Dear Neighbors,
I want to thank everyone for voting on March 28th. As usual, we had a very high turnout at the polls. Roosevelt residents are known for being involved and having strong opinions.
This leads to my next point. We all know there was a great deal of animosity and anger throughout this two-year ordeal of Emergency Services Building.
Friendships have been shredded and the town divided in a way never seen before.
The disrespect shown was unparalleled.
But, in the end, it was just a difference of opinion, nothing more.
Some people, such as myself, felt the best course of action to take was contracting out to a nearby town for fire service protection. Others felt it should remain local, and a new building should be built to support it.
Turning it into the debacle it became, is very sad, because, really, it was a difference of opinion.
Now that it's been settled, and the voters chose to contract out, it's time for us to begin planning our course of action for the First Aid Squad. The Safety Committee will meet with the members to determine how best to meet their needs.
Contrary to what the signs around town said, First Aid was never going to be disbanded or abandoned, if the no votes won. The Borough has no legal right or entitlement to do that.
The Fire Department is under the auspices of the Borough; it is part of the Borough. The Borough is responsible for it. First Aid, on the other hand, is an independent organization. We provide space to them and make a yearly donation. We also aim to provide assistance whenever possible. However, the Borough has no right to be involved in their operation.
Our next step is contracting out for fire protection. The mayor is strongly advocating for Millstone to be our provider. However, I believe the far better option is Monroe/ Applegarth.
Millstone offered a contract beginning with $30,000 the first year, $45,000 the next, then $60,000, then $75,000, and then $90,000 the fifth year.
Monroe will charge $30,000 per year for three years. After that, we have the word of two Monroe Fire Commissioners that it will go up or down a very small amount. They stated this on the record at the Council meeting of March 27, 2017.
Millstone is a paid squad from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. After 6:00 pm it becomes volunteer.
Monroe is a 24-hour paid department. There is a fully staffed department at the station at all times.
Chief Jim Carbin also stated at this same public meeting, that he drove from his station to the farthest point in Roosevelt. [Hilltop Swim Club] It took him 5 minutes and 48 seconds. That was in his own car, driving the speed limit, and stopping for the traffic light at Rt.33. Obviously, in an emergency, the trucks would be going faster, and they have the capability of changing the light at 33.
Monroe will respond to all emergencies in Roosevelt, be it, fire, downed wires, motor vehicle accidents, etc. Roosevelt would never be on a back burner. Once we sign the contract, we are on the same priority level as their own residents. Monroe responded to our fire incident of March 29th, this week.
So, ask yourself, why would the mayor want to spend so much more money, to go to Millstone?
At the end of three years, we would be paying $30,000 to Monroe, but $60,000 to Millstone, twice as much. At the end of five years, we would be paying somewhere about $33,000 or $35,000, or less, to Monroe, and $90,000 to Millstone, roughly, three times as much.
This current administration has spent your taxpayer money in unprecedented amounts. Legal bills are much higher than they've been in years, and much higher than towns of comparable size. Administration costs are unnecessarily high.
Bills have been incurred without authorization, and to which there are no funds to pay them. There was a bill on this week's list for $170 for Albivi’s Restaurant. When questioned, the mayor said that it was for the poll workers on March 14th. This was for the postponed referendum.
In all the years I've lived here, poll workers brought their own food, or heated something in the Borough kitchen. We just spent $170, which is a huge bill, to buy the food. And what happened to that food?
The bill for the March 28th food hasn't come in yet.
So, I implore you, come to the Council Meeting of April 10th, and let the mayor and council know your feelings. Do you want to spend two to three times the amount of money contracting to Millstone, or significantly less, and contract to Monroe, a fully staffed 24/7 Fire Department?
Thank You,
Peggy Malkin
I want to thank everyone for voting on March 28th. As usual, we had a very high turnout at the polls. Roosevelt residents are known for being involved and having strong opinions.
This leads to my next point. We all know there was a great deal of animosity and anger throughout this two-year ordeal of Emergency Services Building.
Friendships have been shredded and the town divided in a way never seen before.
The disrespect shown was unparalleled.
But, in the end, it was just a difference of opinion, nothing more.
Some people, such as myself, felt the best course of action to take was contracting out to a nearby town for fire service protection. Others felt it should remain local, and a new building should be built to support it.
Turning it into the debacle it became, is very sad, because, really, it was a difference of opinion.
Now that it's been settled, and the voters chose to contract out, it's time for us to begin planning our course of action for the First Aid Squad. The Safety Committee will meet with the members to determine how best to meet their needs.
Contrary to what the signs around town said, First Aid was never going to be disbanded or abandoned, if the no votes won. The Borough has no legal right or entitlement to do that.
The Fire Department is under the auspices of the Borough; it is part of the Borough. The Borough is responsible for it. First Aid, on the other hand, is an independent organization. We provide space to them and make a yearly donation. We also aim to provide assistance whenever possible. However, the Borough has no right to be involved in their operation.
Our next step is contracting out for fire protection. The mayor is strongly advocating for Millstone to be our provider. However, I believe the far better option is Monroe/ Applegarth.
Millstone offered a contract beginning with $30,000 the first year, $45,000 the next, then $60,000, then $75,000, and then $90,000 the fifth year.
Monroe will charge $30,000 per year for three years. After that, we have the word of two Monroe Fire Commissioners that it will go up or down a very small amount. They stated this on the record at the Council meeting of March 27, 2017.
Millstone is a paid squad from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. After 6:00 pm it becomes volunteer.
Monroe is a 24-hour paid department. There is a fully staffed department at the station at all times.
Chief Jim Carbin also stated at this same public meeting, that he drove from his station to the farthest point in Roosevelt. [Hilltop Swim Club] It took him 5 minutes and 48 seconds. That was in his own car, driving the speed limit, and stopping for the traffic light at Rt.33. Obviously, in an emergency, the trucks would be going faster, and they have the capability of changing the light at 33.
Monroe will respond to all emergencies in Roosevelt, be it, fire, downed wires, motor vehicle accidents, etc. Roosevelt would never be on a back burner. Once we sign the contract, we are on the same priority level as their own residents. Monroe responded to our fire incident of March 29th, this week.
So, ask yourself, why would the mayor want to spend so much more money, to go to Millstone?
At the end of three years, we would be paying $30,000 to Monroe, but $60,000 to Millstone, twice as much. At the end of five years, we would be paying somewhere about $33,000 or $35,000, or less, to Monroe, and $90,000 to Millstone, roughly, three times as much.
This current administration has spent your taxpayer money in unprecedented amounts. Legal bills are much higher than they've been in years, and much higher than towns of comparable size. Administration costs are unnecessarily high.
Bills have been incurred without authorization, and to which there are no funds to pay them. There was a bill on this week's list for $170 for Albivi’s Restaurant. When questioned, the mayor said that it was for the poll workers on March 14th. This was for the postponed referendum.
In all the years I've lived here, poll workers brought their own food, or heated something in the Borough kitchen. We just spent $170, which is a huge bill, to buy the food. And what happened to that food?
The bill for the March 28th food hasn't come in yet.
So, I implore you, come to the Council Meeting of April 10th, and let the mayor and council know your feelings. Do you want to spend two to three times the amount of money contracting to Millstone, or significantly less, and contract to Monroe, a fully staffed 24/7 Fire Department?
Thank You,
Peggy Malkin