Bob, 
Re: the association has never been approached about purchasing the building.

You write,

There was only one time prior that we had any contact about our hall which had to do with the senior citizens association and buying our hall for them and for the community center, which unfortunately the deal was made with Gloucester Heights fire Association.

Someone from the administration had to be involved in that conversation; correct?

Several people approached me wondering what happened to the fire engine at Pine Grove Fire House. Since the citizens pay for the fire engine I see nothing wrong with any member or associate telling me where the fire engine has been re-located. Nor do I see anything wrong with the people being told that the association had to take out a mortgage.

It shows the public how desperate the situation has become.

You write the association will deal with this member for speaking out about your finances. I hope you reconsider. Your association as well as a lot of non-profit organizations except donations from the public. Yet we are never told how much money is raised or where the money goes. Ask a member of any group that question and nobody will give you a straight answer.

When asked how Pine Grove has been able to keep operating with a dwindling membership. The person answered, \” it hasn’t been easy we recently had to take an $85,000 mortgage\”. 

This idea of keeping things in house is one of the reasons why the public has problems with giving their hard earned money when asked to donate to this cause or that cause.

Yet you suggest this individual who answered my question should be punished.Your association can now put up a sign saying help us pay off our mortgage. And most will gladly give to that cause. Instead of chastising the individual you should give him/her a thank you for helping your cause.

FYI – mortgages are public information filed with the county clerk. You don\’t have to be an \’insider\’ to get this information.

Bill,

Dont know if its true but there has been a pretty hot rumor going around that the full time fire department is going to increase their manpower by 8 (eight!) to allow a second ambulance to be stationed at Gloucester Heights fire hall. This will be equipped with 2 fire fighters on each of the four squads and will increase their squads from 7 per shift to 9 per shift. Dont know how the city can continue to throw money away in a department that averages so few calls. My suggestion will be to have two of the seven firemen already working drive the second ambulance. Lets face it, the fire truck just does not go out except for a few times a year and we have several volunteers and other municipalities that can render assistance if we need it. This city is crying poor but seem to always have money for their buddys. Also heard we just hired 5 new people to work at the Highway, Water, and Housing Departments. Guess we arent really as bad as Mayor James reported in his State of the City propaganda.

Our association met with Mayor James not long after he had taken office about the purchasing of the hall for the seniors , so that was a few years back now? But our association never said NO we are not selling, thats not the way that it went down. There were supposed to be additional meetings following with whomever from the city that never happened due to they made the deal with Gloucester Heights so suddenly, like it had already been in the works before we were even spoken to.
We need help from the residents yes, financially would be great but thats not how i was coming off. If the people and City administration along with fire administration do not want to see another station go under then steps need to be taken to keep that from happening but I feel personally, not speaking on behalf of my association, that certain people want to see us close, That is part of where the whole petty inmaturity thing comes in that I was speaking about in my previous comment. Again, we never turned down anything.
We do what we do to keep our building going with help from the city and taxpayers and I Thank everyone for doing so. We were told once we have the sufficient manpower the truck will be returned. But, steps could be taken from all parties to help us with that. Thank You again.

A member of the Highland Park Fire Co. told me that when their association was having trouble getting volunteers they decided to shut down. At the time, late 80\’s/early 90\’s they offered the building to the City for Free. Instead of taking it and using for a senior citizens/community center the City\’s response was thanks but no thanks.

Several years later the City is purchasing the Gloucester Heights Firehall for a senior citizens/community hall. 

As with this situation the public is always the last to know. And yet it was/is their donations that helped to build not only Highland Park, Gloucester Heights, but Pine Grove too. 

Not right. 

Thank you Bob for your thoughts, also thanks to the anonymous source for bringing this situation to the public\’s attention. Without you this would have been another secret not told until after the fact.

Bill and or Bob
It would seem appropriate to ask a few questions since the suggestions are to dig into the public\’s pocket and give money.

Bill, could you find out why the PGFA needed to borrow $85,000?
Also, what they intend to do with that money?

Bob, would you be willing to open your books to the public and allow Bill to post that information in exchange for public support?

There are those in the city who always seem to be able to pitch in but now feel it is a waste of resources to put money into a bottomless pit.

We all remember the fire department fiasco, the burn center issue and the little league drama. They all have one thing in common. Lack of and resistance to financial reporting.

It should be public policy to have all entities who seek/receive public donations/funds be required to post their financial records.

It is rumored the boat is the next financial fiasco in the making. Once again NO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE!!!!

Oh no what would we do if we didn’t have volunteer fire fighters. Who would stand around and watch the paid guys work during a fire. Who would drive 100 mph with a little stupid blue light thinking they are above the above and smash into stuff just to get dress go to the fire and sit around. 95% of these guys don’t do anything but sit around and tell war stories about stuff they really didn’t do during a fire, they walk and drive around they we owe them something. I know a couple volunteers’ from different towns and they all say the same thing that we have the biggest dorks and tools ever assembled in our volunteer stations.

No Problem Bill, The issue is not with our association we are not asking for any financial support, this is a FIRE DEPARTMENT issue our association has nothing to do with the fire department you just need both in order for everything to work effectively. This is about Firefighters and a fire truck not about the purchasing of our building I do not konmw why someone is trying to turn it into that. We need firefighters, BODIES, MANPOWER!!! In order to get the engine back because we lost a lot of people over the last 3 years due to petty inmaturity within and no assistance to get new firefighters and retain present ones. Thank You.