After several months of discussion, analysis and consideration the Ogden-Parma Fire District and the Village of Spencerport have determined that a consolidation of fire service responsibilities between the district and the village is in the best interest of town and village residents and the Spencerport Fire Department.

Currently, the Spencerport Village Board is responsible for providing fire and rescue services within the village limits and the Ogden-Parma Fire District is responsible for an area that includes the Town of Ogden and a portion of the Town of Parma.

"The needs, demands and requirements for fire and emergency services continue to grow. Although the Ogden-Parma Fire District and the Village of Spencerport have worked closely to meet these needs, it is time for one organization to lead a unified effort to provide the best service possible," said Spencerport Village Mayor Ted Walker in a press lease.

Under the consolidation plan, the current Ogden-Parma Fire District will be dissolved and immediately replaced by the new Spencerport Fire District. The new district will encompass the same area serviced by the current district plus the Village of Spencerport.

Tax rates associated with the fire and rescue service are expected to remain stable as a result of the consolidation. "With limited availability of new land parcels within the village and considerable growth within the Town of Ogden, the timing is right for this consolidation" said David Goddard, Ogden-Parma Fire District Commissioner. "We are at a point in time when village and town tax rates for fire service are nearly equal," he was quoted in the press release as saying.

The quality of fire and rescue service will continue to improve as it has in the past. Our local volunteers will continue to provide manpower as they have for the past 110 years. All current equipment, apparatus and facilities will remain in place and will be upgraded and replaced over time by the new district.

The consolidation will provide several benefits. "It will make things much more convenient and streamlined for myself and future Chiefs and Line Officers" said Chris Wood, Spencerport Fire Chief. "The fire and rescue service has become a complex business and the consolidation will allow us to have to deal with only one organization instead of two," he said.

The consolidation may provide the potential for cost savings through use of multi-item purchase discounts. It will also improve the uniformity of equipment and apparatus that firefighters use throughout the district.

If everything goes as planned, the consolidation will take place in early 2002, the press release stated. A public meeting is planned for Wednesday, October 24 at 7 p.m. at Spencerport Firehouse #1, 175 Lyell Avenue.