I. To Give Town Residents Representation
The Champlain Fire Department provides fire and emergency medical
services to the Village of Champlain and a large portion of the Town
of Champlain. In recent years, over half the department's calls have
been in the Town. The Town is currently paying over half the cost
of running the department. However, the Fire Department is owned
and run by the Village, with no provision for input from the Town.
A Fire District would give village and town residents the opportunity
to have representation when decisions are made about these vital
services.
II. To Prepare for the Future
The Town Board has approved major increases in funding in the past
two years. However, the Town's contract is up for renewal each year,
and circumstances can change--such as the election of new board members
who do not agree with the amount of fire protection monies being
sent to the Village. The Village Board cannot commit to borrowing
the money necessary for replacement of vehicles, since there is no
guarantee that the amount received from the Town in the future will
remain the same. A joint fire district would solve this problem,
plus it would allow money to he set aside each year for future needs,
such as replacement of the ambulance. This should ensure that when
there is an emergency in our community, the fire and EMS responders
will have up-to-date equipment and proper training.
III. It's a Recommended Course of Action
Doing something just because everyone else is doing it isn't a good
idea. However, we're not the first community in New York State to
face this situation. In many areas, development has taken place outside
city or village boundaries. Often the assessed value of the town
outside has become far greater than that of the Village running and
funding the fire department. That's why there are so few fire departments
still being run by small villages. Most have been replaced by joint
fire districts.
This is the situation in Champlain, and it doesn't appear likely
to change in the near future. That's why the professionals we have
consulted, from the New York State Office of fire Prevention and
Control to our own local emergency management officials, have suggested
that a joint fire district is the best answer for us. Our investigation
of the situation leads us to agree.