Support For Hook & Ladder

To the Editor:

I read with dismay the recent articles regarding our Newtown Hook and Ladder firehouse expansion project. The opposition and negativity against this expansion is mind-boggling. These volunteers deserve better than this. For all they do for us, for all the time and energy spent away from their families and jobs, an expansion and a structurally sound building is a necessity.

Long before the Edmond Town Hall made their improvement plans the firehouse was in need of expansion and repair and the volunteers always made the repairs. As the state-endorsed agents for the property, Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers should have been maintaining the firehouse all these years. When the volunteers need to respond to a call they have many obstacles to encounter in the back of the town hall. Maybe it’s a crowded movie, maybe a dance recital, maybe parents dropping off or picking up their little ones at preschool, people using the gym or having a party in the Alexandria Room. Whatever the activity, it is difficult enough to drive through the parking lot with a car let alone a fire truck. But they do it and manage very well because they are dedicated to serving us.

I was amazed when I read about some Main Street residents presenting a petition against the sound of the siren when there is a fire. I seem to remember not too long ago there were objections to the clock chimes on the Town Hall as well. The concerns about traffic safety are reasonable. But there are so many safety issues on Main Street, for instance backing out of the parking spaces in front of town hall onto oncoming traffic, pedestrians crossing where there are no cross walks, etc. In my opinion, the worst Main Street traffic problem is not having a traffic light at the flagpole.

I wholeheartedly back the Newtown Hook and Ladder firehouse expansion. As citizens of Newtown we need to show all our volunteer services that we are proud of them and care about their needs and what it takes to do their job. I take notice of other firehouses in towns and cities that I visit and all of them are out on the main street, well kept and proud and ready to respond. It would be wonderful if our firehouse had been built up in the front of the property and the Town Hall in back where people could get to it easily. Main Street residents have said they would help the fire company build a modern firehouse elsewhere; how about the Police Department building as a potential site. With the Town Hall Managers improvements project in the works and talk of building a new town hall at Fairfield Hills, perhaps an adequate area could be renovated for the police in the existing town hall and perhaps the Park and Recreation Department could relocate to the existing firehouse building. With all the people in town who use Park and Rec I am sure they would enjoy the parking and easy access to that building. In the Police Department building the firehouse bays would be directly on Main Street, and as it is a slightly less populated area, perhaps the siren wouldn’t be so annoying to those residents. A sound building with easy access for our volunteer firefighters and a lovely firehouse on Main Street standing tall, proud and ready to respond is what is needed.

Marianne Corbo

28 Taunton Lake Drive, Newtown                                 May 5, 2003