Connellsville voters say ‘yes’ to disbanding paid fire department
Voters in the City of Connellsville’s four wards voted in favor of a ballot referendum to disband the city’s paid fire department, which consists of one firefighter.
With unofficial results posted in all four wards, 799 voters answered “yes” to the question: “Shall the City of Connellsville disband the paid fire force in favor of having fire protection services performed by volunteers?”
Results from Tuesday’s primary show that 618 voters answered “no” to the referendum question.
The majority of the voters in Connellsvile first, second and third wards voted in favor of the referendum. In the fourth ward, 169 votes said “no,” and 168 voters said “yes.”
Through attrition over the past 15 years, the department dwindled to one full-time employee, who also handles code enforcement for the city. That firefighter, Lt. Craig Gates, works and responds to fires and other emergencies from the East Side Fire Station from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The New Haven Hose Company, a volunteer department, responds to calls in Connellsville. That department’s chief, Jeff Layton, previously said that an average of 12 volunteers respond to each call, and the department has 35 active firefighters.
Connellsville City Council passed an ordinance July 31 calling for the referendum, and members of the public began circulating petitions to put the matter on the ballot.
In August, the Fayette County Election Board voted to permit voters to answer the yes-no question.
The state’s referendum handbook specifies that a county or municipality cannot eliminate a paid fire department in favor of having the services performed by volunteers “unless approved by voters in a referendum.”