Fire District Holds Likely Last Meeting

It's all over but the governor's signature. At the State House Tuesday, the Senate "passed in concurrence" House legislation calling for the abolition of the 216-year-old EG Fire District and the establishment of an East Greenwich Fire Department. It now goes to Gov. Lincoln Chafee's desk. It will become law as soon as he signs it or after 10 days if he does not.

When the Fire District commissioners met last Thursday, such an outcome was assumed. Nonetheless, commissioners reviewed the budget, including capital expenditure requests, in preparation for the Fire District's annual meeting, knowing that meeting out likely never take place.

The capital expenses requested by Chief Peter Henrikson were:

1. $105,000 for the final payment on a new Rescue truck.

2. $45,000 for repairs to the district's reserve truck. "We want to fix it before something becomes catastrophic," he said.

3. $100,000 to repair the floor at Station One.

4. $12,000 to renovate the bathroom at Station One.

5. $50,000 to conduct a full energy audit on both stations and enact recommendations.

6. $18,000 for engineering services for possible addition to Station 2.

7. $48,000 to pave the driveway at Station 2 and the training facility – that amount would come out of the Impact Fee Account.

Nothing was acted on. In the end – if or once Gov. Chafee signs the bill on his desk – decisions on these items as well as pending employee contract decisions, and the total budget itself, will be up to the Town Council to decide. 

For a moment Thursday night, there was confusion. But then, after some moments of reflection, there came just one thing to do. 

"A motion to adjorn," said Fire Commission Chair Bill Daly.

"Second," said Commissioner Mark Gee.

"Roll call please," said Daly.

"Gee, aye."

"Schwager, aye," said Commissioner Mark Schwager.

"Daly, aye."

"Bartlett, aye," said Commissioner Steve Bartlett.

(Commissioner Phil Higgins was absent.)

"We are adjorned," said Daly.

And so they were.