be minimal and it will be on the government side and will not be on the operational side of business.”
“District 4 does not want to be part of the process with us at this time,” Hruschka said in answer to Burnstein’s follow up question if other districts might also wish to consolidate with Districts 2 and 3.
“We have not had any thought about bringing EMS into this as well but we are open to it,” Hruschka added.
Kuhn said she was aware all apparatus and equipment costs had increased but noticed a difference between costs within different districts.
Hruschka said consolidation would allow for re-evaluation of all the apparatus within the consolidated district and “even before consolidation we can determine what apparatus we no longer need or can sell and we can determine what additional apparatus we will need to serve the community.”
He noted new state rules coming on line will require retiring some equipment/vehicles. In capital reserve “we have $1.1 million. We were planning to use a portion of that to offset the tax levy this year leaving us with $540,000 in there.”
“We are talking about cutting a little bit back,” Kuhn said. “We don’t want to hurt that process (consolidation). We are pro-merging. I don’t want to lose EMS either. It is not mandated by the state of New Jersey that we have our own EMS.”
Hruschka said the district answered “over 1,000 calls last year, 865 calls in district and about 162 assists to District 2 and 24 out of town assists.”
Councilman Nino Borrelli asked, “what was your budget compared to last year’s budget?”
“It was quite a sizable increase,” Hruschka responded. “The increase was probably close to 19%. We can’t do the $350,000 cut. We would be hurting very badly for future planning. I was hoping for somewhere around $100,000.”
“Can we meet at the middle?” Kuhn said suggesting $190,000 or $200,000.
“Can I get you down to $140,000” Hruschka asked but Kuhn gave a quick “no” to that.
Burnstein offered a lower figure to which Hruschka replied, “I would be very happy with $170,000.”
“We are nearing a number that I think could be a compromise. I think we can cut a deal here,” Burnstein said.
District 4 was represented by Board of Fire Commissioners President Raymond Torres Jr. His district is a combination Fire Department employing seven career firefighters during the daytime hours (6 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Monday to Friday. The Board of Fire Commissioners also contracts with Jackson Mills Volunteer Fire Co. No 1 for fire suppression coverage around the clock.
The Companies are located at 465 North County Line Road and 550 West Commodore Boulevard. Some of their daily assignments include fire suppression, rescue and first responder EMS, fire inspections and prevention.
“Last year we responded to 1,280 calls. For 2024 we are 366 to date and are coming up on our busy season,” Torres said. “We get scraps compared to the rest of the township (budget percentages). We’ve been doing more at less for years. We save money over the course of years to make outright purchases or put enough money down not to incur a potential debt.”
“We auction off surplus supplies and maximize our return. We bid out all contracts and typically beat out all state contract numbers,” he added. “We closely scrutinize all purchases in our district and unless items are absolutely necessary and the future benefit of the district, we will not purchase it.”
Torres added, “all our costs have increased including gas, training and cost of supplies. We need to replace our nearly 20-year-old vehicle and we need to transition to a Scot Pack.”
Kuhn said last year the district had $150,000 in capital and this year “you had a $500,000 increase. What is that for?”
“We allotted $200,000 from money we already had to revamp a trailer at no cost to the taxpayer. We saved money and try to be fiscally responsible,” Torres said.
She asked why the district wasn’t considering consolidation that could help them.
“That wouldn’t help us, it would hurt us. It wouldn’t benefit our district at all, it would hurt us,” Torres replied.
Burnstein and Kuhn pushed for consolidation saying this would mean less chiefs and the reduction of fire district commissioners from 15 to five.
“Consolidation is not in the best interest of our district. It would hurt us financially. Operationally nothing would change. We work well with the other districts,” Torres repeated noting that EMS operate out of a district station.
When pressed for a compromise figure by Councilman Borrelli, Torres gave the figure of $100,000 for the cut. “Even $175,000 would be a big stretch for us. I think we can shake $100,000.”
“I’m going to recommend $150,000. Council can do what it wants,” Kuhn recommended.
The arrangements were finalized during another council meeting. District 3 ended up with a cut of $150,000 while District 4’s cut was $300,000.
