Firefighters Back Merger Legislation During Senate Hearing

All the players were there, but the venue was changed. Instead of Town Hall or Swift Community Center, members of the East Greenwich Town Council, EG Fire District, and a few other interested parties were crammed into Room 211 at the State House Wednesday afternoon for the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Senate Bill 739, which if passed would abolish the East Greenwich Fire District, paving the way for creation of a town fire department.

The legislation was introduced in February, following passage of a referendum in November asking voters if they favored merging the fire district into the town.

Almost everyone who testified at the hearing Wednesday had been heard before voicing similar arguments, but one new voice in favor of the legislation was Bill Perry, president of the firefighers union.

"It is the position of the members from Local 3328 that the will of the taxpayers ... was clearly expressed when they voted in favor of the referendum in November by a margin of 66 percent."

Perry had said last week the union would be taking a stand on the legislation, but his statement during Wednesday's hearing was the first public indication of the union's position. 

The first to testify, after being introduced by the bill's sponsor, Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E. Greenwich, N. Kingstown, Narragansett, S. Kingstown), was Town Council President Michael Isaacs, who argued the issue was about following the will of the voters.

Fire Commissioner Chairman Bill Daly came next. Daly has been a steadfast opponent of the legislation. On Wednesday, he raised an issue he's raised previously, that voters were under the impression they were voting on a "nonbinding" referendum and that they may not have been aware the Town Council would immediately translate a "yes" vote to the legislation now before the General Assembly.

To that, Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) said, referring at the EG ballot from November 2012, "Question 8 [the EGFD question] ... seemed pretty straight forward. If that wasn't clear than I would say probably 1 through 7 weren't clear either." Questions 1 through 7 were state ballot questions.

Sen. David Bates (R-Barrington, Bristol, E. Providence) followed up: "The referendum didn't say, "Do you think it's a good idea?' It said, 'Are you in favor of a merger?'"

Fire Commissioner Stephen Bartlett – who is also against the legislation – argued the fire district would suffer if grouped with other town departments. 

"While smaller government sounds good ... " said Bartlett, "in this case it means less oversight."

In addition, Bartlett painted a negative picture of the town's financial situation compared to the fire district's.

"The town has over $70 million worth of debt," he said, compared to the fire district's complete lack of bond debt. Bartlett did acknowledge the district has a an OPEB pension liability, which has been calculated most recently at $19 million.

In his testimony, Councilman Jeff Cianciolo said Bartlett's figure misrepresented the town's indebtedness, noting that while the town is on the hook for sewer bonds, those bonds are being paid back by residents who've tied into the sewer in recent years. In addition, he said, 40 percent of the school bond debt is being reimbursed by the state. 

Still, after the hearing, Town Manager Bill Sequino, who testified briefly in favor of the legislation, said Bartlett's figure of "over $70 million" was technically correct. 

Town Councilor and Fire Commissioner Mark Gee also testified. 

"I whole-heartedly support this bill without any reservations," he said. He then questioned the logic of businesses looking to locate in East Greenwich having to go before two separate municipal boards instead of one.

"That's not making business easier to do in Rhode Island, certainly not in East Greenwich," said Gee.

"This legislation will allow the voters of East Greenwich to have a stronger voice and have a true representative government," said Town Councilor Jeff Cianciolo.

The Finance Committee did not vote on the bill; they did not have a quorum. If they approve the bill, it will go to the full Senate for a vote. The House Municipal Affairs Committee will take up the bill on Wednesday, April 10. 

Here are some recent articles about the Fire District legislation and the possible impact if it passes: 

Council Votes to Draft Fire District Merger Legislation

Fire Commissioners Won't Vote On Legislation To Abolish District; Union Will