Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner has asked Alan Hochberg, former President of the Poets Corner Civic Association to chair a citizens commission to review the feasibility of consolidating the three paid fire districts in Greenburgh (Fairview, Greenville, Hartsdale). Police Chief John Kapica recently released a detailed analysis highlighting the costs of the three independent fire districts.
The cost of funding our Greenburgh police dept which serves the entire unincorporated section of Greenburgh is $22,568,898.
The cost of funding the three paid fire districts (Hartsdale, Fairview, Greenville) which serves about 73% of unincorporated Greenburgh is $28,035,331.
The town has contracts with seven fire protection districts (volunteer departments) to serve the remaining sections of unincorporated Greenburgh. That cost is $1,913,981.
The comparison: $22,568,898 for the police/ $29,949,012 for fire protection in unincorporated Greenburgh
A report in the July 1st issue of www.lohud.com reports that Pace University’s Edwin G. Michaelian Institute for Public Policy and Managemetn found that homeowners and businesses in 10 Westchester communities could save an estimated $47 million a year in fire insurance premiums if their fire districts consolidated. The study: A Case for Consolidation” was commissioned by the Westchester County Career Chiefs Association in 2005 and was paid for with a $56,000 state grant.
The commission which Hochberg will chair will evaluate the feasibility of a 2010 referendum. Recently, Governor David Paterson signed legislation allowing citizens to place on the ballot a referendum on consolidation of fire districtS and local government services. Hochberg, who recently retired as executive director of the Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-el, said that he has lived in Greenburgh for over a quarter of a century. “Our goal is to maintain or improve services while cutting expenses that can be achieved by consolidation.”
A commission is being formed. We’re looking for volunteers to serve on the commission or to assist in research. People interested in getting involved should contact pfeiner@greenburghny.com.
A series of neighborhood meetings will also be held. The first informal meeting will be held at Secor Park on Tuesday night, July 28th at 7 PM. Mr. Hochberg is also assisting the town on budget issues and is serving as a liaison to the citizens budget committee. Feiner said that we will examine how we can create greater efficiencies in all town departments.
Greenburgh: Named by MONEY MAGAZINE in 2008 as “ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE” IN AMERICA (#80)
JOB E MAIL LIST---I am trying to help unemployed Greenburgh residents find work. If your company/business has any job openings please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. If you are out of work and want to be advised of job openings please advise.