Contested fire commissioner race in Woodmere

In the Five Towns and surrounding communities there are seven special district elections for commissioners on Dec. 14, including a half dozen fire districts.

Fire districts are political entities with elected governing bodies – boards of commissioners – that sets a budget. A fire district has the power both to incur indebtedness and to require the levy of taxes. It purchases the equipment the fire department needs. 

The other special district is the Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District. The wastewater treatment plant processes up to 700,000 gallons of water per day and services the more than 2,130 parcels of land in Atlantic Beach village, Atlantic Beach Estates and East Atlantic Beach.

The Woodmere Fire District has the only contested race this year with Michael Beer challenging incumbent Melanie Kail.

Though not a Woodmere Fire Department member, Beer said his community roots run deep living in Woodmere since 1979, when he was 12. A lawyer, his practice is in Woodmere.

“While all of our commissioners are hardworking, all of them are members of the fire department. I am running because there is no independent community member commissioner, who can bring transparency and perspective to the fire district. I am not running to second guess our professional volunteer fire fighters and EMTs. Rather, I am running as the representative of the taxpayers of the district.”

Beer thinks he is well suited to helping the fire district determine how best to replace what he called the “aging firehouse facility,” navigating the district through the complexities “of the new legal obligations imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and most of all looking out for the welfare of our current members, and recruiting and retaining new members.”

Kail is seeking her second five-year term, noting that her first term was “incredibly busy.” “We embarked on a refresh of our 20-year old apparatus fleet,” she said. “We have purchased a new ladder truck, two new engines, a new ambulance and put into service an EMS (emergency medical service) first response car.

While we had to finance some of the cost, most of the funds came from planned reserves or with the help of state grants, keeping the incremental cost to the taxpayer low.”

She pointed to safety upgrades, including a recent purchase of an air pack refill station for quick turnaround after a fire and major training. In addressing cancer prevention, new gear was purchased so every fire department member has two sets, with one being washed after use.

Dispatching was improved Kail said, by shifting to the same communication center that the Lawrence-Cedarhurst and Inwood fire departments use. To help ensure the district is running efficiently, the district hired a superintendent, she said. To cut fuel costs, purchases were consolidated with the Hewlett Bay Fire Department. Kail also remains an active volunteer firefighter and aids other community endeavors.

Voting is at the Woodmere firehouse at 20 Irving Place in Woodmere from 6 to 9 p.m.

Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue

Incumbent Arnie Geller is running unchallenged for another five-year term and Robin Trott is running to fill the two-year unexpired term left by Steven Spellman, who stepped down.

Voting is at Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue at 1 Rescue Road in Atlantic Beach from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Greater Atlantic Beach Reclamation District

Scott Mason, the chairman of the board of commissioners, is running unopposed for another three-year term. Voting is at Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue at 1 Rescue Road in Atlantic Beach from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hewlett Bay Fire District

Incumbent Joseph Ruvolo is opposed by Steve Medina for the three-year term. Medina did not respond for comment before the Herald went to press.

Ruvolo is a lifelong Hewlett resident and 43-year member of the Hewlett Fire Department, who formerly served as department chief and eight years as a commissioner. His experience includes 17 years as the business/budget manager of the Inwood Fire District. Ruvolo was a NYPD police officer for 20 years, including eight as a budget officer.

Currently, he is the emergency operations coordinator for the 3rd Battalion that consists of the Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Meadowmere Park and Woodmere fire departments.

Voting will be at the Hewlett firehouse at 25 Franklin Ave. in Hewlett from 6 to 9 p.m.

Inwood Fire District

Incumbent Commissioner Anthony M. Rivelli is running unopposed for a five-year term. Rivelli did not comment before the Herald went to press.

Voting is at the Inwood firehouse at 188 Doughty Blvd. in Inwood from 6 to 9 p.m.

Lawrence North Fire District

First-time candidate Aharon Guttman is running for the open five-year term due to the death of Commissioner Andrew Reilly. Guttman said he is running because he has seen what incumbent Commissioner Eliezer Gefen has done to help the community. The district serves the residential and commercial areas outside the Cedarhurst and Lawrence

Guttman said his priorities are to “Keep taxes low and making sure that there is good fire service in the district,” which is served mainly by the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department 
Voting at the Five Towns Community Center at 270 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence from 6 to 9 p.m.

Meadowmere Park Fire District

Joachim Fik is running unopposed for the five-year term. Voting at the Meadowmere firehouse at 14 Meyer Ave. in Meadowmere Park from 6 to 9 p.m.