Residents Demand N.J. Officials Revive Fire Department

Feb. 09--FOLSOM -- A furious crowd attended Borough Council's meeting Wednesday night, demanding the borough reverse its decision that effectively ended the operation of the community's only local volunteer fire department.

More than 100 people filled the council's chamber,and speaker after speaker criticized the mayor and other council members for about 90 minutes. The meeting ended with the public shouting that they would end the careers of the borough's local officials.

It was the first public meeting since council approved a 10-year contract with the nearby Collings Lakes Fire District in the beginning of January. The day after the contract was approved, the borough removed the Folsom Volunteer Fire Department's firetrucks from their hall.

On Wednesday, State Police and Atlantic County Sheriff's Department officers also attended the meeting after Mayor Tom Ballistreri received a letter that he said read "Re-instate the Folsom Fire Department or your son dies."

Of those who spoke Wednesday, Carol Braun was one of several people saying the Folsom firefighters were the first to respond when she and her family needed help. Resident and Folsom Board of Education member Lou DiStefano said he would pay more in taxes to keep the department.

Several people asked questions about why the leaders made the decision to end the fire company's 66-year-old operation. When the officials answered, those present debated financial figures and different discussions that were held.

The council's position was that there has been a long history of problems with the local department, which they said has been uncooperative and was losing members. Officials also said they believed the town could get better service at a lower cost.

And while residents accused council of trying to end the fire company secretly, council blamed Wednesday's clamor on the fact few people in the town of about 1,900 ever attend regular meetings.

The fire company has put most of the blame on Ballistreri, who they said has had personal problems with the department's leadership.

Folsom Fire Captain Kyle Smith said that again Wednesday night, as he and Ballistreri debated what was said in a number of discussions in recent years and months about the fire department.

Smith's father, Fire Chief Larry Smith, was one of the last people to speak, and he also argued with Ballistreri about the history of the department's relations with the local government.

He, like many present, said the move would ultimately make the borough less safe, something the councilmen disputed several times by saying they would not have put their own families in danger.

"Sooner or later, someone's going to pay here," said Larry Smith, "and it's going to be a shame. I hope it's not a friend of mine."

The residents asked several times whether the decision could be put to a vote by the public, but Borough Solicitor Michael Fitzgerald explained there already was a binding contract in place that neither Folsom nor Collings Lakes could terminate unless either party stopped meeting the terms of the agreement.

As Ballistreri banged the gavel to end the meeting shortly after 9:30 p.m., residents continued to shout at him and the other councilmen. They left, some of them cursing, shaking their heads and vowing to vote the leaders out of office.

Contact Lee Procida:

609-272-7227

[email protected]