NORWICH – Town of Norwich Supervisor David Law said it’s essential to explore all options available for the protection of taxpayers when it comes to saving the town money, which is leading him and members of the board to consider forming a new volunteer fire department and break away from a fire service contract they’ve renewed with the city for decades.
According to Law, consideration of the town’s own fire service stems from the escalating annual cost paid to the city for fire protection. For 2012, the town is contracted to pay $566,636 for the first year of a three-year fire contract with the city, with an option to renew the contract for two more years thereafter. The amount paid is nearly $78,000 more from the first year of a similar contract agreed to in 2007. Should the township renew the latest contract after the three-year base term, it would pay $616,477 in 2015 and $634,047 in 2016.
The Norwich Fire Department responded to 172 calls in the town last year, leaving Town of Norwich taxpayers to pay an average of more than $3,200 per call, Law noted. It’s an amount that could go down with the incorporation of a new, volunteer fire department, he added.
“There’s been a lot of discussion of how we’ve spent Town of Norwich tax dollars toward the contract,” said the supervisor, referring to increasing costs in recent years. “What we’re trying to do is make it affordable to all parties ... It would be very devastating to all of us if it ever had to happen; we have a good thing going. This is just a way of controlling costs.”
Estimates from the town show that start-up of a new fire department could reach as much as $1,080,000 ($400,000 for a new pumper; $500,000 for a station, supplies, and tanker; and $12,000 per person for the desired 15 volunteers for the department).
“The biggest question is what would it do for fire on insurance policies,” Law said.
It’s uncertain how the Insurance Services Offices would rate the new fire department. ISO ratings are defined by three major criteria: Fire alarm and communications systems; the fire department, its engine and ladder companies, personnel and response time; and the community’s water supply systems. Low ISO ratings could result in higher insurance rates for Town of Norwich business and home owners.
Law will sit down with Mayor Joe Maiurano and other city officials in July to negotiate the contract. From there, said Law, the town board will make further considerations regarding the potential of pursuing the town’s own fire department.
“We have a good working relationship,” the mayor said, admitting that he’s prepared for several meetings with town officials. “If we have some differences, we’ll sit down at a table and work them out. We can make this trip a lot better if we can work together ... We understand their concerns and I think they understand ours. We’re willing to work with them as much as we can.”
Other townships in contract with the City of Norwich for fire protection and emergency services are North Norwich and Guilford.