By John Walk
The York Dispatch
YORK CITY, Pa. — A new report recommends that York City close one of its four fire stations and cut 10 staff positions.
Doing so would allow the city to cut expenses and still maintain adequate fire service, the report says.
The fire study, commissioned last year by former mayor John Brenner, was completed by Maryland-based Public Safety Solutions Inc.
The company analyzed an array of issues, including response times, policies and procedures, staffing levels and vehicle and safety needs.
The company released its findings to the city Sept. 21 in a 300-plus page binder.
Fire Chief Steven Buffington said the study will be thoroughly reviewed before any decisions are made.
“We want to review it entirely, look at all the recommendations, and come back with suggestions based on that report,” Buffington said.
“Considering the impact this would have on our organization, it would be impulsive for us to make a statement or decision on anything without thoroughly reviewing it,” he said.
Too good for its own good? The study analyzed response times on how quickly a fire engine arrived at a scene in 2009.
The average response time for the city’s four stations was about 2 minutes, 15 seconds, two minutes faster than the recommended 4-minute maximum response time as outlined in the National Fire Protection Association’s codes and standards, the study said.
As a result, the study recommends that the city close one of its fire stations — particularly, station Vigilant Union Fire Department, Station No. 2 at 267 W. Market St.
That would leave fire stations No. 1 at 49 S. Duke St., No. 5 at 833 E. Market St., and No. 9 at 800 Roosevelt Ave.
After examining areas each of the three stations cover, the study said the department could still meet the needs of York City and maintain the average response time of 2 minutes, 15 seconds to any fire call in the city.
Staff: Along with closing a fire station, the study said, the department could still function adequately if it cut 10 positions: two assistant fire chiefs, two lieutenants and six firefighters.
The city currently has six assistant chiefs, six lieutenants and 52 firefighters.
The study says the cuts would result in a reduction in the city’s annual fire operations and maintenance costs and an increase in revenue from the sale of a fire station and its apparatus.
The study did not provide information on how much money the city would save as a result of the moves.
Decision: While the city administration and fire department would likely discuss any action, the city council would have the final say on any decision because it approves the fire department’s annual budget, city council president Genevieve Ray said.
In 2010, the city council approved the department’s $9.3 million budget, which is about 25 percent of the city’s entire 2010 budget.
Although Ray said she has yet to receive a copy of the study, she said it’s important the city have a discussion about it if it involves taxpayer dollars.
“If we’re going to talk about capital improvements, such as the property at Sovereign Bank, I think we should have a look at the whole picture together because it affects the taxpayers,” said Ray, referring to the $2.7 million purchase the city is considering at 101 S. George St. to relocate the city’s administrative offices.
Alarms: The study also said the city could save money by phasing out the use of fire box alarms on the walls of buildings, which people can pull when there is a fire emergency nearby.
In 2009, the department responded to 179 false alarms that were triggered by the fire boxes. That number is about seven times higher than the state average, the study said.
Because of the availability of 911 and land-line and cell phones, the study said, many towns and cities across the country have abolished or are phasing out the fire alarm boxes, including New York City, where the false alarms have become a growing problem in recent years.
York City Mayor Kim Bracey did not return a call seeking comment. City business administrator Michael O’Rourke declined to comment because he said he has yet to review the study.
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