Maplewood/South Orange FD Merger Getting Closer: Mayor

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The idea of merging the South Orange and Maplewood Fire Departments may be picking up steam, according to one of the township’s mayors.

South Orange Village President Sheena Collum said that the South Orange Board of Trustees and the Maplewood Township Committee held a joint meeting on Thursday to discuss the possibility of merging their fire departments.

“This represents the biggest consolidation of a department both towns have undertaken,” Collum said. “If successful, we will be the first in the state to represent two career/paid fire departments to accomplish this and I hope, can create a model for others to follow.”

At the current moment, the townships are beginning negotiations with two goals in mind, Collum said: cost savings and better overall fire service.

COMBINE FIRE DEPARTMENTS? STUDY SAYS ‘YES’

After almost a year of crunching the data, a recent report on the "Feasibility of Consolidation, Merger or Sharing of South Orange and Maplewood's Municipal Fire Protection Services suggested the two townships might benefit in several ways if they share a single fire department… as well as its cost.

The study was commissioned by a joint committee from both towns in 2016.

"During our analysis, we found robust evidence that increased efficiency, better service, and cost savings are possible through a consolidation of the two separate fire departments into a single entity," researchers from Manitou Inc. stated.

"Our findings are clear," researchers emphasized. "The communities of Maplewood and South Orange would be better served by combining their fire departments into a single entity."

According to researchers, South Orange Acting Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan and Maplewood Fire Chief Michael Dingelstedt were "very supportive" of the study.

• See related article: Should Maplewood, South Orange Combine Fire Departments?

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