VOTE NO $8.75 million for St. James Fire District bond

The St. James Fire Dept District has buried this bond that will be voted on this
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at the St. James Fire Dept, Substation on Jefferson Avenue from 3-9 pm.  VOTE NO.

The St. James Fire District has scheduled a special election Tuesday, October 22 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the firehouse substation at 221 Jefferson Avenue for the approval of an $8,750,000 bond to finance expansions and alterations to the district’s two firehouses. The bond vote is open only to registered voters in the St James Fire District.

The expansion of the district’s headquarters building at 533 North Country Road includes a one-story apparatus garage, containing two larger apparatus bays at the building’s west side adjacent to the existing ones. 

A two-story addition is proposed at the building’s north side, providing additional space on the first floor for firefighters’ gear, a new bathroom, an expanded kitchen and an expanded recreation room. The second floor addition on the building’s north side would contain two offices, men’s and women’s bathrooms with showers, a housekeeping room and a new 25-by-32-foot training room doubling as a bunk room with pull-down beds for firefighters on standby who previously had no such room to stay in.

At the fire district’s substation at 221 Jefferson Avenue, proposed additions include a one-story administrative addition at the building’s north side containing a new bunk/meeting room with pull-down beds, a ready room—a  meeting/training room to be used for both training requirements and civic functions—storage room, and three offices—one of which is for the commissioners and another for the district manager.

On the building’s south side is proposed a one-story apparatus addition containing three larger apparatus bays adjacent to the current ones, allowing one of the existing bays to be dedicated to containing firefighters’ gear. There will also be additional small sections on this side for storage, work areas and washing gear, as well as a new bathroom and a mezzanine level above the small rooms for more storage.

Concept drawings for the expansions and alterations were done by Riverhead-based architect Martin F. Sendlewski. The district will wait for the approval of the bond to complete blueprints.

Members of the St. James Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners held a public hearing at the Jefferson Avenue firehouse Tuesday, October 8 to inform residents about the bond. Those who missed Tuesday’s bond hearing are welcome to attend an informal open house Sunday, October 20 from noon to 3 p.m. at both fire stations for additional questions and a walkthrough.

In a letter provided to audience members at Tuesday’s hearing, the fire district said a primary reason for the bond project is to increase floor space at both stations because the size of fire apparatus has grown significantly as a result of new safety requirements since the last time the district added a building in 1978.

The district’s letter said the additional floor space is needed to accommodate those larger apparatus, as well as an increased number of fire and emergency medical service (EMS) vehicles obtained by the district over the years to maintain its level of protection.

The expansion of the headquarters building at 533 North Country Road would allow that building to become Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant with upgraded bathrooms and a new elevator. The expanded office space at the Jefferson Avenue building would replace existing office space currently too small to accommodate the district’s paid and volunteer staff necessary to meet the many town, county, state and federal requirements the district is subject to, according to the letter provided to the audience at the hearing.

“We know these bays once constructed will never be antiquated in the future,” said Commissioner Joseph Kuethen at Tuesday’s hearing.

Mr. Kuethen, along with some fellow commissioners and architectural representatives, said the expansions will help the district become compliant with numerous recent standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and enforced by the Public Employee Safety and Health Program (PESH).

Mr. Kuethen said the size of apparatus has increased to meet new regulations, such as the requirement that all firefighters riding in fire vehicles need to be seated and belted. “What we thought we had room for is becoming more and more tight,” he said.

Mr. Kuethen pointed to the gear racks lining the walls of the apparatus bay where the public hearing took place and said there is currently not enough room for firefighters to get in their gear because they are too close to fire vehicles departing for fires. “We have members trying to get dressed as apparatus are going out, which is really a safety issue,” he said.

Munistat Services Inc. Chief Executive Officer Noah Nadelson, providing bond council for the district, said at Tuesday’s hearing that the bond, if approved, would cost the taxpayer approximately $37 annually per $1,000 of assessed value to their homes until the district finishes paying the principal and interest of the bond. Mr. Kuethen said the bond period will last 19 years.

Mr. Nadelson said the expansions, if carried out, will result in a 35% increase in utility costs for the district.

“We’re all residents in this town, too, and nobody wants to pay more taxes, there’s no ifs ands or buts, but we’re seeking everyone’s approval here because of the expansion and safety that’s needed at the firehouses,” Mr. Kuethen said.

Bruce Meyer, of Head of the Harbor, was one of a small group of residents who gathered at the hearing concerned about the effect the bond would have on fire district taxes. Mr. Meyer said he has seen a double digit increase over the last two years on the St. James Fire District portion of his tax bill. “Now what is going to happen with this? Are my taxes going to go up even more because of the fire department?” he asked.

Mr. Kuethen responded that the increase in Mr. Meyer’s taxes were a result of the contract the St. James Fire District has with the Village of Head of the Harbor to provide its residents with fire services. He said the recent increase in taxes affecting village residents was a result of the district’s effort to raise their taxes to a level that is closer to what St. James hamlet residents pay.

Mr. Meyer asked if it was true he wasn’t allowed to vote in the Tuesday, October 22 special election because he is not part of the St. James Fire District, and Mr. Kuethen confirmed that is true.

“I can’t vote, which I kind of find crazy, but what happens if it doesn’t pass?” asked Mr. Meyer. Mr. Kuethen replied that if voters vote down the bond, the district will significantly scale back its plans for expansion and attempt a smaller expansion project within the limits of its reserve funds.

“I’d vote against it. I would, because I just feel that no one wants to say no to anything, and it’s not just the fire district, it’s everything,” said Mr. Meyer in an interview after the meeting. “No one wants to say no, and they wonder why their taxes go up.”

He said it didn’t appear to him there was much need for the bond project from what he could see of the inside of the building. “Just looking around everything looks pretty good to me. Why they need almost $9 million is beyond me,” he said.

“To be told I can’t vote, I guess they have a reason for it – but whether it passes or doesn’t pass -my money pays for it and I just completely feel it’s taxation without representation,” Mr. Meyer said.

He said the increase in taxes that would result from the bond is burdensome to families already struggling financially with the high cost of living on Long Island. “When you’re barely making ends meet and now all the sudden it’s another $20 per month you have to pay, it hurts. It’s going to hurt people,” he said.

The St. James Fire District has scheduled a special election Tuesday, October 22 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the firehouse substation at 221 Jefferson Avenue for the approval of an $8,750,000 bond to finance expansions and alterations to the district’s two firehouses. The bond vote is open only to registered voters in the St James Fire District.

The expansion of the district’s headquarters building at 533 North Country Road includes a one-story apparatus garage, containing two larger apparatus bays at the building’s west side adjacent to the existing ones. 

A two-story addition is proposed at the building’s north side, providing additional space on the first floor for firefighters’ gear, a new bathroom, an expanded kitchen and an expanded recreation room. The second floor addition on the building’s north side would contain two offices, men’s and women’s bathrooms with showers, a housekeeping room and a new 25-by-32-foot training room doubling as a bunk room with pull-down beds for firefighters on standby who previously had no such room to stay in.

At the fire district’s substation at 221 Jefferson Avenue, proposed additions include a one-story administrative addition at the building’s north side containing a new bunk/meeting room with pull-down beds, a ready room—a  meeting/training room to be used for both training requirements and civic functions—storage room, and three offices—one of which is for the commissioners and another for the district manager.

On the building’s south side is proposed a one-story apparatus addition containing three larger apparatus bays adjacent to the current ones, allowing one of the existing bays to be dedicated to containing firefighters’ gear. There will also be additional small sections on this side for storage, work areas and washing gear, as well as a new bathroom and a mezzanine level above the small rooms for more storage.

Concept drawings for the expansions and alterations were done by Riverhead-based architect Martin F. Sendlewski. The district will wait for the approval of the bond to complete blueprints.

Members of the St. James Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners held a public hearing at the Jefferson Avenue firehouse Tuesday, October 8 to inform residents about the bond. Those who missed Tuesday’s bond hearing are welcome to attend an informal open house Sunday, October 20 from noon to 3 p.m. at both fire stations for additional questions and a walkthrough.

In a letter provided to audience members at Tuesday’s hearing, the fire district said a primary reason for the bond project is to increase floor space at both stations because the size of fire apparatus has grown significantly as a result of new safety requirements since the last time the district added a building in 1978.

The district’s letter said the additional floor space is needed to accommodate those larger apparatus, as well as an increased number of fire and emergency medical service (EMS) vehicles obtained by the district over the years to maintain its level of protection.

The expansion of the headquarters building at 533 North Country Road would allow that building to become Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant with upgraded bathrooms and a new elevator. The expanded office space at the Jefferson Avenue building would replace existing office space currently too small to accommodate the district’s paid and volunteer staff necessary to meet the many town, county, state and federal requirements the district is subject to, according to the letter provided to the audience at the hearing.

“We know these bays once constructed will never be antiquated in the future,” said Commissioner Joseph Kuethen at Tuesday’s hearing.

Mr. Kuethen, along with some fellow commissioners and architectural representatives, said the expansions will help the district become compliant with numerous recent standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and enforced by the Public Employee Safety and Health Program (PESH).

Mr. Kuethen said the size of apparatus has increased to meet new regulations, such as the requirement that all firefighters riding in fire vehicles need to be seated and belted. “What we thought we had room for is becoming more and more tight,” he said.

Mr. Kuethen pointed to the gear racks lining the walls of the apparatus bay where the public hearing took place and said there is currently not enough room for firefighters to get in their gear because they are too close to fire vehicles departing for fires. “We have members trying to get dressed as apparatus are going out, which is really a safety issue,” he said.

Munistat Services Inc. Chief Executive Officer Noah Nadelson, providing bond council for the district, said at Tuesday’s hearing that the bond, if approved, would cost the taxpayer approximately $37 annually per $1,000 of assessed value to their homes until the district finishes paying the principal and interest of the bond. Mr. Kuethen said the bond period will last 19 years.

Mr. Nadelson said the expansions, if carried out, will result in a 35% increase in utility costs for the district.

“We’re all residents in this town, too, and nobody wants to pay more taxes, there’s no ifs ands or buts, but we’re seeking everyone’s approval here because of the expansion and safety that’s needed at the firehouses,” Mr. Kuethen said.

Bruce Meyer, of Head of the Harbor, was one of a small group of residents who gathered at the hearing concerned about the effect the bond would have on fire district taxes. Mr. Meyer said he has seen a double digit increase over the last two years on the St. James Fire District portion of his tax bill. “Now what is going to happen with this? Are my taxes going to go up even more because of the fire department?” he asked.

Mr. Kuethen responded that the increase in Mr. Meyer’s taxes were a result of the contract the St. James Fire District has with the Village of Head of the Harbor to provide its residents with fire services. He said the recent increase in taxes affecting village residents was a result of the district’s effort to raise their taxes to a level that is closer to what St. James hamlet residents pay.

Mr. Meyer asked if it was true he wasn’t allowed to vote in the Tuesday, October 22 special election because he is not part of the St. James Fire District, and Mr. Kuethen confirmed that is true.

“I can’t vote, which I kind of find crazy, but what happens if it doesn’t pass?” asked Mr. Meyer. Mr. Kuethen replied that if voters vote down the bond, the district will significantly scale back its plans for expansion and attempt a smaller expansion project within the limits of its reserve funds.

“I’d vote against it. I would, because I just feel that no one wants to say no to anything, and it’s not just the fire district, it’s everything,” said Mr. Meyer in an interview after the meeting. “No one wants to say no, and they wonder why their taxes go up.”

He said it didn’t appear to him there was much need for the bond project from what he could see of the inside of the building. “Just looking around everything looks pretty good to me. Why they need almost $9 million is beyond me,” he said.

“To be told I can’t vote, I guess they have a reason for it – but whether it passes or doesn’t pass -my money pays for it and I just completely feel it’s taxation without representation,” Mr. Meyer said.

He said the increase in taxes that would result from the bond is burdensome to families already struggling financially with the high cost of living on Long Island. “When you’re barely making ends meet and now all the sudden it’s another $20 per month you have to pay, it hurts. It’s going to hurt people,” he said.