Voters make quick work of Fire District 3 annual meeting

May 7, 2015

Voters in Dartmouth Fire District 3 made quick work of the 2015 annual meeting Monday night, with no opposition voiced to any of the district's 13 requests to the district’s voters.

The lightly attended meeting saw at total budget of $2,330,343.61 approved, $21,167.84 more than last year’s budget of $2,309,175.77.

Two of the larger items on the districts list of requests include two payments on bonds ($289,900 and $186,041.67) taken out for contraction at the firehouse on Cross Road, which was approved at a special meeting last year.

District Clerk and Treasurer Joan Harwood said despite the borrowing, the district was in good shape due to funds in a surplus account,

“The district hasn’t borrowed money in well over 10 years,” she said. “We typically don't borrow money.”

Other spending items unanimously approved Monday include:

  • $12,125 to fund district officials.
  • $154,529 to pay the Chief, District Clerk, and Treasurer.
  • $563,653 to fund General Expense accounts.
  • $25,000 to pay fire taxes to the city of New Bedford for the Acushnet Company property at the Dartmouth Industrial Park.
  • $739,036.78 to fund district employees.
  • $176,058 to fund operational expenses.
  • $150,000 taken from Free Cash to the Vehicle Replacement Fund.
  • $20,000 taken from Free Cash to the Reserve Fund.
  • $5,000 to match grants acquired by the district.

District 3 covers all parts of town lying north of the New Bedford line at the point 200 feet south of Allen Street, running in a westerly parallel line from Allen St. to Tucker Road and westerly to the Westport line.

"Basically, we have the same general structure," added Harwood.