CM Fire Dept. vote fails, again

The most recent proposal made to the community by the Center Moriches Fire Department failed again, with 240 no votes to 211 yes votes. The vote took place on Jan. 28.

The proposal included a $3.9 million bond after using $600,000 from reserves for parking lot, bay, and additional building renovations. Cost to the average tax payer was estimated at about $94 per year.

According to the department, the project would have included new asphalt and curbs as well as re-grading for the paving portion. It would have also addressed bay four’s water issues by fixing the rear and front door, as well as repairing the “popping” concrete floor.

The last time the parking lot was resurfaced was in the ‘80s, and the water pooling issues have been ongoing.

Also, the old side of the fire house is in need of door raising to accommodate the standard-sized ambulances, which are larger than they used to be when the firehouse was built. And, the second-floor fire escape from 1970 is rotted and past its service life.

The department also hoped to remove the front staircase up to the old firehouse on the west side and add a male and female EMS room for their 24-hour staff. As for the upstairs on the west side, they wanted to renovate to add office space. On the newer side, they wanted to redo the kitchen and add an ADA-compliant male and female bathroom, which they currently do not have on the second floor.

“A lot of this work is necessary,” said commissioner John DeLong, noting the department will likely have to drag the projects over 10 to 15 years in order to afford the work. “We can only do a little bit each year with the funding we have.”

The first thing to be done will be to stop the water pooling, likely, he said, with reserves in the spring or summer, though this option is still being considered.

A meeting will be held to discuss the project and its affordability with an architect.

The possibility of building a new fire department is unlikely, DeLong said, being that it is less affordable and their current location is central.

Back in September of last year, the department held a $17.9 million bond which also failed by slim margins with 389 no to 387 yes votes out of 776 cast.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, we are also heartened by the community’s heightened participation and support. The result, however close, underscores the challenges ahead in providing essential fire and ambulance services, particularly as the demand for these services continues to rise significantly year after year,” the department said in a statement. “We are grateful for the significantly greater number of ‘yes’ votes compared to the vote on June 20, as it demonstrates increased community support for our mission to protect life and property.”

The original bond vote failed on June 20 of 2024, with a total of 221 no votes to 201 yes votes.

The originally bond proposition would have also paid for the renovation and expansion of the department’s firehouse. Due to the larger size of modern fire trucks, the present firehouse fails to meet federal and fire industry codes.

If passed, the bond would have allowed 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 firefighters to safely and 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.

Earlier versions of the plan 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.

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.