New firehouse dead issue unless councilman relents

Richard Weizel, Register Correspondent December 11, 2002

STRATFORD — Town and fire officials were stunned this week when a proposal for a new $6 million fire headquarters to replace the dilapidated 62-year-old Main Street building failed to gain enough Town Council votes for approval.

The project could be dead, council leaders said. However, there is one last chance to save it — by having one of the two councilmen who voted against the project make a motion to reconsider at the council’s January meeting. The council voted 7-2 in favor of bonding the project, but under the Town Charter, eight votes are needed for a bonding plan to proceed. Contributing to the plan’s defeat was the fact that the council is two members short because of recent resignations. Councilmen Louis DeCilio, R-6, and Robert Blake, an unaffiliated member representing the 8th District, said Tuesday they voted against the proposal because they are unhappy with the cost considering the town’s long-term debt is about $180 million. "I have no doubt that repairs have to be made to the firehouse; the question is can it be done at a much lower cost," said DeCilio. "I tried to have the matter tabled so I could have that and other questions answered first. But proponents didn’t want to do that because they thought they had the votes, and it will be their fault if this proposal ultimately dies." Blake, a member of the Public Safety Committee, said he has "serious questions" about whether there is a public safety issue. "I’m going to go and see for myself, but they are going to have to make a very strong case," said Blake. "I’m not sure the state of the building has anything to do with public safety." Council and Fire Department leaders said they were baffled by the two negative votes because both DeCilio and Blake voted in favor of the proposal when the council approved it recently in its capacity as the Ordinance Committee. "Frankly, I’m absolutely astounded. I went to the meeting with every expectation it would be approved," said Fire Chief Ronald Nattrass. "The conditions in this building are deplorable — the roof is leaking, we have water leaking into the dormitory area, the heating system is shot, the electrical system is shot," said Nattrass. "It’s a real dungeon. We have needed a new building for more than a decade." Council leaders said next month may be the last chance to save the project because under council rules a resolution can be reversed only at the next council meeting. "Our only hope is that one of the two councilmen who voted against it changes his mind," said Town Council Chairman Robert Calzone, D-at-large. Council Minority Leader Jennifer Hillgen, R-1, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, said she was shocked the proposal failed. "We need to do something because the firehouse is literally falling down and we’re putting money before safety," said Hillgen.

©New Haven Register 2002