$17.9 million bond proposition fails with close margins

The Center Moriches Fire District failed a $17.9 million bond proposition on June 20, with a total of 221 no votes to 201 yes votes. The board is currently weighing their options.

The bond would have paid for the renovation and expansion of the department’s firehouse, which presently does not have the capacity to accommodate larger trucks required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

The proposal included a reconstruction of a portion of the facility originally built in 1930, as well as renovations that will bring the overall building into compliance. The apparatus bay built in the ‘70s is too narrow for the safety of the firefighters and to efficiently dispatch. The ‘90s-built annex building also requires roof and exterior repairs and is too small for modern fire trucks. In addition, the existing radio room on the ground floor of the main firehouse will be reused to accommodate the 24-hour presence of EMS personnel, who currently lack a dedicated space at the firehouse.

The passage of the bond would have increased Center Moriches Fire District residents’ taxes from $24.188 per $100 of assessed valuation to $35.212. This, according to fire department officials, equals less than $6.50 per week for a typical home assessed at $3,000.

“To protect the safety of Center Moriches residents, it’s essential for us to upgrade our obsolete firehouse,” said commissioner Edward Stypulkowski ahead of the vote.  “These renovations will not only bring us into compliance with current fire safety codes and standards; they will also help protect the health and safety of our volunteer firefighters and the community at large.”

The district’s fleet of vehicles, according to Stypulkowski, has expanded from 10 to 19—almost double—including five fire trucks, three ambulances, two fire police vehicles, an advanced life support first responder, and two rescue boats. The plan would have also allowed for the department to bring their communications system, which is currently in the basement, to the ground level to provide better protection from the threat of flooding.

Additionally, the new space would have provided the firefighters with a separate gear storage space, improving conditions by minimizing exposure to carcinogens. The current overcrowding is also a violation of NFPA standards.

Lastly, according to the department, the renovations and expansion would have been less costly than building a new facility.

“This renovation is long overdue and is a cost-efficient plan for our community’s taxpayers,” added commissioner John DeLong. “Building an entire new facility would not be the best use of taxpayer dollars. We worked hard to devise a plan that promotes public safety, protects our firefighters, makes us code compliant with NFPA, and saves money.”

The $17.9 million bond would have been supplemented with $500,000 in reserve funds, bringing the total project to $18.4 million. Sandpebble Project Management of Speonk, N.Y., was to serve as construction managers.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Fire call volume has increased from 347 to 539 between 2010 and 2022, an increase of 55 percent. Emergency medical service calls have skyrocketed from 735 to 1,778 during that same period, an increase of 142 percent.