Washington Twp. Fire Department to receive grant
After the Washington Township Fire Department appealed to the public and to the township supervisors for financial help earlier this month, they were recently advised that some help is on the way. Rob Bennett, assistant fire chief, said that the department had been waiting to find out if they would be receiving grant money they had applied for from the state. State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, said that the department was approved for a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. “Because of the fire department’s financial difficulties, we worked hard to push a grant ahead in the process,” Daley said.
Before notification of the grant, Bennett had told the township supervisors that the department was in danger of closing its doors in January because of debts they were unable to pay.
Although the department has been approved for the grant, treasurer John Kimball said they haven’t seen the money yet. “We’re not sure when we are going to get it,” said Kimball. “We wish it would have been here two weeks ago.”
Megan Donley, a spokes-woman for Daley’s office, said that Daley is in communication with the Smithfield Bank, which holds much of the debt, and has informed officials that funding will be coming to the department. “The grant was specified for debt reduction and Rep. Daley is in communication with the bank to let them know that money is coming and the department’s debts will be paid. He is trying to work with the department to move things along.”
Kimball said that Daley has taken care of the situation with the bank, and when the money arrives, it will help the department stay open for a while.
“It will help us out a little bit for right now,” said Kimball. “It will help us to get ahead one payment on our loan so we can eliminate that problem and pay other bills. But in the long run we will still need a fire tax. We will have to put that to referendum and there is going to be another meeting about it on Dec 29. It looks promising because the township doesn’t want to lose their fire department.”