Township considers future of Fire Station No. 1

by Laura Bednar

April 11 township trustees meeting

Bath Township accepted the proposal of MPG Architects to conduct a feasibility study for $15,000 to determine possible renovation or reconstruction of Fire Station No. 1.

Township Administrator and Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said the station has structural issues, and there is significant settling of the building due to soil conditions. “The garage door height and length is not consistent with new equipment,” he added.

Parking at the preserve

The Parks Department agreed to pay $9,100 to Ray Bertolini Trucking Company to install a 10-car gravel parking lot at the North Fork Preserve on Everett Road. Sinopoli said the lot will be between the existing barn and a home on the property. The lot would allow visitors to park their cars and use the proposed three-loop trail system on site.

The same company will excavate and repair several areas of the Bath Community Park lot for $13,700.

Grant applications

The police department will apply for an Office of Criminal Justice Services ARPA Law Enforcement Violence Reduction and Staffing grant. According to the township resolution, the grant supports communities that have experienced difficulty in providing services to mitigate effects of violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The township will apply for financial assistance for a period of 24 months to “replace vacant law enforcement positions that occurred during the pandemic period, enhance recruitment equipment/ materials used at job fairs, along with incentivizing law personnel to retain them.”

Trustees also approved an application to the office of 11th District Congresswoman Shontel Brown for a Community Project Funding grant. If received, the police department would upgrade law enforcement equipment to National Institute of Standards and Technology specifications. Sinopoli said dispatch consoles and transmission components are “in dire need of upgrade.” He added that upgrading two consoles and the transmission towers without a grant would cost $648,000.

In other action

The fire department purchased a new Ranger vehicle that includes a Stokes basket on the back to transport fire victims as well as a 55-gallon, gas-powered tank to extinguish brush fires. Fire Chief Robert Campbell said the vehicle can reach areas that average fire equipment can’t get to. The Ranger was purchased with donations to the fire department.

The Fraternal Order of Police labor agreement with the police department and International Association of Fire Fighters agreement with the fire department were amended to recognize the Juneteenth holiday and provide time off.

The Bath Gamma Garden Club was recognized for 65 years of service. ∞