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Mostly Cloudy New generator coming soon to Sea Cliff Fire Department
In a significant development for the Sea Cliff Fire Department and the village itself, Mayor Elena Villafane announced the securing of a $42,000 grant from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants program
The funds are earmarked for the replacement of the local fire department’s aging generator, a crucial component for emergency response operations.
The grant was secured by a $4,400 match from the village and has been in the works since 2022. It was discovered by the village’s grant administrator Erin McDonnell who Villafane credits for her ongoing efforts in researching and applying for various programs that benefit the village.
“It is a lengthy process across the board, and different grants take time,” Villafane explained. “This particular grant seemed to hang around for a while before we got an answer, but patience is the watchword when you’re working in the world of grants and government applications.”
The grant, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs, is designed to support eligible activities that reduce long-term risks associated with future disasters. Sea Cliff’s successful application allows them to proceed with the much-needed replacement of the fire department’s generator, which has been in service for over 20 years.
Fire Department Chief James Ajamien added that the initiative was launched by one of the former chiefs in collaboration with McDonnell. The current generator, over two decades old, is reaching the end of its operational life, making this grant a timely and critical investment.
Generators in a firehouse serve as lifelines, ensuring uninterrupted functionality during power outages critical for emergency response operations. These robust units provide a reliable power source for essential equipment, communication systems and life-saving technologies.
They sustain lighting, communication infrastructure, and power tools, empowering firefighters to navigate emergencies seamlessly. The generator’s resilience becomes particularly crucial during natural disasters or large-scale incidents, safeguarding the fire department’s ability to execute rapid, life-saving interventions without disruption.
Ajamien emphasized that the decision to replace the generator was proactive, aimed at staying ahead of potential issues rather than reacting to existing problems.
“It’s just over 20 years old, and it needs to get replaced, so we got lucky that we got this grant,” Ajamien said. While he added that the generator was at no risk of breaking down or preventing the department from doing its job, he also acknowledged that “It’s important to stay ahead of the game.”
As part of the process, McDonnell is in the midst of drafting a Request for Proposal, a necessary step due to the project’s estimated cost falling within the $45,000 to $50,000 range. The RFP will be distributed to potential bidders, and after a meticulous evaluation process, a contract will be awarded. The entire replacement project is expected to take six to eight months, from drafting the RFP to the installation of the new generator.
The fire department’s 140th anniversary, coinciding with the grant’s approval, adds a serendipitous element to the timing. Ajamien revealed that the village had initially applied for the grant five years ago, highlighting the time-consuming nature of the application and approval process.
“This effort is an additional step on behalf of Erin and Chief Ajamien to provide additional services to the village while saving taxpayer funding at the village level,” Villafane said, expressing her gratitude that the village’s persistence in seeking external funding had paid off.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is a FEMA initiative aimed at helping communities build resilience against future disasters. The program also offers several other types of grants, ranging from post-fire recovery to pre-disaster mitigation, among others.
This grant comes along with a slew of others, covering several initiatives such as funding a street safety study, to assist in zoning in conjunction with the long range plan, and another to hire two interns to assist the village in reaching bronze status in the Climate Smart Communities Program.
