Politics & Government

Mayor: New Fire Boat Should Get Council's OK

The city will be reimbursed by the U.S. Homeland Security Department for the $600,000 or so it expects to spend on a new fire boat; Brien McMahon and Norwalk high schools will hold awards ceremonies for students this week.

The federal government will reimburse the city for the full cost of a new fire rescue boat that the Common Council is expected to approve on Tuesday, Mayor Richard A. Moccia said.

Moccia spoke Friday in his regular "Minutes with the Mayor" video interview with Norwalk Patch (see accompanying video).

"The boat ... will be state-of-the-art for rescues and emergencies," Moccia said. "It is tax dollars (being spent), but it's not local tax dollars, which of course helps our budget."

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The money will be reimbursed through the Homeland Security Grant Program, Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Denis McCarthy told the Board of Estimate and Taxation at its May 2 meeting.

Working with other agencies

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The purchase of the new, 32-foot-long boat should not incur any significant increase in operating expenses, McCarthy said. The city already operates a 24-foot-long fire boat, and the four-member crew for it will transfer to the new boat. Any additional equipment for the new boat can be transferred from the present boat or from land vehicles, he said.

The federal government made the grant available because it is encouraging municipalities with ports to upgrade their security, McCarthy said. At the same time, he said, the U.S. Coast Guard has reduced its presence in Long Island Sound.

Municipal governments in Greenwich, Bridgeport and New Haven already have boats with similar capabilities to the one Norwalk is getting, he said.

Moccia pointed out that Bridgeport officials, who might have chosen to compete with Norwalk in getting this grant, instead decided to support Norwalk's bid. In emergencies, the boat's services will be available to neighboring communities like Bridgeport, he said.

The new boat should arrive sometime next winter, McCarthy said. The present fire rescue boat has been operated by the Norwalk Fire Department since 2007, when the Police Department transferred it. A hose and fire pump were then added.

Various uses

The new boat will have better detection equipment for hazardous materials, such as chemical, biological or radioactive weapons or explosives, he said. The boat will also be used for medical emergencies in Norwalk Harbor and on Long Island Sound, as well as fighting fires, which can break out on the Norwalk Islands.

The Police Department is the primary responder to emergencies on the water, McCarthy said.

He said the new boat will be docked at Veterans Park in Norwalk Harbor, where the present Fire Department vessel is kept.

The Board of Estimate unanimously approved the funding proposal, which is now up for final approval by the Common Council, but not until after officials joked about other potential uses for the vessel.

"The chief (McCarthy) promised to give you all a ride on the boat," Moccia said, provoking some laughter.

"There's an opportunity to water ski ..." McCarthy quipped.

One board member then asked, "Does it include advanced fishing gear?"

* * *

The following meetings are scheduled to be held in City Hall, 125 East Ave., unless otherwise noted:

Tuesday, May 24

Wednesday, May 25

  • Personnel Committee of the Common Council, 6 p.m., Personnel Conference Room (Room 123)
  • Parking Authority 6:30 p.m., Maritime Garage, 11 N. Water St. (link to online announcement for agenda)
  • Historical Commission, 7 p.m., Norwalk Museum, 41 N. Main St. (link to online announcement for agenda)
  • Harbor Management Application Review Committee, 7:30 p.m., Room 220, Planning & Zoning Conference Room (link to online announcement for agenda)

Thursday, May 26

  • Board of Ethics, 8 p.m., Room 101


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