Bay Park Fire District gives money back to taxpayers

2 Court St. East Bay Park, NY

Mary Malloy/Herald

Officers and members of the Bay Park Fire District thanked Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg for being instrumental in bringing legislation to give funds back to the taxpayers. Pictured at BPFD headquarters were, from left, Fire Commissioner Dave Dencker, Secretary/Treasurer Sheila Picciolo, Co-Chairman District Roger Humes, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, Co-Chairman Bob Weiss, and Fire Commissioner Bob McKay. Commissioner Daniel Winters is not pictured.

Mary Malloy/Herald

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“On behalf of the taxpayers of the Bay Park Fire District, I would like to thank Assemblyman Weisenberg for his leadership in passing legislation that will allow us to provide residents with much-needed tax relief without compromising the fire district’s ability to respond in emergencies.”

So said Roger Humes, a commissioner of the Bay Park Fire District, in response to Weisenberg’s authoring of a law — at the request of the Bay Park Fire District — that will offset local property taxes.



In partnership with the BPFD, this law will help district residents save some money on future property taxes. The measure allows the fire district to put a portion of its capital reserve funds toward offsetting Bay Park property taxes. There is approximately $120,000 in the fund, according to Humes, which has been in reserve for about 20 years, and legislation was needed to be able to use it for anything but its intended purpose — which, years ago, was to build a firehouse in Bay Park.

“It was a capital fund,” said Humes. “We bought the house originally with the vision of tearing it down and putting a firehouse there.” The house and garage are owned by the BPFD, and it produces rental income for the district. They realized, however, that purchasing fire equipment, trucks and converting the property into a firehouse would just cost too much money. “Then we decided that the money should go back to the people.”

To do that, a special law needed to be written. It went through the assembly, thanks to Weisenberg, and through the senate, with help from Sen. Dean Skelos. It was approved two years ago, was sidelined, and just became law this month.

Who will benefit?

The Bay Park Fire District covers Bay Park, Hewlett Point and Cape Cod — mostly the unincorporated areas south of the Village of East Rockaway. They have a contract with the East Rockaway Fire Department for services, and have since the 1930s. The BPFD had fire sirens installed 11 years ago, which are hooked up to Firecom, and they pay Long Island American Water for the use of fire hydrants. They offer emergency protection as well. “If someone is missing, or if there is an impending hurricane … we, as well as Firecom, can get on the speakers and inform the residents,” said Humes.