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

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            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

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            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.