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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.
