Voters pass fire budget;

Voters pass fire budget;

re-elect two incumbents

MILLSTONE — The incumbents were re-elected, and the proposed $836,354 fire budget was approved during a larger than usual turnout at Saturday’s Millstone fire election.

Some 300 residents turned out for the annual Millstone Township Board of Fire Commissioners election.

The budget was approved by 46 votes, by a 151-105 margin.

The amount to be raised by taxation is $721,676 and represents a 9-cent tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation, up from 8.2 cents last year.

About three times as many people voted at the firehouse on Stagecoach Road in Clarksburg. Fire Chief Edward Reed Jr. attributes the higher turnout to the fact that for the first time in years there was a contested race for two fire commissioners seats this year.

But the incumbents, Larry Cier, 1 Vans Arsdale Circle, and Frank Leonard, 84 Red Valley Road, prevailed with 158 votes and 171 votes, respectively. They will have three more years on the five-member Board of Fire Commissioners.

The challengers, Frank Toia, who lives at 6 Shield Road, and Chris Boyler, who lives at 100 Millstone Road, had respectable numbers, with Toia garnering 123 votes and Boyler, 102.

Cier has served as a fire commissioner for six years and Leonard for five years. Fire commissioners oversee and administer an annual budget approved by the taxpayers.