To the Editor:

Tonight (5/19/21) we on the Legislative Council will consider a resolution to increase tax abatement for volunteer firefighters, ambulance, and underwater rescue personnel. This change will put Newtown’s support for our volunteer services as one of the most generous in the state, and I am glad to support it. With the financial uncertainty around the pandemic there were challenges around implementation; however, due to responsible fiscal policies Newtown is able to afford this without an impact on the upcoming tax rate. This is a small gesture of gratitude relative to the efforts, risks, and sacrifices made every day by our friends and neighbors who volunteer to serve our community, and who never stopped providing these essential services during the pandemic.

We amended this ordinance in 2016, and at that time we included language to allow the Council to adjust benefits by resolution. Recently the state rightly expanded the discretion municipalities have in this regard with Public Act 19-36 which had overwhelming support. The resolution comes with a unanimous and bipartisan recommendation from the Council’s Ordinance Committee.

Increasing the property tax abatement is the least we can do to honor the brave men and women that voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. Our neighbors provide these services to our community at an incredibly high level of professionalism. There are financial benefits to their generosity as well, because volunteer departments save the taxpayers millions over the costs of paid departments.

Back issues of this paper are littered with the incredible work of NUSAR, performing rescues and recoveries. I can’t imagine diving under ice and being willing to take that risk to save others is an incredible act selflessness.

Firefighting is a very dangerous job as we were tragically reminded recently in New Haven. Despite the dangers, we in Newtown we are blessed to have brave individuals who step forward, not for full time compensation, rather they give up their own time and volunteer to do so, investing days and weeks into training and remain ready to drop what they are doing when the call goes out.

Last year I personally had a scary incident having an anaphylactic reaction while jogging and ended up unconscious on the roadside. Were it not for the lifesaving actions of Newtown Ambulance members like Tom Hanlon and his colleagues, who spent their time on a beautiful Saturday morning standing by ready to help others, I am certain I wouldn’t be here to write this.

Words can’t express how grateful I am to live in a community with so many people willing to step forward to help others. Thank you.

I am a member of the Legislative Council and the comments above are my own and not on behalf of the full Council… though I doubt any of my fellow members would disagree with the sentiments.

In Gratitude,

Ryan Knapp

11 Jeremiah Road, Sandy Hook May 21, 2021