Can we stop trying to get rid of the fire department?

-->

            We in Landaff received letters from two selectmen regarding the upcoming election and meeting in our town.  One selectmen is asking for our vote to reelect him.  The other letter was written by Mike Ransmeier “as a private citizen” expressing some ideas he has if all his fantasies come true and the fire department goes away.

             I was amused by the format of Errol's letter that mirrored the letter we had received from Harry McGovern the week before.  I am glad he recognized a winning formula for setting out his talking points.  He referenced having worked with the fire fighters who started the department.  For those who haven’t been in town 30 years, the reference was to Ernest O’Dell, Herman Titus, and Norman Heath, whose hard work and community spirit started the fire department. 

            For sure Errol has done much for this town.  I was on the school board with him for a while.  He did a good job in that role. However, to say that he doesn’t have an agenda and treats all citizens with respect in his duty of selectman is laughable.  In January, I went to a select board meeting to ask some questions regarding misinformation about the fire department that had been stated at the previous meeting.  Errol immediately raised his voice about it and went on a rant about how the fire association took money intended for the town regarding a training burn and subsequent donation.

            In the following Select Board meeting, the people who donated to the fire association reiterated that they intended to give money to the association and not the town.  The damage had already been done, however.  It is clear that his agenda is to be as uncivil and uncooperative with the fire department as possible.  Both Mike Ransmeier and Errol Peters have repeatedly impugned the honesty of the fire department members and the fire association for past 15 years.

            The department members receive absolutely no compensation for what they do.  They donate hours upon hours in training, meeting, and serving our community because they love our town.  They have been the driving force behind Old Home Day for many years.  My husband Don personally devotes hours upon hours organizing it.  Now one of our selectmen has the idea that all that money raised and donated could be given to Lisbon upon liquidating the department.  The money would run out in three years or less and voila, no department and we would be permanently beholden to the town of Lisbon.  To do that would be both shortsighted and wrong.

            Mike Ransmeier also mentions in his letter that the department will need a tanker soon.  That is pure fiction.  Nobody has asked for a tanker.  There is not a need for one in the near future.  The tanker is sufficient for Landaff.  The figures thrown around are made up numbers as well.

            There continues to be rumblings about building a new fire station.  This is another made up scenario.  A station could not be built without a vote of the townspeople.  There is no plan, there are no numbers, and there is no request for a station.  Landaff Fire Department wants to be here with or without a new station. They will not be going rogue and building a station and demand you pay for it. Stop spreading that rumor.

            To abolish the fire department, you would permanently be losing their response in town.  Most Landaff fire fighters would not join the Lisbon department.  They serve Landaff because they love our town.

            The Twin State Fire Association recently changed its bylaws to charge fees to towns that do not have fire departments when they are called upon for an incident.  This means that any fire call would have an additional charge assessed.  The department is called for smoke and CO detector calls, downed trees, car accidents, flooding, odd smells, smoke investigations, illegal burns, and all kinds of fires.  With this change in place, Landaff could generate revenue with any calls to Lyman or Benton. Without a department, we would be charged for every single call in town (even accidents on 302) and neighboring towns would lose our response and help.

            These are the facts.  I have included no fiction or fantasy scenarios.  I hope the people of Landaff will do the right thing. I will be voting for Harry McGovern for select board.  I will vote to keep the fire department.  Please do the same.

It is not hard to support the fire department

            Over the past several months, I have again taken on the task of keeping the town of Landaff’s website updated.  The task has included posting minutes of both the selectmen’s meetings and the fire services committee meetings.  It has been an eye opening experience, to say the least.

            According to the minutes, I can see that Michael Ransmeier takes every opportunity to lay the smack down when it comes to the fire department.  He does this all while touting his open communication with the department.  When the department used a Lisbon fire hydrant to train two firemen on the Fourth of July on how to dress a hydrant, Mike said that actions like that make it hard to support the fire department.

            Really, Mike?  It is hard to support the department because they did that? Let me tell you about one firefighter in town.  This guy has been on the department for 30 years.  He has spent hundreds of hours training and in classes to continue being a firefighter.  He has spent hours helping people in Landaff and surrounding towns at accident scenes, chimney fires, brush fires, flooding, carbon monoxide incidents, wires down, clearing storm damage, and even the occasional structure fire. He has left family events and work for fire calls.  He has gotten up in the middle of the night and stayed up all night. Did I mention that they get no payment whatsoever?

            This firefighter also works on Old Home Day every year.  The preparation for this event is at least 100 hours of time.  He does the advertising, distributing of posters, contacting people to get all the details correct, arranging to pick up items, and after it is all over he makes several trips to the dump to get rid of many of the things that people gave the fire department because they didn’t want to pay to have items brought to the dump.  This firefighter also hears complaints that the department bought burgers and chips to have a cookout after Old Home Day to thank everyone who helped make the day a success.

            This firefighter gets told that the fire department isn’t trustworthy, that they are stupid (for real), and that they are hated.  Some of the same people ask why they can’t get more people to be firemen.  You might say we aren’t talking about the same firefighter as you are.  It does not matter.  Any volunteer in the department is doing training and going to meetings and going to incidents. It should not be hard to see that they are doing something that you don’t want to do.  It should not be hard to respect them. It should not be hard to support them.

Fire Services Study Committee Meeting

Submitted by Richard Sagar

Fire Services Study Committee Meeting

The Landaff Fire Services Study Committee will hold its first meeting on

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

6 P. M.

Landaff Town Hall

Upstairs

The committee was established at the last Town Meeting for the purpose of reviewing Fire Department Services, and the gathering of facts relating to various options available to provide those services.   All meetings are open to the public. Public input is welcome, and a comment period will be provided.

If you don't agree with me, I will still talk to you. You do, however, need to be nice.

-->

-->

            The letter we received today from the selectman candidate blew me away. It turns out that wanting to have a discussion about the pros and cons of a vital town function, fire protection, is representing a special interest group. It turns out that vowing to communicate openly and honestly with the townspeople in order to make an informed decision is a lofty, impossible campaign promise.

            Well, knock me down with a feather!

            Call me crazy, but I think if the select board wanted to serve all the people, I think they would welcome discussion on the things that impact us. We have all been impacted greatly by the increase in taxes.  I would love to know why the town has kept an “unassigned” fund balance of almost $400,000 while our taxes went up such a large percentage.  Why wasn’t that money used to offset taxes? The total town budget is just a little over that amount.

            The only way to change what is happening in town is to change the people that are running it.

            On a side note, I am glad I live on Jockey Hill because I still wave and say hello and often stop to talk to my neighbors.

Be aware of hidden costs

Submitted by

PATRICK J. WEBB

Member, LVFD since 2005

Several people have asked what would happen if the Landaff Vol. Fire Dept. was eliminated and service was taken over by Lisbon. What would they charge us and are there other unforeseen expenses?

I’m glad to provide some information, and I’m prepared to state it again at Town Meeting.

I represent Landaff at the monthly Twin State Mutual Aid Fire Association meeting, and hold a term on their Executive Board, which guides policy.  At present Twin State has 27 members in both New Hampshire and Vermont, which includes fire departments from towns, both paid and volunteer, ambulance services, and “Associate” towns – Benton and Lyman, who have no fire departments and contract with others.

At last week’s Twin State meeting, there was considerable discussion about what would happen if Landaff’s department were dissolved, and how other nearby fire departments would have to pick up the slack. Several fire chiefs voiced concern that an “Associate town” can get almost free services (they each pay $2000 annually; Landaff’s dues would jump by $1450 if the fire dept, is dissolved) by not having fire apparatus, supplying manpower, or participating in mutual aid situations at fires and other emergencies.

Therefore, the Twin State by-laws have a provision whereby fire departments coming into a non-mutual aid town can charge for their services and Landaff would be adversely affected.

Let me give you a scenario:  Some Sunday afternoon, two guys in Landaff are working on a pickup truck in a garage. The truck catches fire, and the garage sits between a house and large old barn.  They call 911 as the fire spreads in the garage.

Grafton County Dispatch, after hearing that smoke and flame are present, tones out a first alarm – structure fire with exposure. Lisbon Fire prepares to respond with their engine ($300), their aerial ladder ($325), a tanker ($150), and 8 firefighters ($15 each).  The exact rate Lisbon would charge Landaff is yet undetermined, but I’m using the existing Twin State reimbursement rates.  Lisbon arrives on scene 11 minutes after the 911 call.

Because it is a first alarm, the dispatch instructions (run cards) call for Bath and Sugar Hill to respond also. Bath sends an engine ($300), a tanker ($150), and 6 persons ($15 each). Sugar Hill sends an engine ($300), a tanker ($150), a rescue ($100), and 8 personnel ($15 each). 

The responding communities need fire coverage, so the coverage assignments kick in (Littleton to Lisbon) ($150, 4 personnel $15 each), Woodsville to Bath ($150, 4 personnel, $15 each), and Franconia to Sugar Hill ($150, 4 personnel, $15 each).

The fire is handled, but there’s overhaul, and clean up, so all but the first-in fire companies are released after 90 minutes. Lisbon stays on another hour to make sure the fire is completely out.

So what did this possible scenario cost Landaff? 

For Lisbon’s response: $2685 ($895 x 3 hours on scene). For the other Twin State Response - Bath charges $1080 (2 hours at $540); Sugar Hill charges $1340 ($670 per hour; while the 3 cover companies stationed elsewhere charge $1260 for two hours.

The total for this one incident comes to $6365 at current rates. No matter how many times they have to come to Landaff, Lisbon could assess $895 each time.  

By comparison, at the large fire on Main St. in Lisbon last October, where 8 towns (including Landaff) responded and provided 8 engines, 3 aerial ladders, 3 tankers, and over 40 personnel participating, and who worked for over 6 hours, Lisbon wasn’t charged anything, because of their Mutual Aid standing. The system is set up so that towns will keep their departments for the benefit of all.

I suppose the bottom line is that:  a) “it’s complicated”, and b) citizens don’t always understand how your local fire protection system works - with everyone cooperating (in mutual aid response and coverage assignments), along with the availability of a variety of needed equipment operated by trained personnel.

It’s always easy to suggest quick and cheaper solutions without knowing pertinent facts, but it’s also important to consider the known and unknown consequences.

For me, the existing arrangement works well, and we should preserve what we have.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns. 

Let's give it some thought

-->

-->

           

-->

            There is much discussion in town regarding the viability of the fire department.  With this talk, there has been just as much speculation that later turns to “fact”.  We recently heard the “fact” from one selectman and later repeated in a letter to the editor that the fire department is planning to build an extravagant fire station that will cost the taxpayers upwards of $800,000.

            The fact is that the department has not been allowed to do any planning.  They have no building in mind; there are no plans; there is no design; there are no numbers; they have not even dug a test pit.  Some townspeople might be shocked to hear that no testing on the site happened after the town voted to allow it at last March’s town meeting. (It would have been done using money raised by the fire department at the auctions, not through taxes.) It didn’t happen because the selectman called the attorney general the day after the meeting to have her declare the testing illegal.  Rather than spend lots of money on lawyers, the fire department let the decision stand. 

            “Okay, so never mind that a fire station isn’t going to happen.  Let’s get rid of the fire department all together because they keep wanting stuff,” some people say.  People feel that we would be better off to just go with the Lisbon fire department.  Lisbon would love to see it happen, as they would get money from our town so that they can build their own fire station. 

            Landaff is part of the Twin State mutual aid system.  When a fire happens in town, Landaff fire fighters go to it along with adjoining towns according to the run card.  Conversely, if a fire or accident happens in another town, Landaff goes to provide support and equipment in that other town.  It is an important system that works well.

            The fire department is an important part of our community.  They have done the auction at Old Home Day every year. They have paid for a band to play and have often been instrumental in the dinner.  The sense of community is the best part of our town.  The Old Home Day is always a time to connect with neighbors.  I have always been proud of this connection.  That whole thing will go away with shutting down the department.

            Admittedly, there is an ebb and flow with the department.  Right now, they could use more fire department personnel.  That is not a reason to abolish the department. 

            This is a time for discussion, not a snap decision to shut down the department.  My wish is that the warrant article to get rid of the department gets defeated and a reasonable discussion begins, to address the concerns of the townspeople.  If, after a reasonable, fact-based discussion, the decision is to close it down, at least it would be an informed decision.

A Tale of Two Meetings

            If you went to the school budget hearing on Monday night and the town budget hearing last night, then you saw the best and absolute worst things about our town of Landaff. 

Monday’s meeting was run by school board chair Dale Locke.  He went through the budget respectfully and thoroughly while explaining each expenditure.  He did not skip any items.  He knew what he was talking about.  He answered all the questions.  At the end Dale repeated that if anyone had questions or thought of something later to ask, he would be happy to receive a phone call or email.  He was polite, patient, and respectful of the people in attendance in doing exactly what he is supposed to do as a school board chair.

Tuesday’s meeting was a different story.  The selectmen were surly, disrespectful and downright rude.  One selectmen even told a townsperson to shut up.  It was one of those situations where he was joking, not joking.  It was not okay or appropriate.  As they went through the budget, the selectmen highlighted what they wanted to highlight and passed over or attempted to pass over other items.  They even said, “We don’t want to talk about that.” Or, “Everybody knows about that, so we don’t need to talk about it.” 

It was also quite clear that the board has no respect for the fire department.  They took the opportunity to push the narrative that maintaining the fire department is too expensive and undesirable. They have requested that all firemen go through an extensive background check, which includes financial records and employment records, in addition to the typical criminal record check.  This is invasive and unnecessary.  I believe it is harassment of the fire department.  The firemen do not have an issue with having a criminal background check, but what they are asking for is more than that.

The backroom politics need to stop.  If the selectmen requested a proposal from Lisbon, they should be upfront about it.  If the townspeople want to dissolve the fire department, it should happen after open, honest, and respectful discussion.

There is no place for innuendo about the character of the people on the fire department.  These people have willingly sacrificed much for the benefit of the town.  They have served the people of Landaff by spending hundreds (or in some cases thousands) of hours of their personal time with both training and actual fire fighting.  They are instrumental in Old Home Day each year, including paying for a band.  They get absolutely no compensation for their work.  These people have been willing to leave their homes and jobs at a moment’s notice to protect lives and property.  They deserve respect.

The two meetings could not have been more different.  We can disagree without disrespect. Let’s make it happen.