Officials to keep eye on fire department

Southington to continue with volunteers, mutual aid

SOUTHINGTON -- Township officials say they will maintain the current volunteer fire department and assistance from neighboring fire departments following the defeat of a fire levy in the Nov. 7 general election.

Trustees on Wednesday said they will continue with a volunteer department and receiving ambulance service from Champion and mutual aid from Champion, Bristol and Farmington as needed.

Fire Chief Scott Bower said "We are doing what we have always done and rely on our volunteers when they are available and have other communities help us out in calls."

He said there has not been any official talks about putting the levy back on the ballot again. Trustee Dan Tietz echoed Bower's statement.

"We will see what happens," he said noting the current contract expires at the end of 2024. "We will talk to Champion about ambulance calls. We are good to the end of next year."

In Southington, a 7-mill continuous fire levy would have allowed the department to go from a volunteer staff to a paid one. The fire levy was defeated 59% against to 41% for.

Currently, the fire department relies on volunteers to respond to emergencies, but that would have changed if voters had approved the levy.

Bower said there has been a decline in volunteers while an increase in fire and emergency calls in recent years.

If the levy passed, Bower said the department would have been able to staff the station around the clock, 365 days a year with two part-time personnel per shift which will be the first for the department's almost 75-year history.

Officials said the township has a three-year contract with Champion through 2024 at $40,000 for emergency medical service from Champion to Southington.

Tietz said they have been fortunate to be able to work with Champion on the $40,000 cost.

Officials said costs do increase for service but the $40,000 remains through 2024.

Tietz added while the township does receive a little money from gas tax because there is no income or sales taxes in the township, property tax is the only way to fund a fire department.

The levy would have generated about $546,000 for the department each year -- $351,000 of which would be put toward staffing.

Bower said more staff would help with faster response times because volunteers now have to travel to the station from their homes before heading out on a call. Bower said funds also will be used to replace vehicles in the aging fleet, maintain and upgrade the fire station and do yearly maintenance.

The levy would have also covered costs for fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment or other fire equipment, appliances, buildings, sites and vehicles.

Bower said all communities are expecting an increase per call from the Trumbull 911 Center from $5.15 to $7 per call.

Bower said the fire department does what it can to seek grants.

Bower is seeking grants from State Fire Marshall for MARCs radios and needed fire equipment. He said he should hear on whether the township will receive the grants early next year.

He said repairs are needed on fire vehicles.

Bower said the department is currently at 545 calls for the year and will likely not beat the 622 calls in 2022.

Also, trustees approved a shared services agreement with Nelson Township.

Trustee Chairman Charles Hagman said the Nelson road workers help Southington with road projects and Southington road workers help Nelson with road projects in their township.

In other business, trustees:

• Set the organizational meeting for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 10.

• Will review recommended updates and changes to the zoning codes including on breweries and marijuana. Legal counsel Cheri Poteet is also reviewing the proposed changes.