Williamstown Fire District seeks more room to grow

After being headquartered for almost 60 years at 34 Water St., the Fire District is looking to build a new fire station.

[REDNECK]

agway

[From Williamstown]

REDNECK wrote:

agway

I second the vote.

[REALLY -]

The article said that they looked at that site already. Wasn't there land available on Stratton Road that was considered for affordable housing?

[Parent and educator]

Why not use this as an opportunity to bring the fire, police, and ambulance together under one roof? Wouldn't this make for better communication, more efficiency -- and have save some money?

As for a location, why not use the OLD Agway site (off Cole Avenue). It's well-located in terms of reaching the most populated areas of the town and doesn't take prime real estate away from commercial use.

[noperegs]

Agway is in the 100 year floodplain and so cannot be used for a fire station.

[john]

Doesn't anyone want to know why a Town that is broke is building a new Fire Station? It's because they are their own District. We pay taxes to them yet have no say over what they do. That's why when people complain to Town Hall about how obstructionist the Chief, who needs an ego check, is, Town Hall throws up its hands. They're not ours!

So lets keep paying, let the Chief keep obstructing and not ask any questions. The fire district ought to be disbanded and rolled into the Town.

[noperegs]

john wrote:

Doesn't anyone want to know why a Town that is broke is building a new Fire Station? It's because they are their own District. We pay taxes to them yet have no say over what they do. That's why when people complain to Town Hall about how obstructionist the Chief, who needs an ego check, is, Town Hall throws up its hands. They're not ours!
So lets keep paying, let the Chief keep obstructing and not ask any questions. The fire district ought to be disbanded and rolled into the Town.

Amen. However, you do have a say. The Fire District's annual meeting happens every year, and as a taxpayer you are a voting member. Do you know hoe many peopple show up for the District's meeting? Close to zero. Now, they sure don;t advertise it. But all it would take is for you and a dozen of your friends to show up to completely change fire district policy

[Chief]

noperegs wrote:

<quoted text>
Amen. However, you do have a say. The Fire District's annual meeting happens every year, and as a taxpayer you are a voting member. Do you know **** many peopple show up for the District's meeting? Close to zero. Now, they sure don;t advertise it. But all it would take is for you and a dozen of your friends to show up to completely change fire district policy

You're not supposed to tell anybody about that.

[Two Sides]

Parent and educator wrote:

Why not use this as an opportunity to bring the fire, police, and ambulance together under one roof? Wouldn't this make for better communication, more efficiency -- and have save some money?
As for a location, why not use the OLD Agway site (off Cole Avenue). It's well-located in terms of reaching the most populated areas of the town and doesn't take prime real estate away from commercial use.

First you must understand that all three emergency services in Williamstown are legal separate entities. The Police fall under town government, the Fire Department is a district (separate from the town and established by an act of legislation. In order to bring the FD under the towns umbrella, legislation must be passed in Boston) and the Ambulance is a private organization (another debate of its own)

However, Williamstown needs a new fire station like Alaska needs ice! Although they serve an important role (as do all town departments) the fact that cannot be ignored (read the annual town report) they answer LESS than 200 calls for service a year. This is in blatant contrast to what the ambulance and police answer in a year (Village 1,500 calls a year: Police = more activated security alarms in one year than the fire departments total calls for service a year!!)

Although a new fire station would be nice (as would new schools, police department, roads, and general services) the reality and the question is this, do they really need one? When properly examined (what the fire department in Williamstown actually does) the answer is clearly no.

Finally, before the fire department supporters attempt to cast me as anti-fire, the certainty is this, I support all public safety agencies 100%. The fire department provides a needed service and executes their duties with great professionalism. I am simply stating the building of a new facility is not necessary.

[Chief]

May your house burn to the ground.

Two Sides wrote:

<quoted text>
First you must understand that all three emergency services in Williamstown are legal separate entities. The Police fall under town government, the Fire Department is a district (separate from the town and established by an act of legislation. In order to bring the FD under the towns umbrella, legislation must be passed in Boston) and the Ambulance is a private organization (another debate of its own)
However, Williamstown needs a new fire station like Alaska needs ice! Although they serve an important role (as do all town departments) the fact that cannot be ignored (read the annual town report) they answer LESS than 200 calls for service a year. This is in blatant contrast to what the ambulance and police answer in a year (Village 1,500 calls a year: Police = more activated security alarms in one year than the fire departments total calls for service a year!!)
Although a new fire station would be nice (as would new schools, police department, roads, and general services) the reality and the question is this, do they really need one? When properly examined (what the fire department in Williamstown actually does) the answer is clearly no.
Finally, before the fire department supporters attempt to cast me as anti-fire, the certainty is this, I support all public safety agencies 100%. The fire department provides a needed service and executes their duties with great professionalism. I am simply stating the building of a new facility is not necessary.

[Two Sides]

Chief wrote:

May your house burn to the ground.
<quoted text>

LOL!!!!! well Chief, I appreciate you're enthusiasm and only wish for you in the future the capability to take on a conflicting opinion intelligently!

In the meantime, I will rely on my social skills to soundly make wise fire safe decisions in my home, my ritual (taught by the fire department) to change smoke detector batteries every year, my security/fire alarm system that is monitored twenty four hours a day and finally, the men & woman of the Williamstown Fire Department (which help to provide equipment & salaries) to ensure a fire safe environment at my residence

However, if all fails, I will be supported by a most generous home insurance policy that will quickly wipe the smoke & tears from my eyes!

[Firefighters for jesus]

jesus it a fire dept it something u need to have. give them the building they need it im sure when u have a big fire in town and your like well the placed burnt to the ground cause we did not have enough fire trucks and it took to long to get there give them what the want just do it. the po po they dont need anything and cops are just there to bust your balls half the time. Village is it own thing and they pay like shit so dont give them nothing too.

[Roger]

Firefighters for jesus wrote:

jesus it a fire dept it something u need to have. give them the building they need it im sure when u have a big fire in town and your like well the placed burnt to the ground cause we did not have enough fire trucks and it took to long to get there give them what the want just do it. the po po they dont need anything and cops are just there to bust your balls half the time. Village is it own thing and they pay like **** so dont give them nothing too.

They should build a school, just for you, long before a fire station!