By MIKE CAPUTO
The Board of Fire Commissioners consists of five members, who each have five-year terms. One seat is up for election each year, and the only requirement to file a petition for candidacy is to be a resident of the fire district over the age of 18.
Some of the key responsibilities for the Board of Fire Commissioners include the planning and oversight of the district's $5 million budget, equipment purchases and safety code compliance.
All registered voters living within the East Meadow Fire District are eligible to cast their votes on Tuesday, Dec. 9, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. The polling place for residents who live south of Hempstead Turnpike vote at EMFD headquarters at 197 East Meadow Avenue. For voters who live north of Hempstead Turnpike, their polling place is Station 3 at the corner of North Newbridge Road and Carnation Road.
Carey Welt
Carey Welt, a member of the East Meadow Fire Department since 1969, seeks a sixth term as a fire district commissioner.
Welt, 58, who was first elected to the district board in 1983, explained that although commissioners are not required to have emergency service experience or even have to be members of the fire department, it is important to be knowledgeable in the field to make proper decisions for both the firefighters and the taxpayers.
"If you want to buy something, you want to know what you are buying," Welt said. "You want to know if you are buying swampland, or if you are buying a good piece of property. It's the same thing in the fire service - you want to know that you are buying a good piece of equipment that is needed and good piece of equipment that is going to do the job needed to do."
In his 25 years as an East Meadow fire commissioner, Welt said he has seen a multitude of changes in the areas of safety and finance - which do have a connection, he points out. Many safety requirements are placed on fire districts at points during the year when the budget is already set, he explained, which is similar to unfunded mandates that schools districts deal with.
One of those recent mandates was the purchase of nearly 1,000 safety vests, which can run up to about $30 apiece, totaling an approximate cost of $3000.
"Nobody is giving us money," Welt said. "We just have to come up with it."
The current system of special districts in Nassau County - including water, fire and sanitation - has taken much criticism in the media, and now some government officials are looking to reform the structure. During Welt's tenure, fire districts across Long Island have been accused of overspending on items such as equipment. Welt revealed his response to a concerned resident who had a similar complaint.
"I actually asked him a question, I said 'Wouldn't you want the best equipment to come to you in an emergency?'" Welt said. "You want a piece of equipment that is not going to do as much as something else? It is going to break down and may not get there. Or do you want the best to help you - to give the greatest chance of survival in a medical emergency or the greatest chance of putting out your fire in handling a fire emergency? He had no comment after that."
In addition to his work as commissioner and in the department as a secretary, lieutenant, captain and advanced emergency medical technician, Welt is a Nassau County Fire Marshal and also trains volunteer firefighters at the facility in Bethpage. Welt is also active in the East Meadow Jewish Center as a member of the Board of Trustees and the temple's Men's Club. He has also received honors during his time working in fire service, including a time when he was featured in the National Enquirer in 1989 for stopping an oil tanker from exploding in Westbury.
Mike Finnegan
Mike Finnegan is challenging Welt for a position on the East Meadow Board of Fire Commissioners.
Finnegan, 45, a lifetime East Meadow resident, is making his third attempt at a commissioner's spot.
The challenger said that, if elected, he would clean up what he believes is mismanagement and abuse of the $5 million fire district budget.
"I think with $5 million coming from the taxpayers and a good percentage of that money is not being spent on firematics and EMS," Finnegan said. "There should be more accountability and more openness to the public on what is going on with the day-to-day operations of the fire district."
Finnegan pointed to documents revealing that the district had overspent on at least two occasions in recent years, and funds several unmarked vehicles for some members and commissioners.
Finnegan has also criticized how fire department handled of the cell phone tower proposal, which was passed by the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals in November. The plan calls for the construction of two cell towers, one on Station 1 on East Meadow Avenue, and the other one at Station 4 on Salisbury Park Drive. He attended the BZA hearings and spoke against the plan. Even though it was passed, he has called for an appeal of the decision.
Although the current commissioners discussed the cell tower proposal during its open public meetings, and posted it in the legal notices, Finnegan said they could have done more.
"The district neglected to inform the public before they signed the contract," Finnegan said.
Finnegan, who spent 15 years as a volunteer firefighter including a period as a chief, has had a tumultuous relationship with the fire department since his departure in 2005. He was dismissed by the district after being charged with membership violations. According to Finnegan, his resignation papers were already filed for personal reasons, including two full-time jobs that did not allow for him to fulfill membership requirements.
During his door-to-door campaign, Finnegan said people have asked him if the objective of his candidacy is to gain vengeance against the fire district. The challenger said his campaign platform speaks for itself.
"I think my statements of what I would like to accomplish and the proof of what I have produced as to the wasteful spending to the current board of fire commissioners is really my platform," Finnegan said. "There is no room for wasteful spending."
