A stipend boosts membership in a N.J. volunteer department
Depaerments
Dispatches
The Fort Lee (N.J.) Volunteer Fire Department had a problem not uncommon to other departments: declining membership.
However, fire officials believed that in many cases members were quitting because of Fort Lee’s price tag. Some ex-firefighters, young and starting families, indicated they could no longer afford to be volunteers in the New York City suburb, where renting a onebedroom apartment can cost about $900 a month.
Various proposals had been batted about between firefighters and borough officials during the past few years. But last summer an agreement was clinched, the council responding favorably to recommendations from a bipartisan advisory panel.
The ordinance provides for a twoyear trial program of this stipend arrangement: Firefighters responding to 35 percent of the fire calls that come in each month receive $750 per quarter. Borough employees who are also firefighters in the Fort Lee department (those who are permitted to leave their jobs to go to calls) must respond to 40 percent.
Bob Cullen, who was chief when the ordinance was passed, says that since October, the number of firefighters riding to calls has gone up 50 percent. And the department has seen membership increase from 110 to 125 members. Although the department is still shy of its full strength, 160 members, Cullen is pleased with the boost.
“It’s the first membership increase we’ve had in about four years,” says the former chief. “I think the stipend has definitely made an impact.”
E. James Monihan, chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council, says several volunteer departments have had a stipend system since their beginnings. Some even differentiate between responding to calls and responding to active fires.
