Fire consolidation talks resume in Macedonia

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by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Nordonia Hills -- While Northfield Center and Sagamore Hills have discussed forming a fire and emergency medical service district, officials from area communities gathered in Macedonia Nov. 10 to discuss taking smaller steps.

"We want to come up with the best answer for all our residents," said Boston Heights Mayor Bill Goncy at the meeting of officials from the village, Macedonia, Northfield Village and Northfield Center.

Sagamore Hills officials did not receive notice of the meeting, which was sent by consultant John D. Preuer in an e-mail to area communities, but to an expired Sagamore government e-mail address.

Trustees Richard Barrett and Rose Mary Snell said they would not have been able to attend, anyway, as the meeting time conflicted with the township's monthly Board of Trustees meeting.

Officials from the five communities have for the past 18 months been working on recommendations from a $29,250 study developed by Preuer, but haven't met since June. The study offers 79 recommendations to work towards a consolidation of the area's four fire departments.

Discussion of the consolidation -- a more autonomous sharing of services than the fire district proposed by the townships -- stopped after Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills and Boston Heights opted not to seek a grant to pay for another phase of the consolidation study.

Officials gathered at the Nov. 10 meeting said their towns should revisit the consolidation study and work towards accomplishing at least some of Preuer's recommendations.

"We're always looking to the future. We have to," Northfield Center Trustee Richard Reville told the News Leader. "We are open to cooperation."

Northfield Mayor Victor Milani said he also feels cooperation talks should continue, especially when it comes to tearing down political boundaries and having the nearest department respond to emergencies.

"The fastest response time is what we should be about. We should leave the politics out of it," he said.

Goncy said he is open to any discussions about improving fire and EMS coverage.

"I don't lean one way or another. I want what's best for my people," he said.

The officials did not set a date for a followup meeting, agreeing that a Nov. 17 fire district meeting in Sagamore Hills should come first before they commit to anything.

Northfield Center and Sagamore Hills have asked Northfield Village and Boston Heights to attend the Nov. 17 meeting to discuss possibly forming a fire district without Macedonia.

In September, officials from the two townships began meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a fire district between them as early as next year.

Goncy and Milani said they will attend to gather information about possibly joining, though Milani said he doubts the village will go in that direction.

Kuchta said the city will not attend.

"That may be absolutely what's best for them, but should we all jump in to a district?" he asked. "From Macedonia's perception, no."

Northfield Center Township Fire Chief Robert Derrit said district talks should not end cooperation talks with Macedonia.

"It does not have to threaten the process we are going through here," he said.

Northfield Village Fire Chief Gary Vojtush said he believes the talk about the district has been a distraction and he wants to get back to working on the consolidation recommendations in the Preuer study.

"We have a study that's been completed. It's an excellent study," said Vojtush. "I'm a little miffed that we've gotten off track."

"A fire district will come to us when it's time," he added.

E-mail:jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169