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West Haven committee signs off on third‑party firehouse placement study
Summary
Committee members approved a third‑party emergency consulting study paid in part with ARPA funds that will model optimal firehouse placement and response times; the study was described as a possible path to consolidating firehouses.
The West Haven ARPA Committee approved an emergency consulting study on Dec. 2 that will model optimal firehouse locations and response times, an item committee members said could inform future consolidation options.
Ken Carney described the study as one the fire department commissioned and said each fire district contributed a small share of ARPA funds to pay for it. "What Marb insisted on was a study done as though there were no firehouses in West Haven, and they wanted a third party to come in, populate the city with fire houses based on response time, federal [and] state laws, and give a report to see how close we are to that plan," Carney said.
Committee members discussed who had commissioned and paid for the study and how the results could be used. David Grudberg (counsel to the committee) and committee members indicated the study was intended to identify gaps and compliance with applicable response standards. The committee approved proceeding with the study and will expect a report to guide any future discussion about service configuration.
Carney framed the study as a planning and evaluative tool rather than an immediate policy change. The committee did not vote on consolidation; it approved funding for the consultant to complete the analysis and return findings for future consideration.
The committee recorded the motion to proceed and asked that the study be delivered to the committee for review when complete.
