Articles on Fire House at Town Meeting

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Date: March 29,2008

Time: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM

Location: Meeting Room at Fire House

Meeting Minutes:

                                  ALNA FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE

                                                                                                                               April 1,2008

Subject: Minutes of Town Meeting relative to Fire House Articles

Franklin D. Roosevelt popularized the saying "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself", and there was allot of that at the town meeting. I was very disappointed with the exaggeration fear approach by some citizens, the selectmen worst case scenario of the impending tax increase of up to 30%, and Fire Chief who agreed to support the addition, making a non supporting statement just prior to the vote.

A follow up conversation with Paul Gibbons, esquire the Town Attorney reassured me that the bond was pre-approved by a Bonds company and the cost was only $3000 not the $60,000 stated by a citizen, that only added doubt to the remaining voters. The second issue implied was that there was money available from the Federal grants. A telephone call to Senator Collins office the following Monday verified in writing that there are no federal funds available for the fire house.

The sudden reversal to recommend that the public not vote for an addition was in contrast to the fire department and officers, who voted in favor of supporting an addition if the citizens chose that option. We will never know if the article for an addition to the fire house would have passed based on the fire chiefs’ personal last minute recommendation for a no vote.

The real defeat came from the selectmen that in fairness had concerns with the present economy and pending tax increases. But it was the first time the citizens heard that there was a potential for a thirty percent mil rate increase. This was a shock to all and the real defeat for any new public building. History will show if that was a valid statement.

I must conclude with a personal observation while being involved with the Alna Facilities Planning Committee. The committee had completed a significant amount of research and objectively gathered the facts which were shared with the public. And it was my pleasure to work with them over the last ten months. We presented a book to the town selectmen with these objective facts for future information and historical reasons.

The second observation is that I have the utmost respect for the fire department and all that they have accomplished over the last several years. The town of Alna has a well trained and equipped fire department which will reduce the overall ISO rating and our insurance premiums. The one concern I have is that the fire department is challenged with their work space. It is extremely limiting and having worked in an industry that has zero tolerance for any potential unsafe work environment, I have concern for the safety of our firemen and firewomen. The town is responsible for providing a safe work environment. We the citizens must recognized there is a real need to improve the fire house. Yes, they can get by for now but something must be done. There must be improvements!

Each Article on the fire house and addition were overwhelmingly defeated even though citizens in at the meeting repeatedly stated “I know something must be done”. FDRs "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself" has prevailed in the end.

Thank you

Nick Caristo, Co Chair AFPC