Millwood Matters

August 1, 2008
by Gene Nadel

Fire commissioners respond to consultant’s report

If one can clear away the smoke and haze surrounding the convoluted issues, a spark of hope for progress regarding a new Millwood firehouse might well be discerned from the lively discussion that took place at the Millwood Fire Commissioners’ monthly meeting this past Monday night.

Although some may disagree (and I recognize that at a recent public meeting this reporter was characterized as one who, too often perhaps “sees the glass half full”), I believe that there is justifiable cause for optimism.
How can that be, one may rightfully ask, given the recent history and the acrimonious debate that took place during the course of the evening? The explanation is simple: common sense! Yes, plain common sense. A situation exists which clearly cries out for action. Time and again it has been repeated: almost everyone, fire commissioners, Millwood fire company volunteers, the members of the Millwood Task Force, WENT (the West End Neighborhood Taxpayers) and the public at large, recognizes the need for a new fire station in Millwood.

Currently, the second floor of the 80 year old fire station is unusable and estimates are being sought for interim repair work to prevent a portion of the second floor from actually collapsing onto the equipment housed below on the first floor. Even many financially pressed residents, including Westenders suffering from an inequitable school tax burden, recognize the need and are willing to support the cost of a proper sized new building. Inaction and further delay is inexcusable.

Reason for optimism in the face of this long-running debate
Why do I profess optimism in spite of the clear disagreement among some of the concerned parties? I do so because for the first time at Monday’s meeting, I observed genuine dialogue among the commissioners, as well as with the public. I believe I saw the beginning of an effort to recognize the realities of the situation and a sincere desire to come up with a solution acceptable to all. Will this be easy? Certainly not, there are a number of very legitimate issues still to be resolved, but I am confident that with hard work and good faith on the part of all parties, it can and will be accomplished.

Commissioners approve motion to move forward with DEIS
The public meeting opened on a positive note when a motion by Commissioner Fred Scheier clarified last month’s resolution to move forward with the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the new station house. This new motion set 19,800 square feet as the maximum size of the new structure, but stated that the size could be reduced by any amount if deemed appropriate by the board. The board expects to appear before the New Castle Planning Board to present their proposed plan in September or October. After various other housekeeping activities, the board opened the meeting to questions from the public.

Dianne Kleinmann, Chair of the Millwood Task Force, noted that after several delays, the commissioners finally had the benefit of the comments and recommendations of JLN Associates, the independent consultants hired to conduct a Needs Assessment Study for the fire district. She asked the commissioners, all of whom had had ample opportunity to read and study the report, to express their opinions and concerns in order to educate the public and to help the residents understand the process as it moves forward.

After much, sometimes heated, discussion, the public meeting concluded with (of major significance to me) apparent agreement among Commissioners Angelo Indusi, Hala Makowska and Scheier to work diligently to resolve the various issues discussed below and attempt to come up with an acceptable plan.

All questions come back to the issue of cost
The basic issue, of course, is cost, which for the most part is logically equated to be a function of the actual size of a new firehouse. As indicated above, the present design plan offered by the BOFC calls for 19,800 sq. ft. The consultant’s revised recommendation is approximately 18,400 sq. feet, while a conceptual plan offered by WENT suggests 15,000+ sq. ft. All of these numbers are subject to change depending on the resolution of several key matters.

The most significant, and most costly, of these is the plan for “drive-through” bays. While clearly the preferable design for safety purposes and recommended by the consultant, the public has yet to see a meaningful estimate of the actual cost. Making the bays drive through is not simply a matter of knocking down the rear walls. This design requires a substantially larger driving area and, based on the present plan, necessitates the construction of expensive retaining walls. Various unofficial estimates have been tossed around suggesting that the cost differential to accommodate this could run from half a million to a million dollars. It was agreed that the commissioners would try to get a handle on the actual cost of this design feature.

There are two other major issues of contention. The commissioners’ original plan calls for a public meeting area capable of accommodating 136 people; dissenting commissioners are in favor of a smaller room, accommodating 75 or 96 people. The other issue under debate is the location of the fire commissioners’ board room. They currently have a board room at Station house #2 on Route 134. The original plan calls for relocation of the board room to the new station.

Frustrated volunteers just want a safe firehouse
Charles Canero, president of Millwood Fire Company, announced the volunteers’ endorsement of the Commissioners’ original plan. The fire company reports to the commissioners and is subject to their supervision, but it is a separate organization. The significance of the endorsement should probably be tempered by subsequent comment indicating that the volunteers were undoubtedly frustrated by the long delay in progress and given the sorry state of the present building, they are anxious to see a new firehouse at the earliest possible date. Many residents clearly share their frustration.
While cost is clearly a key issue, very little has as yet been provided to the public to estimate what the burden will be on the individual homeowner. Obviously, no accurate amounts can be determined until the actual cost of construction is fixed. Preliminary conversations with bond counsel will begin soon and some guidance should result from that.

For the last three years, the BOFC has placed approximately a million dollars a year of annual tax revenue into a reserve fund, which provided the liquidity for the $1,950,000, all cash purchase of the Realis property where the new station will be constructed. The BOFC has indicated that this annual million dollar amount is projected to equal the anticipated future debt service required to carry the fire station bond issue. Allegedly, this would mean no increase in current rates for taxpayers in future years. While this projection may have been made in good faith, whether it will hold up remains to be seen.
New ladder truck due to arrive
A pleasant announcement at the BOFC meeting advised of the expected August 18 delivery date for the fire district’s spanking-new ladder truck. More details to follow as many folks are curious to see this new apparatus.

Check NCCTV’s website for the latest Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners meetings. The meeting reported in this issue took place Monday, July 28, 2008, and may not yet be posted.