Officials to explore forming a new fire district

By Linda Linonis | May 23, 2011 at 12:06a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

LIBERTY

A meeting on the possibility of forming a fire district from the departments in Liberty, Hubbard city and township, Girard and Vienna is on the calendar for government officials and fire chiefs.

The session is planned at 11 a.m. Friday at the Liberty Township Administration Building, 1315 Churchill-Hubbard Road.

“It’s about being fiscally responsible to our communities,” said Stan Nudell, Liberty trustees chair, who organized the meeting.

He said this is a first step to explore possibilities. “I don’t know if it will work out, but we’ll find out,” Nudell said.

The meeting will feature a speaker, Attorney David Comstock, who advised Hubbard city and township when it formed the Eagle Joint Fire District about two years ago. He also assisted with the Poland-Struthers fire district.

Nudell acknowledged the challenges. The Eagle Joint Fire District is volunteer with a paid chief; Girard and Liberty are paid professional firefighters who are paramedics; and Vienna is a combination of volunteer and some paid staff. Contracts and how the departments are funded are points to consider.

Nudell said Gov. John Kasich is promoting regionalization. He said the township, like so many other governmental entities, faces limited finances. “If combining in a fire district would save money and be economically feasible, we owe it to taxpayers to explore it,” he said.

Girard Mayor James Melfi said neighboring communities already have mutual-aid agreements in place. “This would take it to another level,” he said.

The mayor said he would attend the meeting to “listen and learn.” He said the safety of the city and its residents is the priority.

Joe Gleydura, Hubbard Township trustee, was involved when the city and township formed the Eagle Joint Fire District two years ago. He said he has noticed that grant applications ask questions pertaining to consolidated services. He said he planned to attend the meeting and “be open to possibilities.”

Gleydura added that a fire district could help save the governments money and enhance the ability to get grants, but service is the key issue.