Reports From Emergency Officials Detail Successes, Challenges Facing Groups in 2010

The Township Committee continued to hear annual reports from a variety of volunteer organizations at its meeting Thursday. Most groups presented a positive outlook for 2010, but cautioned that difficult economic times are having some sort of effect on the way they are doing business.

Officials from the Green Village Volunteer Fire Department, the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Chatham Emergency Squad, the Community Emergency Response Team and the township's Board of Health made presentations to the committee during the meeting.

Officials from both fire departments characterized 2010 as a relatively busy year, though Township Fire Department Assistant Chief Jim Pignatello Sr. said calls were down 11 percent in 2009. Green Village Chief Kevin Doherty said calls remained about the same.

Membership in the fire departments is also staying steady, the officials said, but Doherty said the department now needs its members more than ever.

"With the economy, as everyone knows, people who are employed have to work more," he said.

Deputy Mayor Kevin Tubbs asked Doherty whether the department was doing a good job of sharing equipment with other fire companies. Doherty said that effort is continuing.

Pignatello said the department is anxiously awaiting the opening of its new fire house on Southern Boulevard, and said it is scheduled to open May 15.

Chatham Board of Health President Dr. James Brown said costs associated with the board's contract with the Madison Health Department—which serves the Chathams—are continuing to go up, to the tune of a 7.5 percent rate per year. He said, however, that the department is a good one, and Township Administrator Thomas Ciccarone said it will likely never be cost-effective for the township to drop the Madison Health Department and create a department of its own.

Still, Tubbs said before the township decides to sign a new three-year contract with the department, it should take a close look at the services it receives "before we re-up."

Chatham Emergency Squad Captain Marty Sechehay said membership and recruitment remains strong, and said the squad has a good relationship with the township's Department of Public Works and police department.

"Our goal for this year is to continue the theme of neghbors helping neighbors," he told the committee.

CERT officials said they are continuing to recruit more members and are helping to respond to emergencies when they can.