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i December 9 ,2010, BEACON NEWSPAPER. 5 Local Fire District elections in Copiague, Deer Park, West Babylon and West Islip set for Tuesday, December 14 th Robert McGrath, Copiague Elections to the Board of Fire Commissioners in the Copiague, West Islip, West Babylon and Deer Park fire districts will take place Tues., Dec. 14. Fire Commissioners run for their seats in general elections and are voted in by residents of the fire dis trict. They are volunteers who receive no financial compensation for their service and are responsible for setting policy, putting together and monitoring the district budget, purchasing equipment and es tablishing training programs for volunteers. They also monitor changes in laws and regulations and are charged with keeping the department up to date and in compliance. The following is a breakdown of those local elec tions: C o p ia g u e : Two men aré run« ning for one seat’pn the Copiague Fire' Districts Board of Commissioners in an election set for Tues., Dec. 14. Incumbent Robert McGrath is seeking reelection to his third 5-year seat on the board and faces op position from former Copiague Fire Chief Arthur Steigert. The race between the two longtime volunteers is cordial with McGrath saying ■ he ’wants 'to córitinü'e to use his experience to move the district forward during these challenging financial times. Steigert says he wants to bring new and different ideas to the board and has the time to serve in that position since retiring from United Parcel Service after 37 years. McGrath is a 37-year ■ member of the Cópi- ágtié’Fíré Dej&riínerrt ^ ^ and Steigert will' ¿elebráte 50 years of s^ryicé pext year. ; -' 11 ' “I believe that everyone hás something different to bring to the table and I want to continue to work with the rest of the board to move this department forward and make it better,” said Steigert, who adds that he can bring both business and firefighting experience to the board. McGrath points to the departments work in setting up a paid rescue team from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to en sure that residents get the most qualified and quickest response on rescue calls. “We have reduced response time and made other changes to better protect the. public such as putting in two AED’s (defribrilators) at Tanner Park,” said McGrath. “This brings an added measure of protection for coaches, parents ánd the youngsters who play down there.” In addition, the department has provided first-aid training for coaches in the Copiague Youth League. The department responds to approximately 2,000 calls a year, mos of them rescue calls. It serves 23,000 residents in Copiague and the American Venice East and West. McGrath sees finances as a major challenge to the deP?lTih$nt> spying the Board of Commissioners h a s , JtnpEoyements and. Arthur Steigerrt, Copiague also stay within its budget. “We keep a handle on our finances and the community’s needs year to year,” he said. “If we have to make changes, we do, if not then we work to stay within what we have already.” Steigert points to recruitment and retention of vol unteers as a department priority. “In this economy, with people having to work two jobs to make ends meet, it is not always possible for them dedicate time to the community, so that is a major issue for us.” To meet that challenge, Steigert said he would work to bring young people into the department, and en hance the Junior program. “For young people just out of high school who may not know what they want to do, the fire department offers them a great experi ence,” he said. The election will be held at fire headquarters, 320 Great Neck Road, Copiague, 6 to 9 p.m. D e e r P a r k Incumbent Commissioner Anthony Macaluso is seeking his fifth, five-year term on the Board of Fire Commissioners in Deer Park Macaluso is a lifelong resident of Deer Park and a graduate of Deer Park High School. He is a home heating company consul tant and a member of the department for 36 years. “I am still very active in the department,” said Ma caluso, a safety officer. “This enables me to have a hands on knowledge of what the department and the volunteers need, which, in turn, helps me as a com missioner.” Macaluso said one of the challenges facing the de partment, like many other fire departments, is to keep up with all of the changes and new mandates from the state and the county, and to keep attracting new . mepajjeys.,.“\Ye,ar(e always worsting to.bring,in new recruits,’ he said, “that is* a big issue. And, we are al ways looiking to hold the line on taxes.” This year, the district’s budget is $3.1 million, which is the same as last year. Deer Park Fire District covers approximately 45. Square miles and serves approximately 3,000 resi dents. It has a paid EMS coverage from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a paid first responder from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. The vote will be '■'> held at the main fire house, 94 Lake Ave., Deer Park from 6 to 9 p.m. W e s t B a b y l o n In West Babylon, William Klein is • seekipg a seat on the West Babylon Board, of Firfe Commis- ■ sioners, and is run- . ning unopposed. He is seeking the seat formerly held by Joseph Arcuri, who is not seeking reelection. Klein has lived in West Babylon for 48 years and is a 30-year member of the Department. He has served as a firefighter, Cap tain and Lieutenant. Retired from the New York City Police Department where he served as a detective in the aviation unit, he now has the time to devote to the position, he said, and he is looking forward to working with the other board members. “We have been providing a high level of service to residents and I would like to work to continue to have the department do that,” he said. “Each year, our calls increase but we want to maintain the quality of ser vice our residents expect and deserve.” The department responds to approximately 3,000 calls a, year, primarily calls for rescue service. An En^rgeflcy-Medieal-Tedwriciarr iff- w h&fid*frbM 6 William Klein, West Babylon a.m. to 6 p.m., and the department has three ambu lances. It has a budget for the coming year of $3.5 mil lion, which is the same as last year. One of the biggest challenges facing the department is ensuring that it meets the mandates and regulations set down by the state and federal governments, said Klein. “At a time when the economy is not great, it is more difficult to meet the financial demands made upon us as a result of those mandates and to provide train ing to Our volunteers,” he said. “We have to be bud get conscious as well as conscious of the needs of our residents and volunteers.” Klein’s wife is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and his two sons are members of the department’s youth program, which he runs. While attracting and retain ing volunteers is not a major cause of concern, Klein said “we are always looking for good people.” The election will be held at fire headquarters, Ar nold Avenue who all residents living south of Sunrise Highway and the Herzel Boulevard House, Station #2 for residents living north of Sunrise Highway. The vote is 2 to 9 p.m. The budget for the com ing year is $3.5 million and is the same as this year. W e s t I s l ip Seeking his third term as Commissioner in the West Islip Fire District is Jeffrey Kempf. A member of the department for 35 years, he works for Slomaris Oil Company and has lived in West Islip for 36 years. He faces no opposition. \My whole life has been dedicated to the depart ment and I want to con tinue to serve,\ said Kempf when asked why he is seeking his third, five-year term on the board. \My family is involved and we enjoy working for the community.\ Kempf said that one of the biggest challenges facing the department is in recruiting and retaining mem bers. \We get a lot of kids interested but then-they, go off to college and get married and they can't afford to stay here on Long Island, so we lose them,\ he said. To help address that issue, Kempf said that the board has changed its policy and now allows college students who go away to school to remain members of the department. \When they're home, they contin ue to be part of the department and respond to fires and such,\ he said. The department serves approximately 30,000 resi dents and has a budget of $3.4 million for the coming year, which represents no tax increase. It has a paid EMS from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. who are supported by vol unteers. The vote will be held from 1 ,tQ 9 p.m. at fire head quarters, 309 Union Blvd., West Islip. Jeffrey Kempf, West Islip
