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Mostly Cloudy Fire district elections on Tuesday
Contested races in Inwood, Meadowmere Park and Woodmere
On Tuesday residents in the Atlantic Beach, Hewlett Bay, Inwood, Meadowmere Park, North Lawrence and Woodmere fire districts can go to the polls and vote for their respective fire commissioners. Most terms are five years, except for special cases. The terms begin on Jan. 1.
A fire district provides fire protection and responses to emergencies. It is a political entity with an elected governing body, administrative officers and sets a budget. It has the power to take on debt and levy taxes, and purchases the equipment the fire department needs.
A fire department is made up of men and women who volunteer to respond to fires and other emergencies, and provide mutual aid to neighboring fire departments. A chief of the department is elected annually to oversee the department.
Gerald Romaine and Edward Roth are vying for the five-year term. Roth, 35, has been in the volunteer fire service for 17 years. During that time, he served as both lieutenant from 2007 to 2008 and captain from 2012 to 2013. “I’m running because I feel with my education, experience as a firefighter, and career in public service I’m qualified to represent not only my family but my neighbors and friends in the community,” he said, adding that his chief priority, if elected, would be budgeting for the future. In addition to the community of nearly 100 homes, the district is responsible for providing fire protection to a portion of the Rockaway Turnpike area, including Costco and Sanitary District 1’s headquarters. Gerald Romaine could not be reached for comment by press time. The district’s budget is $709,498. Voting is at the firehouse at 14 Meyer Ave. in Meadowmere Park from 6 to 9 p.m.
Incumbent Commissioner Tom Havey, 56, is running for his second full term. Havey is being opposed by Anthony Rivelli Sr. A 33-year fire department veteran, Havey also serves as the district’s secretary. “I am running for my concern for the Inwood community, the residents and their safety,” he said, adding that helping to ensure that the fire department has state-of-the-at equipment “is paramount in keeping our members safe.”
After purchasing a new ambulance a few years ago, Havey said the priority is now to either buy or lease a new engine truck. Rivelli Sr. didn’t return calls by press time. Inwood’s budget is about $1.5 million. Voting is at the firehouse at 188 Doughty Blvd. in Inwood from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sitting Commissioner Timothy Pastor, 55, is being opposed by Melanie C. Kail, 39, the fire department’s treasurer for the past year. Pastor, a commissioner since 1996, believe the district is headed in the wrong direction. “The decisions are atrocious and spending is out of control,” he said, pointing to $40,000 spent on a seven-minute training video and $80,000 on legal fees to recoup $100,000 in a clawback action. Pastor said that he opposes floating a bond for new equipment and thinks there is more than enough money in the budget for updated apparatus.
Kail said she is running because its time for a change on the board and a fresher outlook is needed. She disagrees with Pastor’s assessment. “I can tell you the active board is doing a fantastic job,” said Kail, who is also a firefighter and an emergency medical technician. “The fire department and rescue company has the latest equipment without raising taxes.” The district’s budget is $2.131 million. Voting is at the firehouse at 20 Irving Place in Woodmere from 6 to 9 p.m.
Joseph Ruvolo, 55, of Hewlett, is running uncontested for the five-year term. The incumbent, Anthony Vacchio is retiring after three terms in office. There will also be a proposition on the ballet, Hewlett Bay Fire District Secretary Katherine Archibald said, to acquire the public’s permission for a “lease-purchase agreement to acquire three new pumpers,” which are fire engines that carry a hose and pumps water. A Hewlett High graduate, Ruvolo has logged 38 years in the fire department and 20 years as a New York City police officer. He is the Inwood Fire District business manager and served as Hewlett’s chief from 1999 to 2000. “I think I bring something to the table that the average person running for commissioner doesn’t have,” Ruvolo said.
Voting is at the Hewlett firehouse at 25 Franklin Ave. in Hewlett from 5 to 9 p.m. The district budget is $1.851 million.
North Lawrence
Incumbent Andrew Reilly is running uncontested for the five-year term. The district serves the residential and commercial areas outside the Cedarhurst and Lawrence villages. Voting is at the Five Towns Community Center at 270 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence from 6 and 9 p.m. The district budget is about $175,000.
Two incumbent commissioners are running uncontested. Arnie Geller, of Atlantic Beach is running for the five-year term and Steve Spelman for the two-year term. The 2017 budget for the Atlantic Beach Fire District is $582,000.
Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District
Arnie Geller is running uncontested for the three-year term. The district operates a plant that runs 24 hours a day and processes nearly 700,000 gallons of water on a daily basis for Atlantic Beach village, Atlantic Beach Estates and East Atlantic Beach.
Residents can vote for both districts at fire rescue headquarters at 1 Rescue Road in Atlantic Beach from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department is contracted by the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst and the North Lawrence and East Lawrence fire districts. It held internal elections chiefs on Dec. 6. Results will be posted on liherald.com/fivetowns.
