FIRE DISTRICT PLAN Merger group studies stations

All full-time Salem firefighters would lose their jobs if the fire district plan is adopted.
SALEM -- Firefighters are used to giving tours of their stations to admiring visitors. But on Sunday, they had to grin and bear it as a task force looking at merging the fire departments of Salem and Perry Township made the rounds of the two departments' stations.
"I've never given a tour to a bunch of people who want to take my job away," said Capt. Jeff Hughes, a 15-year veteran of the Salem Fire Department, which stands to see all of its 16 full-time employees lose their jobs if the merger becomes a reality.
Salem spends $1.3 million a year on its department, which includes three firetrucks, living quarters, a kitchen and video room.
"We're trying to be proactive here," city council member Greg Oesch said. "We're looking at a $450,000 budget deficit and we haven't fixed streets in three years. This is about financial reality. You can't keep paying out what you don't have coming in."
About the task force
The task force is looking at creating a fire district of about 40 volunteers with two or three administrators, costing the city about $500,000 a year, including an additional $200,000 for the first three years for training and equipment.
Those discussions among task force members will continue at 7 tonight, Wednesday and Thursday in council chambers. The final recommendations go to the city on March 15.
The task force -- which consists of city and township residents, as well as a township trustee and city council member -- also visited Perry Township's two stations, taking an inventory of equipment and asking questions. It has an annual budget of about $100,000. Volunteers are paid $8 per call.
But it was the tour of the Salem Fire Department that was most tension-filled for firefighters. Hughes led the tour and answered questions in a straight-forward and professional manner.
"Is there anything else we need to know?" asked task force member Frank Zamarelli at the end of the tour.
"I'm not sure what you're looking for," Hughes said matter of factly.
Later, after the task force members left the station, Hughes lighted up a cigarette and explained his feelings.
"I wasn't going to beg for my job, if that's what they wanted," said Hughes, who stood with several co-workers, including union president Mike Burns who has been critical of the task force and some of the motives behind it.
Retired Salem firefighter John Tarleton, who served for 29 years, said Hughes did well under the pressure. "I would have lost my cool," he said.
He believes creating a fire district and going to an all-volunteer force would be a big mistake.
"It's going to be a real disservice to the community for safety reasons if this goes through," he said.
Response
Currently, the Salem Fire Department responds within four minutes to calls, and does so with its four on-call firefighters, Hughes said.
Perry, which uses a staff of 24 volunteers, routinely makes it calls within seconds and within minutes, according to information provided to the task force. It also has an average of nine respondents.
"We're proud of our operation," said Cliff Mix, a township trustee who is also on the task force.
Members of the task force were impressed with both operations.
"I learned a lot and I see the dedication of the firefighters," Zamarelli said. "Now we have to make the best informative decision we can make. These ladies and gentlemen have a passion for their work."
Oesch said that if the city votes to create the fire district, the new entity would begin operating July 1, which is also the same day contracts for the city fire department run out.