Even a brief interruption to answer a call to battle a fire did not stop voters from conducting business in the middle of the annual meeting of the Western Coventry Fire District held on Monday night at the Summit Station in Greene.
In just under two hours and with only minor dissent and discussion on some issues by a few of the 65 registered voters present, the district passed several important resolutions.
The major resolution to be adopted was the operating budget of $556,482 for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
The new budget represents an increase of 2.96% over the previous year. To fund the budget, there will be a fire tax increase of 3.52% to $1.47 per $1,000 of property. To a voter whose property is appraised at $250,000, that increase would result in a payment increase of $12.50, or an annual total of $367.50.
Other resolutions, with only a few dissenting votes among voters present, included: ratification of all actions taken by the Officers and Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013, a three-year, $250,000 lease-to-own purchase agreement requiring three equal payments for the Rescue Recovery Fund for a rescue vehicle; the purchase of rescue supplies in direct support of EMS operations for the vehicle, and funds not to exceed $2,000 for repairing the Summit Station fire suppression sprinkler system.
The following district officers and board members - all unopposed- were also elected: Cheryl Wilcox, District Clerk; Joan Smith, Tax Collector; Glenn Underwood, Treasurer; WCS Mays III, Moderator and Board of Directors members, Robert Guastini and John Humble.
For the fiscal year from Mar. 1, 2012, to Feb. 28, 2013, the annual treasurer's report indicated that district revenue was $545,128 and district expenditures were $542,198, not including rescue recovery funds,.
Other highlights for the past fiscal year included reduction of outstanding principal on the mortgage for the Summit Station from $1,316,057 to $1,282,584; an amount of $112,933 from rescue billings and a final lease payment on Engine 9 for $121,068.
A few voters voiced concerns about the dissolution of the Central Coventry Fire District, what impact that might have on the coverage provided by the WCFD and what that could mean for the WCFD 2013-2014 annual budget.
But WCFD Officials and Board of Directors members, Chief Steven Quattrini and WCFD District Counsel J. William Harsch assured voters and taxpayers that they would have the final say on what changes, if any, would happen.
"We will maintain our existing coverage," said WFCD Chief Steven Quattrini. "If they have to, personnel might be hired from the Anthony and Hopkins Hill districts. But we and the police department will continue to provide normal coverage and provide public safety for all citizens in the town."
"The liquidation of a fire district is absolutely unprecedented," said William Harsch, counsel for the WCFD board. "But any plan that is passed by the General Assembly that could affect the Western Coventry Fire District must come back to this district for approval."
"If the budget is altered because of the Central Coventry Fire District problem, we will look at a number of factors," said John Humble, President of the WFCD Board of Directors. "Mutual aid is something that we are prepared to continue to give for a short period of time to the Central Coventry Fire District. We have counted on them many times and they have counted on us. If they change the boundaries, then the tax collector will look at various properties and sources of revenue and at high-risk areas. But we are not going to take on additional costs."
"The members of the General Assembly in this district - six representatives and two senators - want to have a short-term plan and an intermediate plan," said Representative Mike Chippendale. "But we will have to wait until next Tuesday when the judge rules what he is going to do and if he offers an extension to that district. But there will be no plan without your approval. Public safety will come first. But a lot can happen in the next 11 days."
