[quote name='Richard_L_Dean_07405' post='195440' date='Mar 8 2008, 16:44 ']Because many of us like the idea of living in small home town communities that enjoys home rule, where the residents and businesses know personally the people who are elected and appointed. Besides having pride in our histories, we are proud of the amount of equipment and members avaialble in our little state of 8 million people available when major disasters strike. If the people of one or more municipalities want to merge by a referndum then so be it, but for the Governor to try to force it -- no way!
On the other hand, looking at the census figures for Allenhurst, I find that there are only about 700 residents. We do have municipalities in New Jersey of similar square mileage that have 2,000 to 5,000 residents. Checking the municipal website I find that it is a shore community so wonder how many summer residents it might have. They only have 8 police officers including a chief. Another site revealed that the homes are of the large Victorian and Tudor style and having visited that shore area I would say that they've got some expensive old homes to protect.[/quote]
I agree, Richard. It seems like whenever there is consolidation of volunteer fire and first aid organizations the volunteers go away due to the loss of what originally attracted them (being part of a unique, community or neighborhood focused organization) and pretty soon the town needs to have a paid department. When you consider the cost of a 24/7 paid department for an engine company or two and an ambulance the cost to the town skyrockets.
A figure I have heard thrown around is that it costs a municipality an average of $100,000 per year for each cop or firefighter (salary, healthcare, pension, training, personal equipment, etc.) they have on the payroll. With that number in mind it would cost close to $500,000 a year PER SHIFT to staff a 24/7 engine and ambulance. Assuming 3 shifts this would put the figure somewhere around $1.5 million a year in payroll. Just for an engine and ambulance. I have nothing against career FFs, but when a town considers the savings a volunteer department provides it is significant, and (in this former volunteer FF's opinion) greatly justifies whatever excesses might come from things like 5 stations in a small town or $800,000 tandem axle rescues.
For what it's worth, when Moorestown NJ was named the best small town in America to live (by Money magazine) one of the community features they cited was the volunteer fire companies in the town.
John
On the other hand, looking at the census figures for Allenhurst, I find that there are only about 700 residents. We do have municipalities in New Jersey of similar square mileage that have 2,000 to 5,000 residents. Checking the municipal website I find that it is a shore community so wonder how many summer residents it might have. They only have 8 police officers including a chief. Another site revealed that the homes are of the large Victorian and Tudor style and having visited that shore area I would say that they've got some expensive old homes to protect.[/quote]
I agree, Richard. It seems like whenever there is consolidation of volunteer fire and first aid organizations the volunteers go away due to the loss of what originally attracted them (being part of a unique, community or neighborhood focused organization) and pretty soon the town needs to have a paid department. When you consider the cost of a 24/7 paid department for an engine company or two and an ambulance the cost to the town skyrockets.
A figure I have heard thrown around is that it costs a municipality an average of $100,000 per year for each cop or firefighter (salary, healthcare, pension, training, personal equipment, etc.) they have on the payroll. With that number in mind it would cost close to $500,000 a year PER SHIFT to staff a 24/7 engine and ambulance. Assuming 3 shifts this would put the figure somewhere around $1.5 million a year in payroll. Just for an engine and ambulance. I have nothing against career FFs, but when a town considers the savings a volunteer department provides it is significant, and (in this former volunteer FF's opinion) greatly justifies whatever excesses might come from things like 5 stations in a small town or $800,000 tandem axle rescues.
For what it's worth, when Moorestown NJ was named the best small town in America to live (by Money magazine) one of the community features they cited was the volunteer fire companies in the town.
John
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