Mantua – At the last meeting, Fire Chief Matt Roosa expressed gratitude to the community for passing Issue 16 on the November ballot. “I take a great deal of pride and ownership with this organization and its employees,” he shared. “We strive to give you the best service and support going forward into the future,” he concluded.
Moving ahead, the Chief informed the board that all items in the MARCS Radio Project have been programmed; department personnel will be trained on the new system during the month of December with a projected system roll out on January 1st, “as long as everything proceeds as anticipated.” In other news, the chief noted that negotiations on the full-time contract are at a standstill. He noted that while both parties are still in negotiations, the contract may not be resolved before the end of the year. He noted that this isn’t cause to worry, since per the Union contract, personnel will continue to work under the current contract until such time as any outstanding issues are resolved and a new contract is reached.
Chief Roosa noted that the Department has been awarded a grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Bureau of Workers Compensation. The funds will be used to purchase barrier hoods and a new gear washer.
Lastly, if you plan to set up your live Christmas tree, be sure to keep it well-watered to reduce the risk of fire. By placing your tree away from heat sources and giving it about a gallon of water every few days, you lengthen the time to enjoy your tree. But even a well-watered tree should be removed after four weeks indoors, according to a the National Fire Protection Association. They reported that half of Christmas tree fires occur in the 20 days after Christmas. They also advise checking the light strings and sockets for damage prior to trimming your tree and always using indoor-rated, UL-listed lights. When replacing incandescent Christmas lights, opt for LEDs, which don’t get as hot, last longer, and are more energy efficient, and be sure to turn off Christmas tree lights when unattended.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, December 9th at 6 pm at the Fire Station; residents are encouraged to attend.
