Robert Holmes and Joel Golub: Fire District #3 Commissioner Candidates
Robert Holmes and Joel Golub are seeking election to the Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire District No. 3, Township of Marlboro in the February 16, 2013 election.
Robert Holmes has been a Fire Commissioner for the last 15 years and currently serves as Chairman. While Bob has been on the Board, the district has maintained the lowest fire budget in the township! The portion of the budget raised through taxation for the proposed 2013 budget has not increased from last year! He has been a firefighter for 47 years with Morganville Independent Fire Company, has served as Marlboro’s OEM coordinator and retired as Marlboro’s Police Chief after serving the Police Department for 35 years. Robert has been active in the Marlboro Township Little League and Pop Warner.
Joel Golub has lived in Morganville for the past ten years and is currently employed as Deputy Fire Commissioner and CIO for the Fire Department – City of New York. Joel has been a firefighter for 40 years serving in all capacities, both administrative and line. He has worked as a public servant for over 35 years and is a current firefighter at Morganville Independent Fire Company. Joel also worked as the Chief Information Officer for NJ TRANSIT and was the longest tenured CIO in public transit in the United States when he retired.
He later spent 2 years supporting technologies for first responders in Southern California before returning to the East Coast to work at FDNY.
Together, Robert and Joel bring eighty seven years of firefighting experience to the Board, will innovate to keep taxes low, are committed to providing the very best of service to the citizens of Morganville and will promote firefighter safety through education and updated equipment. Both candidates support consolidation of operations into one company operating from a central location which minimizes the response time for firefighters to get to any emergency.
In addition, both candidates want to insure that first due fire apparatus arrive at an emergency in the shortest possible time with properly trained and outfitted firefighters. Golub and Holmes say, “All too often, fire apparatus from Morganville Volunteer are responding to emergencies with too few firefighters who are not authorized or trained to wear protective breathing apparatus and without the appropriate fire protection clothing."
They say, “It’s not just about getting to scene – it’s about quickly responding to the emergency, whatever it may be, in a safe and efficient manner, operating effectively to protect life and property and insuring that every firefighter returns safely."
Both candidates understand that to manage and improve the services provided, the Board needs to be able to measure performance. Measuring performance is the first step to understanding and designing improvements and efficiencies. Holmes and Golub say that, “Our opponent states that the Board paid $18,000 for an operations study but has not followed through but they fail to point out to the public that the consultant recommended first, that the district build a new facility. A subsequent survey demonstrated that this option would cost $6,000,000 and the Board rejected this alternative since it was cost prohibitive. The consultant’s next best recommendation was to use the Morganville Independent Firehouse on Rt. 79 due to it’s central location in the district but our opponents have not supported this recommendation and further, have taken steps that place the public in jeopardy by advocating the move of equipment out of the recommended firehouse”.
“In addition, both our opponents have stated that the Board is proposing to spend public money on renovating the firehouse on Rt. 79 and they are simply wrong and haven’t taken the time to research this issue. Morganville Ind. Firehouse has secured a SBA loan and has not asked for any public funding. As a matter of fact, both fire companies submitted plans and Independent’s was approximately $500,000 using no public funds while Volunteer was approximately $1,000,000 with the use of public funds. It is unconscionable that our opponents haven’t disclosed all this information to the public”, say Holmes and Golub.
Holmes and Golub state that “The $600,000 cost for equipment also referenced by their opponents is to purchase a new pumper/brush truck that replaces a dilapidated 25 year old fire truck. We will never allow firefighters to operate equipment that is unsafe and dangerous. One of our opponents has no firefighting experience and we are puzzled by their statements, since they both attended the special public meeting where this issue was presented and passed without any comments or objections from them or the rest of the public. The truck is being purchased with reserve funds that were saved over the years for this very purpose and there is no impact to the tax rate for 2013”.
“Our opponents are misinformed and again have misled the public by stating that the Board is not transparent in posting financial information and Board minutes on the web when the Board has had an active website for the last two years. Residents can access the website by going to http://marlborofiredist3.org/home.html”.
Holmes and Golub together, bring experience, integrity and innovation to the Board! They invite voters to ask any questions by sending an email to holmesandgolub@yahoo.com or by calling 732-713-7854.
The Fire District election will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2013, at the Morganville Fire House, 78 Tennent Road, between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Both candidates request the support of all registered voters and would invite all voters to attend the monthly Board meetings held the second Monday of each Month.
Robert & Ali Morrisson
11:40 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Wow-have to love small town politics. We did some research on the candidates-Robert Holmes former chief has an “interesting” background. Not sure why having someone who is a FDNY commissioner is important. Not much on Smith or Tansey, but will keep looking. Also found out these two departments had around 300 dispatched calls, most of which were alarms. While that doesn’t diminish the importance of the fire service, it has put in to perspective what is going on. We were uninformed prior to seeing all these posts, but will be voting down the budget. We agree that spending all that money to renovate a building doesn’t make sense. Those funds could be better spent. Trying to find a copy of the report that Smith and Tansey refer to, but it’s not on the commissioners’ website, so that makes us wonder why not? No budget posted either. Not sure who we are voting for yet, but elections should be moved to November so that we as the public, know what's going on. Maybe the town should completely do away with fire districts, consolidate equipment and save us all a lot of money!!!
Jonny Rock
1:09 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
being a leader of the largest and most respected fire departments in the world is not important? You answer with withholding life saving equipment? consolidate in one fire house for all of Marlboro township? your house would be burnt down by the time they get there.
tom thornton
4:07 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
And both of them pocket $4000 each of tax money for going to 1 meeting a month.The Fire Deaprtment is volunteer.
Did they misplace that memo
John Sterns
6:46 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Well first off they are not paid as volunteer fire fighters. They are paid in a political position. Agreed they should not be paid at all just as all the other local yocal politicians should not be. The volunteer firemen should be supported by everyone in this town and support the budget within means to keep the guys with new equipment and trucks. Their safety is of the most importance. Trucks also need to be replaced every few years since it is our lives they are trying to protect. You don't want the politicians and worst case unions coming into this town pushing for paid fire fighters. For the amount of calls town wide that would be a huge waste of tax payer money seeing groups of men sitting around all day everyday in a fire house and getting paid. Our volunteers do a great job and need support. Now understanding that if the call volume in that district is handled primarily from fire fighters from one of the two departments and if one needs to be closed to consolidate then its a no brainer. The one on Tennent road have not enough members to respond so in that alone lies your answer. Buildings are also remodeled a lot cheaper than building a new one so also if the building on 79 can be rebuilt with their own funds let them do it.
allan
11:09 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
no volunteer fire co today has 300,000 to a million to build a new fire house, only the tax payers.
Eric cleary
11:16 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
If you want to support the fireman why not come out and join Morganville volunteer fire company and make a difference.
Eric cleary
11:57 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Find out all the true facts before you vote ask to read the report you paid for and vote tansey Smith to even out to the onesided table.
Retired Firefighter
9:28 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Here are some facts:
Tansey spent $18,000 of your tax dollars for someone else to come and make the decisions for him because he was either incapable or simply refused. And then he ignored them when it was not what he wanted. $18,000 WASTED. Don’t pawn off the decisions, that’s what we have commissioners for!
Nobody wants to volunteer? Then how is the other Morganville’s membership booming with new members? (also see patch article for new graduates to Morganville independent and Robertsville) Sounds like and internal problem with one firehouse…
Smith/tansy voted no for a new truck? Maybe it is because they need to replace two 30 year old trucks. So the current board is; A) consolidating the apparatus, b) saving thousands on repairs, c) upgrading old equipment to better support the town and d) have SAFER equipment for our firefighters. And finally, this is done with money already saved for exactly this purpose. The current board has NO DEBT, the truck will be fully paid. Seems Smith and Tansey have their own interests in mind.
Did you know the current board LOWERED your tax rate! (app.com and patch.com)
Did you know that a vast majority of firefighters support Holmes?
Did you know that Tansey voted YES for 2 new trucks (about 1 million dollars) for his own dept and now refuses to do the same for the other dept, even though it is much less and more needed?
allan
11:12 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
the truck being replaced is an over size pickup f350 , what they want to buy is 600,000.
Retired Firefighter
12:30 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
to Allan: considering the approval was for a "mid-sized pumper" and with the average pumper costing 550K unequipped i think you are completely misinformed. And where did anyone say they are buying a F350? I read the December notes, and it is clear they want a mid sized pumper, a F350 would be considered a mini pumper.
Retired Firefighter
9:29 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
(cont)
How about the fact that the Independent invited the volunteer to merge with them and Tansey DEMANDED that the letter not be released to the public?! (told form someone that was at the meeting)
Did you know that when the board (under Tansy’s “leadership”) forced a highly protested merge with no plans or input from the firefighters, that the district did NOT save a single dollar?
I am voting for Golub and Holmes and yes to the budget. They support consolidation with a proper plan, to keep lower taxes, to increase firefighter safety, and much more.
-Retired Firefighter
Ilene Caulfield
11:18 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
First of all, Tansey did not spend $18,000 the Board unanimously voted to spend the money. Second, if you read the recommendations of the report it stated 4 times that the fire companies merge to the Tennent Road location and third, the letter inviting Volunteer to merge with Independent was handed in at the meeting 4 days prior to elections. Remember they did merge at the Tennent Road location for 2 years and so what makes them think that relocating to the building at the Rt. 79 location, which according to the survey can not accomodate the fire trucks, will make a difference. Same players different field!
Truth Finder
12:36 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Holmes was also a member of the board of fire commissioners when they voted to have the survey completed. Holmes was on the board when they voted to abide by the survey recommendations and relocated the equipment to the Tennent Road Firehouse. You do realize that a Board of Fire Commissioners which I will reiterate included Holmes is made up of more than one person and the Board in its entirity is responsible for decisions. Also the current board was in existence when the apparatus was at Tennent Rd. Tansey must be one powerful person if he alone is responsible for all that has happened.
allan
1:24 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
no they are getting rid of a f350 mini pumper and replacing it with a 600,000 truck which the district doesn't need.
e leon
9:42 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Board of Fire Commissioners in Marlboro District 3 has called a special meeting on Monday at 8 p.m. at the Morganville Independent Fire Company on Route 79.
It was also announced in August that the board is pursuing financing to create a truck bay structure at Morganville Independent on Route 79.
Then a funny thing happened on the way to Election Day.
Commissioner Holmes states now, no tax payer monies will be used to build new fire house for Morganville Independent.
Which way is it Commissioner Holmes? Or do we have to wait till after election to find out?????
Related Topics:Morganville Independent Fire Company, Morganville Volunteer Fire Company, and Public Safety
allan
9:46 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Board of Fire Commissioners in Marlboro District 3 has called a special meeting on Monday at 8 p.m. at the Morganville Independent Fire Company on Route 79.
It was also announced in August that the board is pursuing financing to create a truck bay structure at Morganville Independent on Route 79.
Then a funny thing happened on the way to Election Day.
Commissioner Holmes states now, no tax payer monies will be used to build new fire house for Morganville Independent.
Which way is it Commissioner Holmes? Or do we have to wait till after election to find out?????
Related Topics:Morganville Independent Fire Company, Morganville Volunteer Fire Company, and Public Safety
cynicinmarlboro
11:42 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Forgetting about the politics and the budgets that need to be passed, this election must have the lowest turnout year after year. No idea why this election has never been moved from a partial Saturday in the middle of winter to allow even more participation from the public. Maybe it's because the budgets are not comparable to the education ones, but if participation is wanted the election should be changed. Just my thoughts. And thank you to all the volunteers who serve us well.