The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 1, 2008

Brookfield rejects proposed fire protection deal for Hartford

Payment wouldn't cover cost of service, Brookfield chief says

By Patrick W. Connelly

BROOKFIELD, HARTFORD — Hartford trustees will have to up the ante if they hope to have Brookfield take over the municipality’s fire protection.

Brookfield trustees voted unanimously Monday night to reject a $105,000 offer to cover Hartford’s fire and emergency medical service calls.

“They want to unload that fire department and wash their hands of it,” Brookfield Fire Chief Keith Barrett said.

“That’s well and good, but (Hartford is) going to pay for it,” he added.

The contract between the municipalities would’ve lasted through 2011, but at only $35,000 a year, Brookfield can’t afford to cover the cost of running the services, Barrett said.

Under the deal, Brookfield would also have been responsible for all equipment needs and training of new firefighters and medical technicians. It would also have included use of a fire truck parked at Hartford’s station.

The department already helps Hartford free of charge on fire calls when available and handles Hartford’s ambulance services.

Brookfield bills Hartford $244 for each ambulance call in addition to the charge the resident pays for the service, Barrett said. The charge, which was implemented in November, is billed regardless of whether hospital transport is needed, he noted.

Hartford trustees have been trying to work out a deal with Brookfield for the last three years, Brookfield Trustee J. Philip Schmidt said.

If they can’t meet the terms Brookfield requests soon, they’re “wasting our time,” Schmidt added.

“You’ve drawn it up,” Trustee Gary Lees told Barrett. “If they can’t accept it, it’s time to move on.”

Hartford runs a strictly volunteer department with only about six firefighters — none of which are full-time employees, Barrett said.

If Brookfield were to take over Hartford’s services, the chief said he would gladly take the volunteers, but wouldn’t be able to hire another full-time firefighter at the amount offered.

Barrett suggested the two towns form a fire district where taxes to run the department could be levied on an equal playing field.

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