Fire Co. to buy new tanker

[Guest]

Our Fire Co. should be congratulated for their fundraising efforts and sound management which helps reduce our taxes by allowing them to buy equipment outside of our tax dollars.

According to the article below, the Fire Co. is purchasing a much needed water tanker from their own funds. This will save the tax payers $300,000. It is good to see the Fire Co. considering the hurting residents in town and I hope the TC and Board of Ed take their lead when it comes to budgets this year.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/02/12/cranbury_press/news/doc4b748e246e98b507044644.txt

CRANBURY — The Cranbury fire company is ready to replace its nearly 40-year-old tanker truck.

The fire company plans to purchase a $300,000 tanker that carries less water, but is more efficient than the company’s early-1970s model, said volunteer firefighter Charlie Smith, a fire company spokesman. The older model, he said, is underpowered, overloaded (it carries 7,000 gallons of water) and lacks a pump.

The new tanker — dubbed “Tanker 48” — carries 3,500 gallons of water, pumps 1,250 gallons per minute, is better able to maneuver, has a bigger engine and an automatic transmission, he said.

”Picture driving a car from 1972 versus one from today,” Mr. Smith said.

The tanker is used about once a month as an alternate water supply in areas where hydrants are not accessible.
The department will cover the $300,000 price tag by using the proceeds of stocks that have matured since they were received by the fire company as a donation in the 1970s.

Mr. Smith said he did not know the identity of the donor and that he expected the tanker purchase would eat up most, but not all of the stocks.”Obviously, funding is down and times are bad,” he said. “Given the economic climate we felt it would be better to use some of our stock and buy the equipment.”

Fire officials hope to order the new tanker by June and have it customized and delivered within 15 months, he said. Once the new tanker arrives the company’s members will spend a weekend training to use the new equipment.

The tanker will be the third major equipment replacement made by the fire company. In 1999, an outside consultant recommended the township’s fire company replace all major equipment within five years, but budget constraints have made it impossible to do so.

The company has replaced its first and secondary fire trucks, he said, and will consider replacing its 1950s brush truck, a four-wheel-drive vehicle used to extinguish field fires. Fire officials also hope to purchase a newer special-equipment truck used to carry tools not usually used on average calls, such as ice rescue equipment or carry pumps.

”Were doing this, number one, to help the town,” Mr. Smith said. “But this will also help us do our job and do our job more safely.”

[guest17]

It is great that the Fire co has its own money to undertake this purchase. I believe the Fire co is its own corporation (not part of the town government) though the town pays for certain things. Does the Fire Co publish a budget, or any financial statement, or file any public report regarding its fundraising or finances?

[Guest]

According to the information on this site, the company is private which means they would not have to have a public budget.

http://www.firehouse.com/region/departments/cranbury-fire-department

However, the town does I believe own most of the trucks, equipment and the building.

[guest17]

Ok, so like any private company they do not have to report to public etc.

But at the same time, it sounds like the town is quite involved in the private company. That is a bit confusing. But, we are kind of guessing here, a bit.

Does anyone know for certain if the fire company publishes its budget, financials or fundraising info? Again, its great that they have the money to buy this truck themselves but if the Town is so involved in owing other trucks and the building etc, it would seem appropriate to make the financial info public, no?

[Guest]

We are mandated by law to provide fire service. The town does and should give money to the fire company because the other option would be a paid fire department which would cost the us all a lot more money.

So great job by the fire company raising funds for something which can and will be used by the entire town.

[guest17]

Absolutely, great job by fire co for raising all this money, and for the great volunteer work that the fire co performs!! The fire co performs a great service and that is very much appreciated!!

That said, given the involvement of the public's money is the fire company should their not be some public reporting of the fire co's finances. This type of reporting happens in most towns. I thought it happened here and I just did not know about it. So the question is, does such reporting happen in Cranbury?

[wcody]

The Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company provides a great service to the town with their volunteer fire fighters and fund raising. They save the taxpayers significant money. The contributions that the township makes to the fire company are fully disclosed. The 2009 budget is on the website and when the township committee prepares a 2010 for public review, it will be on the web site.

[guest17]

Yes, of course, the Township's expenditures are spelled out in the municipal budget, as required by law. But that is not the question.

The question is whether there is any reporting done by the Fire co of their finances.

[armchair quarterback]

Here is a thought. If you want to see the fire companies finances then why dont you join. They will send you to training. You can volunteer your time and risk your life. Once you have been trained and are a member you will be able to attend company meetings. Since apparently you arent willing to do that how about, we stop brown beating the volunteers.

[Guest]

If the Fire Co. is a private entity, then there is no obligation for it to publish their budgetary details for public consumption.

[Guest]

wanting to know how our tax dollars are being spent is not anti-fire company or pro-fire company. It is being a responsible tax-paying citizen.

[Guest]

If the town makes a donation and the Fire Co. is audited as is required, then does it matter? Since the donation from the town does not cover their expenses and they raise money to operate I don't see a concern myself. I understand why someone would be interested. However, may I suggest you post your name and an email so someone from the fire company could respond to you directly?

[Guest]

The fire house is on main street, stop by and ask our volunteers that you want to inquire about the finances for the department which they volunteer for and risk their lives for.

[Guest]

I''m not the person who inquired about the fire department expenditures and am not worried about it personally. But some of the responses here just sound so crazy -- akin to the way some people used to equate any questioning of why we were going to war in Iraq to "not supporting" the troops and being unpatriotic. That never made logical sense. The opposite was true of course -- it is patriotic and supportive of our troops to deeply question the reasons and the mission before we put them or leave them in harms way and it was our responsibility as voters and taxpayers to question and be well informed on who and what we vote for and how our collective money is being spent.

By the same token to suggest that anyone who wants to know details about how the public money for the fire and rescue services are being allocated is somehow disrespectful or insulting to the dedicated men and women who work there is just silly and illogical. It’s not only reasonable but it should be the duty of voters to inquire and question about such things. And as long as they are doing so in a respectful manner, there should be no offense. Only those with something to hide would have any reason to be offended. And I see no evidence of disrespect here and doubt there is anything to hide.

[big buoy]

[Guest]

WELL SAID ! Cranbury should be greatful for ALL of the volunteers in ALL of the areas and topics "criticized" in this forum.

Before you start to get critical with the volunteers in town, ask youself - "Do I volunteer to help anyone .............. or just complain and stir things up?"

There are dozens of groups in town that desperately need volunteers. Try joining a few organizations and spend some of your free time to see the other side of the issues.