Blackwood, Chews Landing Seek New Fire Engine In Elections

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The first election of the year is this weekend. Gloucester Township’s annual Fire District Elections are set for Saturday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gloucester Township has six fire districts, each with their own election.

The Blackwood Fire Company and the Chews Landing Fire Department have separate elections, but share a request for an apparatus due to a shared services agreement.

A proposal on both ballots asks voters to approve the joint purchase of a fire engine with the Chews Landing Fire Department. The cost of the engine wouldn’t exceed $710,000. The two departments have a shared services agreement that combines their career firefighters to staff a fire engine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The 16-year-old engine assigned to the program, known as Engine 88, responds to over 1,100 calls per year, and is in need of replacement, according to the fire departments.

If approved, the districts will be able to purchase a new engine, with all costs for the purchase, financing, use and maintenance of the new engine to be shared equally by the two districts.

“Both purchases have been budgeted for, and we ask that you vote yes to help us continue to serve you with dedication and best equipment,” the fire department said.

The Chews Landing Fire Department posted more information on the purchase on its website.
Each district also poses questions unique to their ballot.

“The Blackwood Fire Company is asking for voter approval to purchase a new rescue engine to replace our 24-year-old rescue truck and a 26-year-old fire engine,” the fire district said in a Facebook post. “By voting yes, this will allow us to consolidate two trucks into one.”

If approved, the fire company would make use of money carried over from previous years. Additional costs are included in the fire company’s $1,943,913 operating budget for 2020, which voters will also be asked to approve.

Additionally, once the new fire engine is delivered, the two fire trucks it is replacing will be sold, and the money made will be used to offset the cost o the new truck.

Four candidates are running for three open seats on the Board of Commissioners. Robert Stavola Jr. is running against John Vannoni to fill the remainder of an unexpired term, which is one-year.

Michael Jones and John McCann are running unopposed for two seats that each carry a three-year term.

Voting in the Blackwood Fire Company elections is 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the company’s building, 14 West Central Avenue in the Blackwood section of the township.

In addition to the question of the fire engine, residents in Chews Landing will vote on the department’s proposed $1,734,000 budget. Lawrence Grady and Nicholas Ritz will run against each other for one open seat on the Board of Commissioners. The seat carries a three-year term.

Voting in the Chews Landing Fire Department’s elections is 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Chews Landing Fire Station, 43 Somerdale Road in the Blackwood section of the township. Polling times are set by the state.