William Neill seeks fourth term as commissioner

For the second straight year, it’s a one-man race for the vacant seat on East Meadow Fire District’s Board of Fire Commissioners, which holds its annual election on Dec. 14.

That man is William Neill, who initially joined the East Meadow Fire Department as an 18-year-old volunteer fresh out of high school. 

Thirty-five years later, Neill, now 54, seeks reelection to a fourth five-year term as fire commissioner.  

Before his first election to the board in 1995, Neill made his way through the EMFD officer ranks as lieutenant, captain and then chief in 1990. 

“I had seen the fire end of it,” Neill said, “when I hit my 40s and 50s, I realized that I wanted to look at the business end of it.”

During Neill’s tenure on the board, the fire district has continued its policy of maintaining safe, modern trucks and equipment through its 20-year replacement program. During the past few years, the district has replaced two engines, one ladder truck and an ambulance. Furthermore, the district recently upgraded its alarm system. 

Neill also touted EMFD’s role as a pioneer for the firemedic squad that provides round-the-clock emergency service for the community. With Wantagh Fire Department, EMFD introduced this in the early ’90s, and many others have followed suit since then. 

“We just want to continue to provide the best fire protection and EMS service to the residents of East Meadow and keep our members fitted with the best equipment to let them do the jobs safely and go home to their families,” Neill said. “We have five great guys with no egos, no political aspirations. 

“That’s the main reason I enjoy working with the other board members,” he added. “We all have the same goals and are not using this as a stepping stone.”

While being a fire commissioner differs from being a responder, Neill explained that the bond remains strong with the membership and community members. 

“I just want to provide the best for the community,” Neill said. “It means a lot. I walk around, and people, to this day, still call me chief or commissioner.”