Fire Commissioners Won't Vote On Legislation To Abolish District; Union Will

Fire District Commission Chair Bill Daly said last week he has no plans to seek a vote from the commissioners on bills now pending before the General Assembly that seek to abolish the EGFD and replace it with a municipal fire department.

Instead, Daly said, he will make his case directly to the legislators at state Senate and House committee hearings. Those hearings may take place in late April.

Fire Lieutenant Bill Perry, president of EGFFA Local 3328, said his union does plan to vote on whether or not they support the legislation before the hearings take place.

The district and the firefighters union are in contract negotiations right now. The firefighters contract expires at the end of the fiscal year, June 30. 

The East Greenwich Fire District has been a separate municipal authority since its inception in 1797. The Town Council decided to ask voters last November if they thought it should remain separate or should be under the auspices of the Town of East Greenwich. Two-thirds of voters said they thought it should become part of the town, but since the EGFD was established by state charter, only the General Assembly has the power to abolish it.

Town Councilors approved legislation to be submitted to the GA March 11 and the bills – which are identical – were submitted later that week.

The Senate bill (S 0739) has been given to the Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel DaPonte (D-East Providence). According to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K., Narr.), it will probably be heard "the week of April 22." 

The House bill (S-5901) has been given to the Municipal Affairs Committee, which could hold hearings “around” late April, according to Chuck Newton of EG, who works in the House Minority Office.

Daly and Commissioner Steve Bartlett have been outspoken critics of the legislation. Commissioner Philip Higgins also does not support the move to abolish the fire district. The other two commissioners – Mark Gee (who is also a member of the Town Council) and Mark Schwager – support the legislation. 

Daly has argued repeatedly during public meetings that voters were not anticipating a quick move from the vote in November to legislation to get rid of the fire district. 

Instead, Daly said he thought the town and fire district should authorize an independent study of the issue before any move on the state level. 

Alternatively, Town Council President Michael Isaacs and others on the council have argued repeatedly that the vote in November represented the people's decision on the matter and the voters want the fire district abolished. Only Councilor Michael Kiernan is opposed to the legislation.

When EG's state legislators met with town and fire officials earlier in March, Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, EG, WW) said legislators didn't tend to support municipality bills where there was a difference of opinion. Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-EG, NK, SK, Narr.) vehemently disagreed.