OMFD, Nasonville reach agreement for fire & rescue services

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BURRILLVILLE – After providing fire and rescue services to village residents for nearly a year and a half, the Oakland Mapleville Fire District now has a formalized agreement for their work in neighboring Nasonville.

The deal, which both operating committees voted to approve pending any final language changes by their respective attorneys, will see Nasonville paying $168,892 a year for protection of the village’s roughly 4,000 residents.

The one year agreement is retroactive to October 2019, and set to renew annually unless it is otherwise terminated or modified. Bills will be paid to OMFD  in 12 monthly installments of $14,074.

“Nasonville is no longer able to provide and maintain an active firefighting and related emergency services department,” notes the document. “Oakland Mapleville is ready, willing and able to provide fire protection and related emergency to Nasonville.”

The contract gives official terms to an arrangement that began after Nasonville residents voted to eliminate all paid staff from their department in September of 2018. Last March, voters told the governing committee to pursue officially dissolving the district,

But it is a long and complicated process to dissolve the more than 80-year-old village district, one of four in Burrillville. And for the time being, it seems residents will continue to pay their fire taxes to Nasonville.

According to the current agreement, “the parties agree that the current financial structure of each individual party will remain in full force and effect.”

OMFD has agreed to handle all calls from Nasonville, providing life-saving and property protection measures, and responding to motor vehicle accidents and other emergencies. The parties have agreed to collaboratively monitor response times and, if issues arise, develop strategies to address any concerns.

The contract states that it can be terminated by either party with 120 days written notice. It notes that if Nasonville has not secured alternative services after the 120 day period, OMFD will continue to provide services with a monthly compensation increase of five percent.

If monthly payments from Nasonville to OMFD are not made within 30 days of the due date, the payment will accrue interest at a rate of 12 percent.

The agreement also stipulates that OMFD will lease Nasonville’s remaining firefighting equipment. Chief Joseph Bertholic is named as the part time fire chief for both parties.

Once the new agreement has been signed by both parties, it must be terminated or extended by September 30 of this year to remain in effect.

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