I just read our mayor is unhappy with the fire commissioners in Whippany because they raised the budget this year.
From what I understand they have not raised it for quite awhile and even though this country is in sad shape some things have to go up.
I have been a taxpayer in this town for more than 10 years and from what I see the commissioners have done a great job not only keeping costs down but helping the Fire Company help us !
The dept has in just the past 3 years taken on a whole new service by adding 3 paid EMT`S and 3-4 more volunteer EMT`S and Mr Mayor that costs money.
Find out the facts BEFORE you go on the front page of a town paper.
By the way I hear that the commissioners will save the taxpayers $75,000 next year because they won`t give any financial help to Cedar Knolls Ambulance so that should make him happy.
Guess who has to come up with that Mr Mayor. (02/06/09 12:36pm) REPLY
This post is misleading. First of all, the Mayor put nothing on the front page. As Mayor, newspaper reporters call for quotes. I did not say I am unhappy with the fire commissioners (you did). What I told the reporter was: “At our Hanover reorganization meeting, I asked all government entities to control their budgets in this economic downturn. And the Whippany Fire Commissioners were not responsive.” I cannot control what a reporter writes about or if a reporter decides to sensationalize a part of my quote out-of-context. The township committee plans to do all it can to lower municipal property taxes this year, which will be even more difficult than in previous years due to a declining tax base and the increased employment costs for pensions and benefits, but what good is it for township government to cut spending if other government entities increase spending, because taxes will still go up! The Whippany Fire budget went up by 27% in just one year and Whippany fire tax is going up; on the other hand, the Cedar Knolls fire budget is down by 9.4%. That’s not my opinion, that’s a fact. It’s not us vs. them, and it’s not about putting a price on a life, it’s about working together, being prudent with tax dollars, and controlling property taxes… Len Fariello (02/07/09 9:25am) REPLY
Out of curiosity, do the Whippany EMT's work out of the Whippany Fire House or Cedar Knolls? If out of Whippany, did the Whippany Fire Dept. get an ambulance? If they didn't get an ambulance, are they using their own vehicles to get to their destination to assist while waiting for one of the Cedar Knolls rigs to get to the scene? (02/07/09 4:16pm) REPLY
I just read the Weekly News paper and saw that our mayor is blasting the fire commissioners of Whippany for raising their budget this year.
I have kept an eye on the commissioners of both fire,school and recreation and I don`t think I`m paying too much for the protection I get from Whippany and Cedar Knolls fire departments at all.
I am happy to pay such a small amount for professinal help and I personally think he should stop planting trees under power lines and on peoples property if he wants to cut any budget.
Whippany`s budget like everything else HAS to go up every few years .
This is not just a volunteer fire dept anymore they now have AND NEED 4 career people for fires,first aid , fire inspections,maintainance,vehicle extracation and more.
Does anyone think that this group just jumps in a truck and goes to a mangled car and automaticly knows how to get an injured person out ?
We all should thank God that there are still people who volunteer all the time required to learn the countless things the state makes them learn and if they are willing to give the time I as a taxpayer am willing to give them the very best schooling and tools possible.
If we had to pay a full department then you would have something to complain about ,so do the right thing and go and vote YES for the very reasonable fire budget. (02/09/09 1:44pm) REPLY
I agree. If you want to save money don't plant trees and build big signs. The fire department is not where you cut money. The fire tax has not gone up in Whippany in many years. Wasn't it only a few years ago tha the newspaper was complaining over Cedar Knolls fire taxes. I'm sure the commissioners have their reasons for the increase. VOTE FOR THE BUDGET! (02/12/09 7:56pm) REPLY
Whippany Fire Dept 2009 Budget
In response to Mayor Fariello statement about the increase in the Whippany Fire Dept 2009 Budget. I will explain the actual costs to the tax payers, the people who the Whippany Fire Dept serves and protects. The 2008 Fire Dept tax assessed was 5 ¼ cents per $100,000 assessed property value. The 2009 Fire Dept tax assessed is 6 cents per $100,000 assessed property value. This total cost for 2009 is $300 per year if your assessed property value is $500,000. This is less then a yearly FIOS bill, Cable bill or cell phone bill . This increase includes $150,000 Future Capital Outlay and a $24,584 increase in the State Pension Cost, most of the 2009 Budget increases will be cover using Fund Balance Utilizations or RESERVES. The increase in the tax rate for 2009 will cost the Tax Payers an additional $7.50 per $100,000 assessed property value per year. The actual 2008 taxpayer amount was $ 686,000 while the 2009 taxpayer amount is $780,000 or a different of $ 94,000. Again, any other increase in the 2009 Budget will be cover by RESERVES.
Please vote YES for the Whippany Fire Dept 2009 Budget …………show the volunteers that your care and support them. If you vote NO, pick up any application for membership, we need all of the volunteer we can get. Also, two Commissioners seats are up for election and four candidates are running, they are Bob Cobane, Henry Hansch III, Tony Lori and Howard Olsen. COME OUT AND VOTE. The elections will be held on February 21, 2009 at The Whippany Fire Dept , 440 Rt 10 West , Whippany from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM.
Mayor Fariello, how about bringing more ratable into the town. Without new ratable no one will be able to live in Hanover Township . If you want low taxes then bring in more new ratable.
Bob Johnston
Commissioner/ Treasurer Whippany Fire Dept
(02/09/09 1:44pm) REPLY
Ratables, pretty much says it all.
I wonder how many of those projects before the planning board will choose to move forward in this economy? There will be many towns looking for ratables, hopefully the make up of our town council will still atract builders/banks. (02/09/09 6:41pm) REPLY
I think the Mayor should be more interested in keeping his own budget in-line and not worry about others. Maybe he should put on a fire helmet and fight fires when it gets voted down. Once this election is over is he going to move on to the Board of Ed, and then his own election. (02/09/09 6:49pm) REPLY
RESIDENTS CAN BE AGAINST A SPENDTHRIFT FIRE OR SCHOOL BUDGET AND STILL SUPPORT THE WORK OF TEACHERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. (02/10/09 8:34am) REPLY
Anyone who works in a school or on a fire department would never say such a horrible thing. It takes money to make things run. Low budgets = poorly trained teachers and emergency workers. (02/12/09 8:04pm) REPLY
FYI, tax dollars DO NOT pay for the planting of trees to beautify Hanover Twp., the money comes from the "Tree Fund". When a developer cuts trees down to build out a property, they either replace the trees or pay into the fund based on the size of the trees cut down. The money is used to reforest land and plant trees, plus other worthy programs. (02/14/09 10:05am) REPLY
The Whippany fire organization is or was a well respected volunteer organization. Commissioner Johnston’s statements in the newspaper are arrogant and self serving. Is he the spokesperson for the Whippany Fire Commission? The issues revolving around the budget and the firehouse are an affront to the residents, tax payers, the volunteers, and the town officials. (02/11/09 7:32am) REPLY
To the poster of "The Whippany fire organization..." I want to thank you very much for your post. I agree with you 100%. I find this forum very frustrating sometimes and ponder what to write. Then decide what's the sense. So thank you again because you certainly captured my sentiments. Just in case some are still deciding how to vote., remember President Obama's prime time speech regarding the ecomony and stimulis package. Did anyone count how many times he commented on the poor state of the economy and that it isn't going to be a quick fix? That should be the deciding factor at the voting booths. Please take the opportunity to have a real say ... go out and vote on Feb. 21. (02/11/09 8:19pm) REPLY
Any one who doesn't agree with how the firehouse is run should but their name in to volunteer. (02/12/09 8:02pm) REPLY
The person who said that I am arrogant and self serving. I have 22 years as a Volunteer Fireman I also been a Commissioner for 9 years. What have you done for the time,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,?Cmsr Johnston (02/11/09 3:08pm) REPLY
Cmsr. Johnston, I read the fire budget, you get paid for what you do. Again, are you the spokesperson for the Whippany Fire Commission? (02/12/09 2:46pm) REPLY
I would hardly brag about what they get paid. It is not much! People that complain should volunteer. (02/13/09 4:17pm) REPLY
Commissioner Johnston,
Can I please have a response to the 4th post down? Dated 2/7 at 4:16 p.m. Thank you (02/12/09 5:00pm) REPLY
Our commissioners should be well respected for all the time and effort they but into keeping the fire department running smoothly and all of us safe. Unless you have spent almost half of your life keeping others safe no one should be complaining about a few dollar increase in taxes. (02/12/09 8:11pm) REPLY
I also read the commissioners budget and I have no problem with them.
The Weekly News ran an editorial yesterday and as usual had ALL facts wrong !
Cedar Knolls has not been at 5 cents for a very long time ,try 9 cents or more and that also is ok because life saving costs money !
Whippany could save $75,000 right off the bat by not giving help to the ambulance so that would bring down thier budget automaticly but guess what your taxes won`t go down it will just come from the town tax.
I know alot of the fireman and yes they are looking at a new firehouse but they all say it is just because they have an oppitunity because of so called Whippany Village and not just to have a new houseand spend money.
By the way 3 of the commissioners have voted NOT to pay the $75, next year anyway.
To answer your question is Johnston the spokesman the answer is no the current chairman is Tony Lori but he and two other commissioners presently on the board are so out of touch they don`t even have computers so I guess thats why Johnston wrote and signed his name.GL
(02/13/09 2:28pm) REPLY
The Whippany Fire Dept has 3 paid Emt/Firefighter/Fire Inspectors.............They assist the Cedar Knolls First Aid from 600 hrs until 1800 hrs Monday thru Friday for all calls in Whippany. This started about 2 years ago. We also pay for all calls in Whippany to better allocate costs between both towns. Cmsr Johnston
(02/13/09 5:53pm) REPLY
Cmsr Johnston, to correct you slightly... the statement should be: "to better allocate costs between districts" we all live in the same town, Hanover, and people aught to start thinking that way. (02/17/09 10:49am) REPLY
I just read our mayor is unhappy with the fire commissioners in Whippany because they raised the budget this year.
From what I understand they have not raised it for quite awhile and even though this country is in sad shape some things have to go up.
I have been a taxpayer in this town for more than 10 years and from what I see the commissioners have done a great job not only keeping costs down but helping the Fire Company help us !
The dept has in just the past 3 years taken on a whole new service by adding 3 paid EMT`S and 3-4 more volunteer EMT`S and Mr Mayor that costs money.
Find out the facts BEFORE you go on the front page of a town paper.
By the way I hear that the commissioners will save the taxpayers $75,000 next year because they won`t give any financial help to Cedar Knolls Ambulance so that should make him happy.
Guess who has to come up with that Mr Mayor. (02/06/09 12:36pm) 