Coventry Councilwoman: My Head is Not "In the Sand" on Fire District Issues

To the editor:
Don’t rush to judgement!

Form your opinion on Coventry fire service based on facts and thoughtful consideration.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but my head is not “in the sand,” as suggested by Coventry Fire District Board Member, Frank Palin. Before you form your opinion on whether Coventry should consolidate its fire districts or form one municipal fire department, obtain answers to these questions. When you obtain the answer, ask for the source of the information; the answers should be cited from unbiased official sources. After giving careful consideration to the responses, you may find your opinion changes.

Please note these are my personal views and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Coventry Town Council as a whole.

1. Does the Coventry Town Charter allow for the formation of a municipal fire department? (Link to the Town Charter http://ecode360.com/8175476)
2. What must be done from a legislative and electoral standpoint to form a municipal fire department?
3. What is the legal process to liquidate or merge a fire district?
4. When a municipal fire department is formed, what happens to collective bargaining agreements (firefighter’s contracts) in effect in the individual fire districts? (See section 6A of the just expired contract for CCFD firefighters at http://www.centralcoventryfd.com/filelocker/index)
5. What capital costs are necessary to adequately equip a municipal fire department in Coventry?
6. If a municipal fire department is formed in Coventry, will staffing be union, non-union or a combination?
7. How will the debt accumulated by the insolvent districts be paid/settled?
8. Will the tax rate be the same for all residents in Coventry? In other words, will all residents pay for fire hydrants and street lights even if they do not have these services (such as Western Coventry residents)?
9. What is the tax burden to residents in each fire district before the consolidation as compared to the tax burden after?

And, finally

10. Question the motivation of each group of stakeholders (i.e. District Board, Union, Firefighters, Residents and Town Officials) as they promote their position.

Sincerely,

Tammy J. Duxbury, CPA
Coventry Town Council, District 5