Fire Budget Gets OK, Was Nixed by Voters; Cell 911 Calls Slow

DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Committee introduced and then unanimously approved the budget of the township’s District No. 1 Fire Department (Ocean View) March 17.
Dennis has three volunteer fire departments: District 1, Ocean View and South Seaville; District 2, Dennisville; and District 3, Belleplain.
Budgets for Districts 2 and 3 passed with voters casting paper ballots. All fire district voting in Dennis is done on the same day, the third Saturday in February (this year, Feb. 21).
District 1’s budget, through the same method, did not pass by a vote of 47 – 12. By contrast, District 2’s budget passed 10-1 and No. 3’s passed 13-0.
What committee considered March 17 was to either keep the budget for District No. 1 the same or decrease it by making additional cuts? There was some confusion before the voting as to what the actual vote was addressing. Committee members asked a number of times for clarification from Solicitor Jeffrey April who consulted and read from the regulations governing this vote.
What committee ultimately approved for District 1’s Fire Department was a budget, in an amount less than last year’s, of $355,750 with $350,000 coming from tax revenues paid by resident assessments.
To raise that amount, local taxes are used for the fire department. As a result, in Dennis there are three different local taxes for fire departments given the three different fire districts.
The $5,750 difference will be covered by interest payments on certificates of deposit and other funds held by District 1. The budget amount approved by committee will be sent to the state for its evaluation of the tax rate, which will be used by the township tax collector to assess the local tax.
There were no questions during the public comment portion pertaining to the budget. One Ocean View resident commended committee for being able to reduce the funding needed this year for the fire department and that perhaps that saved money could be put towards township activities especially for the children.
Amend Some Municipal Fees
Committee also introduced and unanimously passed an ordinance that amends township fees to align more with other municipalities for plan review, construction permits, occupancy, demolition and other fees related to building and construction as well as renovations, alterations, repairs and reconstructions. A copy of the ordinance is on file with the township clerk at Dennis Municipal Building.
Committeeman Donald Tozer, chair of public works, noted that with any luck snow removal season is behind the department and that the crew can fill potholes that have been created by the harsh winter and snow removal.
He asked that Dennis residents report any potholes or other necessary repair work to the township so that the work can be scheduled as soon as possible.
Cell Phone Emergency Number
Tozer also asked that township residents familiarize themselves with how to call 9-1-1 emergency number from their cell phones through instructions listed on the township’s website.
“Many times when an urgent 9-1-1 call is made on a cell phone the transmittal waves go all over the place and bounce off towers in Egg Harbor City or as far away as Lewes, Del. Thus delaying a rapid response to an emergency,” explained Tozer.
He recommended that all residents have in their cell phone contact numbers the Belleplain emergency dispatcher’s number 609-861-5250.
Tozer announced that he has worked out with the Belleplain State Forest an arrangement for the township’s volunteer fire department to hook up with the park’s sprinkler to fill their well rather than having to go into the forest as currently.
Committee took the opportunity to express collective appreciation of the township’s volunteer fire women and men, with Deputy Mayor Brian O’Connor noting, “All residents are very fortunate to have them protecting us.”
Free Seedlings Available
Committeeman Albert DiCicco, chair of the environment commission, announced that tree seedlings for residents will be available April 18 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Dennisville Museum. Another announcement of community interest included that the township’s annual Easter egg hunt will be March 29, rain or shine, at the Recreation Center starting at 1 p.m.
Committeewoman Lisa Salimbene described an upcoming school-related item of interest, that a Heritage Trail Trivia contest will be conducted for all township fifth-graders with details on the Dennis website.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.