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PLEASE MEET: Candidates for Fire District Commissioners' seats in MFD and NMFD
MASSAPEQUA In the race in Massapequa, Molloy points to his experience and the work he has done on behalf of the members of the department and the public during his tenure. Specifically, Molloy, a 25-year volunteer with Massapequa, points to the purchase of new equipment and the daily maintenance and oversight he and the other Commissioners provide. "I have also helped bring our three houses up to code after 25 years and really enjoy my time on the board," said Molloy. "I hope people come out and reelect me because the current board works well together," he added. Pat Pogan, is an 18-year department member and hopes to win that seat and work to bring a new perspective to the board.
Molloy says that additional training is already slated to begin, thanks to a new training center at Brooklyn Avenue. "With a $25,000 grant from Congressman Peter King we were able to build a training center that will keep our volunteers here instead of going to Bethpage," said Molloy who added that there will be no increase in this year's budget of $5-million. Pogan also says he'd like to bring some transparency to the workings of the fire department. "The public doesn't really know about our budget, the elections or who is even running the department, we need to change that," said Pogan, a former Bellerose Terrace firefighter for ten years prior to joining Massapequa.
"I'd like to see more go toward equipment; that's what we do- we're firemen, and we need equipment," said Pogan, who has been endorsed by the members of the Massapequa Firehouse. According to the district's 2008 budget, however, the largest line item in the budget, $560,300, is for apparatus and equipment. The MFD serves more than 60,000 residents in Massapequa, Massapequa Park and East Massapequa. It has approximately 270 members who respond to approximately 2,400 alarms annually. The department covers approximately 13 square miles. Voters can vote from 2-9 p.m. at the East End Firehouse at Merrick Road & East Shore Drive, the West End Firehouse at Hicksville Road and Grand Avenue or the Massapequa Park Firehouse on Front Street. NORTH MASSAPEQUA North Massapequa's fire race is unopposed with Nicholas Paolucci running for reelection to another five-year term. A 55-year resident, Paolucci joined the department in 1976, was president of Friendship Company #3 and also past Chief. For more than 35 years, he has worked as a Town of Oyster Bay Fire Inspector and in its buildings department. He points to the district's success when asked why he should be reelected. "We run a great fire district and the current board works very well together," said Paolucci. "If reelected, I hope to work maintaining our sound fiscal practice without compromising our emergency medical responders," he said adding that the 2008 budget will remain $2,192,000 as it has been for the past eight years. In addition, voters will also be asked to approve an amendment of the district award program for their volunteer firemen by changing the entitlement age and paying retroactive back service awards of $195,000 and adding $30,000 a year annually to that program. The North Massapequa Department serves about 6,000 homes. People can come to headquarters, 1000 North Broadway, to vote between 4-9 p.m. Fire Commissioners serve as volunteers. They are elected by a general vote of all residents within the individual districts and their responsibilities include oversight of fire department regulations and policies, finances, management of district properties, including purchasing, maintaining and monitoring all equipment.
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