FIRE DISTRICT # 2 (CAVENDISH VILLAGE) ANNUAL MEETING 6/15/21

While the election of members of the Prudential Board (the governing body of the fire district) were duly elected for the coming year and a change was made to move the annual meeting from Feb. to the third Tuesday of May, the bulk of the meeting once again focused on having one fire department for the town.

This year’s effort for a merger was spearheaded by Rolf van Schaik who proposed an amendment that would reduce the budget amount request of $97,450.00 to approximately $37,000. He pointed out that all of the strategies tried in previous years had failed so it was time for a new approach-basically eliminate the bulk of the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) budget-which would in effect close it.

The chair of the meeting, and CVFD volunteer, Abe Gross noted that since the state doesn’t allow fire districts to close- they are required to merge- that would appear to leave CVFD in the position to either fundraise more money or borrow it to continue. Either way it would push the tax burden down the road but not necessarily reduce it.

As was discussed at length at the Feb. 21, 2019 Fire District #2 meeting, the steps for a merger, as laid out in the VT League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) Handbook for Vermont Select boards, are as follows:

a) The legislative bodies of each party to the merger must prepare a plan of merger, which must be approved by a majority of each body. 24 V.S.A. § 1482. A plan of merger includes, among other things, provisions relating to structure, organization, functions, operation, finance, and property of the fire district. (per 24 V.S.A. § 1483)

 b.) The plan of merger must be approved by a majority vote by Australian ballot of each municipality concerned at a meeting duly warned for that purpose and held in each such municipality. 24 V.S.A. § 1485(a). Not fewer than 30 days prior to the meeting, copies of the plan of merger must be posted in three or more places in each of the areas involved.

In addition, two public hearings in each of the areas involved must be held, at intervals of two weeks, the last of which shall be held not less than five days before the meeting at which the vote will be held. Notice of the hearings must be advertised in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 1484.

c.) Within ten days after the municipalities have voted to adopt a plan of merger, the clerk or equivalent officer of the municipality into which merger has taken place must notify the Secretary of State of the merger. 24 V.S.A. § 1486.

Van Schaik’s amendment was defeated by a 21 to16 vote, with the requested budget passing by 21 to 14 votes.

The idea of a single fire department for Cavendish has been discussed, petitioned and met on since at least 2005 if not earlier. The closest it came to being a possibility was at the 2019 Annual meeting, where CVFD members were clear that concerns of losing rank, name of the fire department and other issues that had blocked merger discussions in the past, were no longer of concern. Rather they wanted to do what was in the best interest of the town. This was also a year where they were having difficulties finding volunteers, and had actively explored closing, only to find that this wasn’t an option allowed by the state.

In the last two years, changes have occurred with CVFD. They now have two paid part time Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)s; have become a first response department that makes them an EMS (Emergency Medical Service) unit that doesn’t transport; appointed a new chief; and recruited new volunteers. They also sponsored a very effective Covid-19 vaccine clinic.

While many in the audience Monday night would agree that it makes sense to have one town fire department, little attention was given to the fact that the firefighters role has significantly shifted away from their core service of putting out fires.

Thanks to prevention efforts, as well as changes in building codes, requirements for smoke and radon detectors, and other measures, the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) found that nationally only 4% of responses are fire related, with almost two-thirds (64%) of the reported calls to fire departments being for emergency medical services (EMS) and rescue services.

At the 2020 meeting, CVFD responded to that need with the hiring of two part time EMT/fire fighters, each working 20 hours a week for a total of 40 hour coverage.

Unfortunately, the type of data needed to assess the effectiveness of the changes CVFD made in 2020 wasn’t available at the meeting.

With nearly 20 years of discussion around the issue of one fire department, maybe it’s time for a new approach. No drama, no politics just clear data that shows what the town’s need is for EMS, fire and rescue, how it’s being met, costs, and, given changing demographics of the town as well in the field of fire and rescue, what’s going to be needed down the road.

The town budget currently includes $47,000 for services from Ludlow Ambulance with the likelihood of increases in the coming years. A lot can be learned from studying the fire departments medical calls to see if some could be eliminated or reduced by prevention programs, such as “Fall Prevention,” and using other methods for transport only calls.

Having this type of information will help voters understand what they are voting on, which they will need to do several times before progress can be made in creating a town wide fire and rescue service.