Updated: Holmdel Fire Departments Could Be Under One Umbrella
The Township Committee will vote on March 19 to potentially bring the two fire companies under one budget and chief.
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Correction as of March 12: This ordinance has not yet passed, according to Chief Doug Ziemba. It will be on the Township Committee agenda on March 19. This article was originally published on March 6.
The Holmdel Township Committee may vote to bring its two fire companies under one name.
Mayor Patrick Impreveduto said an amendment to its fire company ordinance could bring its two companies together administratively, but everything else will stay the same.
"It's going back to the way Holmdel used to be," Impreveduto said. "Nothing is really going to change, the companies will stay the same and the men will stay the same."
Impreveduto said the ordinance was originally amended eight years ago under the advisement of a previous township administrator.
In January, the Township Committee appointed Doug Ziemba Sr. as the township's Fire Chief. Ziemba will now run both companies with one budget, a move Impreveduto said could save money.
"Its not a significant change, but we think it will save us some money and it will bring continuity," Impreveduto said. "As far as the townspeople, nothing is going to change. They won't even notice."
Holmdel Fire Company #1 and Holmdel Fire Company #2 members will remain in place, Impreveduto said no residency restriction has been added to the ordinance.
In This article
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Holmdel Fire Company Number 1
35 W Main St, Holmdel, NJ -
Holmdel Fire and Rescue Company No. 2
11 Centerville Rd, Holmdel, NJ
All But
4:35 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The ordinance in the APP shows every mention of Fire Co 2 has been removed and everyone has to be a member of Co1. Also says that officers must be residants of Holmdel.Seems to be a big change because Co2 doesn't exist any more?
Kaitlyn Anness
5:13 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The name of Co. 2 is gone, and both companies will now be known as Holmdel Fire Company. However, members will remain the same and Mayor Impreveduto said there are no residency requirements for membership. I also do not see that in the ordinance, except in the case of special positions such as chief.
All But
4:16 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
@Kaitlyn Please read again as the ordanance absolutely refers time and time again to Fire Co #1.
2-29.1 Statutory Authority. The Holmdel Fire Company #1 , a volunteer fire company, is hereby designated as the exclusive authorized fire protection agency in the Township of Holmdel in accordance with N.J.S.A.
40A:14-68.
2-29.1A Fire Department Organization.
The Fire Department shall be comprised of the Holmdel Fire Company #1.
NJ-1
6:43 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Can someone provide a link to the app ordinance?
Joey
7:02 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
It would be nice for the township to outline the cost savings they are expecting by joining the two companies. From my understanding the previous budget of Fire Co. 2 was quite low and a lot of their operating income came from the efforts of members fundraising, not the town itself.
Secondly, what type of continuity are they expecting?
Typically a move such as this is detailed out more thoroughly for the residents of the town.
Dennis handlin
7:47 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
This is such a disgrace to be putting both houses as 1 to the residence of holmdel township Holmdel station 2 has taken up as a dept with the amount of members they have and block a person or persons from joining station 2 is just a personal vendetta from Doug Ziemba his station 1 cannot even man a truck so how is it that there could be such an ordinance passed well it seems that the residence of Holmdel township will be on edge now knowing that there township will not properly be coverd due to Doug Ziemba and the Mayor that are both good friends well i hope he has a good mutual aid with the bayshore area after this mishap why would they make this so called man a chief of a township is totally insane people should check his backround and see what they are dealing with
Carolyn Reid
11:01 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The member won't remain the same because everyone at #2 will quit.. and alot of them reside in Hazlet.. soooooooooo.... sorry to say.. but you will see that it won't be good... why not get the company who actually responds to calls to be the main officers/members? Makes no sense to me.. but it won't matter to you unless you have a fire, flood, car accident.. hurricane or hazardous material call. I don't live there.. but I feel bad for those that do.
Holmdel Dem
9:02 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Not quite sure why all of the complaining from members of Fire Company #2, unless they have something to hide....like fundraising money used to fund their own agenda.
If they decide to quit over this, they are leaving the residents of Holmdel in jeopardy, in which case they should be immediately replaced with more loyal workers.
So big deal, you may have to report to somebody you don't like, well in corporate America that happens all the time, so deal with it.
I met Doug during the blackout following Super Storm Sandy and he seemed like a very nice man that is concerned about his community. I don't know the members of the Centerville Rd firehouse, but I would like to thank them for their service to the community and they should do what is best to the residents of Holmdel.
All But
11:18 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
To Holmdel Dem, why the comment about having something to hide? You seem to be all mixed up. You say you don't know them and yet you insinuate that they are using money for some bad purpose. If you have some information that shows they have something to hide then you should share that with the Holmdel Police?If you dont have any information then why are you trying to stir things up? Wondering if maybe you yourself have sumthing to hide.
Joey
5:55 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Holmdel Dem; you indicate replacing them with loyal workers. Are you indicating the township should have paid firemen?
You also indicate that they are utilizing fundraising money for their own agenda? Could you expand on this?
You have to remember this is a 100% volunteer service. Hundreds of man hours donated by willing men & women which created an organization that provides life saving services to the township. This is now being stripped of them and consolidated with an organization that has a history of low membership and the inability to get apparatus in service for alarms.
39-2 39-3
6:11 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
What is consolidating? won't the members of Centerville Rd just join Fire Co 1? They are already working under Ziemba and still answering alarms so what is the difference if their helmets have a different number on them? If the companies are combined, I see that as being a benefit for the town because now you have two stations responding to a call (now as one "Company"). And as far as funding their own agenda... I cant keep track of all of the times Centerville Rd firemen have shaken me down for CASH ONLY at the Best Buy intersection. I don't trust delis that only take cash, let alone volunteer firemen.
Holmdel Dem
11:09 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Let me clarify my points.
As for their own agenda, I don't mean to imply that anything illegal is happening with the money that is raised, but I would like to know what it is being spent on. Does this fire company produce an annual budget and financial statement at the end of the year? I understand that they receive taxpayer funds to help support their operations.
While I'm not accusing of any illegal activity, anytime you have people handling cash, there is an opportunity for a rogue employee to do something that is not in the best interest of Holmdel.
As for my comment about more loyal workers, I mean that if they are willing to walk off the job, which is rumored to possibly happen, which would leave the residents of Holmdel unprotected, then they need to be replaced immediately.
If they have nothing to hide, then what's the big deal about a name change....come on guys, come clean.
Mike romano
7:28 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
I agree with you Holmdel Dem. it seems that every time that I pass HFCo 2 there are AA Richards trucks there. Appears that the business is being run from the Fire Co. Also when Fire Co. 2 seeks donations, they only want cash. Sounds like no accountability. Did anyone hear that during Hurricane Sandy when HFCO 2 was out helping in Union Beach, that they were soliciting business for AA Richards. What a disgrace!!! Thank you Holmdel for finally waking up and stopping their inappropriate actions.
All But
4:01 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
2-29.9 Company Chief and Officers; Appointment; Term of Office.
The Deputy Chief and other officers of the Holmdel Fire Company #1 shall be appointed at the annual reorganization meeting at the advice of the Township Fire Chief and consent by the Township Committee for a term of two (2) years, but shall hold office until their successors are appointed. All officers must be active members of the Holmdel Fire Company #1 and residents of Holmdel Township. In the event that there are no qualified resident officer candidates, fire company may present nonresident members subject to the recommendation of the Township Fire Chief and consent and approval of the Township Committee. In appointing the aforesaid officers, the Township Committee shall give due consideration to any recommendations for such appointments in the form of elections of said officers by each fire company, but such recommendations shall not be binding upon the Township Committee.
Nicole Magnotti
4:40 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Nobody has articulated what the difference is of a name change....seems to me that's all that is being done.
39-2 39-3
6:18 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Fire Co 2 now calls themselves Fire Co 1. They still go to fires, they still volunteer. I agree Nicole
Holmdel Dem
11:12 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Well said Nicole!
So they have a new boss that they don't necessarily like, so do I, but I go to work everyday anyway to support my family.
thelostone
1:08 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
@ holmdel dem. I can understand your point of just dealing with someone you dont like but in corporate america youre not relying on your boss to keep you safe at a fire scene and thats something that i think a lot of holmdel fire fighters are worried about. Ziemba is a nice guy but he has shown many people his complete disregard for safety on multiple occasions and thats whats so concerning. I dont feel it would be appropriate to mention specifics however.
Holmdel Dem
3:21 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
My recommendation to you sir would to bring the specifics up directly with the Mayor and the rest of the Township Committee. But as in real life, you better have your ducks all in a line before you start accusing someone else of not be capable.
thelostone
5:20 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
That's not my place to do so because I'm at the bottom of the totem pole. As far as I'm aware it has been brought to the attention of the proper people within the township administration but nothing has been done as you can clearly see. All I was trying to get across is that your analogy isn't accurate at all and there's a lot more going on than you know about.
Joey Randone
2:19 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I've worked in Holmdel for years. Unfortunately, I have dealt with some of the folks at the Centerville station. Although some of the firefighters were respectful, the main guy over there (I don't remember his name) treated myself and my co-workers very disrespectfully. He seemed to be real arrogant while trying to make others look bad for his own ego. Honestly, if I hadn't walked away from him, I probably would have gotten even more upset. This is just my opinion on the company. Take it for what it is worth.
Joey Randone
2:28 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate any firefighter as they serve the public. It's just that this guy seems like a real piece of work. How a firefighter behaves towards a respondent is a reflection on the whole town.
john cohn
9:02 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
let the fireman elect there own chiefs like other towns and all will be happy . eww forgot Holmdel is to good for that ...
anonymous
7:54 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
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