SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Population and development has been growing substantially on Staten Island for many years. The need for fire and emergency services has been rising accordingly. Fire Department statistics reflect this increase in the need for services. For example, between 2002 and 2004 the number of structural fires rose from 900 to 1,095—an increase of 22% in only two years. The number of serious fires rose from 125 to 180—an increase of 31%. During the same time period, the Fire Department’s average response time for structural fires worsened. The time has increased from 4:36 to 4:53—an increase of 6%.

The increasing population and need for services led the Giuliani administration in 2000 to undertake construction of a large fire house in Rossville. The fire house was built to contain fire engine and ladder companies, as well as an emergency services unit. Construction on the Rossville fire house was completed in the fall of 2003. It cost more than $10 million dollars.

However, the Fire Department has placed neither a fire engine nor a ladder company in the Rossville fire house, and has suggested that it does not plan to do so.

This hearing will gather evidence on the need for fire and emergency services in this area of Staten Island, as well as on the Fire Department’s use of resources.

** POSTPONED **
New Date To Be Announced
Community Board # 2
Lou Caravone Community Services Bldg.
Seaview Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home
460 Brielle Ave.
Staten Island, NY

Please see below for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be accepted by invitation only and will be limited to 10 minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

From witnesses testifying orally, the Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements by May 10. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. Written testimony will also be accepted from those not testifying orally. Prepared statements and written testimony should be sent to the Committees’ office listed on the following page.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees’ interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who many have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

GENERAL QUESTIONS TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

1. Are fire and emergency services on Staten Island satisfactory for safeguarding the health and safety of the public?

2. How is the need for fire and emergency services on Staten Island changing? Are changes in population and development affecting needs? Are some areas more affected than others? Are the number of fires and other incidents changing?

3. Are Fire Department response times for fire and other emergencies on Staten Island satisfactory for health and safety? Are response times getting better, or worse? What are the current prospects for improvement in response times? What are the prospects for improvement if the Rossville fire house were to be used for engine and ladder companies?

4. What financial costs are associated with the Rossville fire house? What are the current costs of operating the fire house? What would be the cost of an engine and ladder company?

5. What are the practical consequences of increasing response times?

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Fire Department services on Staten Island are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Daniel Cooper
Graduate Scholar
Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis And Investigation
Agency 4, 12th Floor
Albany, New York 12248
Phone: (518) 455-3039
Fax: (518) 455-4175
cooperd@assembly.state.ny.us

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: