Callicoon FD to get new firehouse

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON, PA — “This is going to be a hard, hard sell in the community,” said Callicoon Fire Commissioner Robert DeCristofaro at a meeting of the fire commissioners on Tuesday, March 8.

He was referring to the estimated cost of converting the former C.E. Mills automobile building, purchased by the fire commissioners for a usable firehouse. The building, which cost the commissioners $300,000, could cost a little under $1 million to remodeled, according to some commissioners. Wurtsboro architect John Horton is working with the commissioners on the design and cost estimates.

“We’re going to see a 25 or 30 percent increase in school taxes,” DeCristofaro said, “an eight percent increase in county taxes, a loss in tax revenue because of the lease of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and a $17.2 million building program at BOCES. We have to be aware that residents could turn all this down.”

“This cost is an estimate,” said Charles Mills, fire commissioners chairman. “We’ll be chopping down the cost in the ensuing weeks. We’ll know better in six to eight weeks what the real costs will be.”

“People have to realize that the old firehouse, which was built in 1947, is seriously deficient and in a dangerous location,” said Commissioner Douglas Santoro. “It makes no sense to spend a lot of money on it as it is. A new house will be more efficient, will help lessen the response time to a fire and will be good for the morale of the firefighters. We need to retain the firefighters that we have and attract new ones and we’re much more likely to do that with a new house.”

Commissioner Marc Sturdevant urged his fellow commissioners to get an estimate of how much it would cost to demolish the old Mills building and erect a new steel structure building.

“I’ll get Horton to work on this right away,” Mills said.

A referendum on a bond issue will be put before the residents of 448 parcels in the fire district in a special vote in six to eight weeks, Mills said. Voting will be conducted at the Callicoon Firehouse.

“I’m not against the project and I would favor it if it would mean improved service,” said fire district resident Phyllis Bilick.

“They own the Mills building so they might as well fix it up to use it,” said resident Jack Stewart.

Four residents who were interviewed and who were against the remodeling project would not be quoted. “The firemen are my friends so I’m not going to comment,” one said.

A public hearing, which will be announced soon, will have to be held before a vote, Mills said.