Upcoming Fire District Vote to Decide Commissioners and Budget

Annual budget voting and Freehold Township Fire Commissioner elections are right around the corner. On Saturday, Feb. 18, both Freehold fire districts will hold elections to pass their budget and to fill open Fire Commissioner seats.

According to the Freehold Township website, “Commissioners in each district are responsible for providing fire protection and for preparing an annual budget that is place before the voters for approval…In carrying out their functions and plans, the commissioners work in complete cooperation with the fire companies located in their district.”

During the vote, residents have the option to vote for or against the proposed Fire budget and vote to elect Fire Commissioners to open seats. Commissioners are elected different years, once elected they each serve a three-year term. This year, there are two spots open in District 1 and two spots open in District 2.

In Fire District 1 (West Freehold), Charlie Buscaglia and Roger Keim’s terms are up and they are both running again. In addition to Buscaglia and Keim, Abram Conk, Life Member of the Freehold Independent Fire Company and Shymal Joshi, current Vice President of the Freehold Independent Fire Company are also running for the seats.

In Fire District 2 (East Freehold), current commissioners Dennis "Chip" Polo and Richard Clancy are running uncontested for their positions.

Voting for Fire District 1 will take place from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the fire house on Stillwells Corner Road. Voting for Fire District 2 will also take place from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. and will be held at the East Freehold Fire Company.  You must be a registered voter to vote in this election.