April 25, 2005
For Immediate Release
738-2000
Avedisian establishes committee to review fire service in Potowomut, Bay Ridge areas
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian announced today that he has established, by executive order, a seven-member commission to review a variety of issues related to contracted fire and rescue services provided to Potowomut and Bay Ridge residents by the East Greenwich Fire District.
The commission will consist of the Warwick Fire Department chief, the Warwick Firefighters Union president, and the assistant city solicitor, or their designees; two area residents, to be appointed by the Mayor; and two members of the City Council, one for each party, to be appointed by the City Council president, Avedisian said.
In the order establishing the committee – which has 60 days to report its findings to the Mayor, the City Clerk and the City Council – Avedisian noted that there were many issues that needed to be addressed in relation to fire and rescue services for the area. Among them, he said, “are the city’s simultaneous response policies, mutual aid issues (especially in light of the Southern New England Mutual Aid response plan), and contract negotiations with the East Greenwich Fire District.”
The Southern New England Mutual Aid response plan was established several years ago to address municipalities’ support of one another during critical events, such as fire or mass casualty. This statewide response plan also includes several communities in nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut. Both Warwick and East Greenwich are among the municipalities that have signed onto this agreement, which states that municipalities will agree to help one another when called upon at no expense or charge.