Amityville Record

Amityville gets $215K grant for fire department

$2,900 investment for grant writer pays off, says Mayor
by Carolyn James

Almost a year ago, Mayor James P. Wandell read in Newsday that there were grants available from the federal government for fire departments. After considering how the Village of Amityville could go after these funds, and discussing it with the board, the Village allocated $2,900 to hire
JSK Public Safety Consultants, a grant-writing firm in Williston Park. The investment has now paid off, as the Village has received word that it will be getting $215,080 in funding to purchase 35 new self-contained breathing apparatus for Amityville firefighters. The money comes through the efforts of lawmakers Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Congressman Peter King.

“First responders are our primary line of defense and this investment will help ensure that our local heroes can continue their life-saving work as efficiently and safely as possible,” said Schumer.

Joining Amityville as a recipient of the funds was the Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department, which received a grant of $171,190. Wandell brought the issue to the Village board in November and said he was pleased that the Village was selected to receive the money.

“I am elated to see this grant coming to us, not only because it provides safety for our firefighters but also because it helps relieve the taxpayers from the expense of purchasing these units, which our firefighters have to have,” he said. “We have to continuously replace these packs because they have an expiration date and we don’t want to go too near that date before buying new ones.”

“In some cases we have older scot packs and in other cases they are refurbished,” said Amityville Fire Chief Robert Waegerle. “We are now going to be able to replace them.”

Waegerle said these life-saving units are mandated. “We simply can’t go into a fire without them,” he said. “They save lives.” Schumer was a sponsor of the legislation that led to the creation of this funding program for local governments. Entitled The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, it applies money toward training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, as well as modifications to fire stations and facilities. It is part of the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with the department’s United States Fire Administration.

Since taking office, the Wandell administration has reapplied for $500,000 in grant money that had previously been allocated to the Village for beach restoration as well as more than an additional $450,000 in grants and unresolved tax debts. “That amounts to almost $1 million in funding for the Village coffers that is not coming from local taxpayers,” said Wandell.

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