Letters

Historically, fire district elections across the state have very low turnout — almost none outside the members of the fire department. Let’s change that.

The Bridgehampton Fire District elections are scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, between 6 and 9 p.m., at the Bridgehampton Fire Department. Come to the Bridgehampton Firehouse and vote. If you live in Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Wainscott or Water Mill, you may well live in the Bridgehampton Fire District.

Absentee ballots are available if you are out of town on December 12. The restrictions are more onerous than New York State’s absentee ballot rules, but it is an available option.

Voting for Robin Murphy for fire commissioner can help make it easier to vote in the future, not harder.

This year, there are two topics to vote on: fire commissioner and an increase in LOSAP for the volunteer members of the Bridgehampton Fire Department.

For fire commissioner, I encourage you to vote for Robin Murphy. She has been a member of the Bridgehampton Volunteer Ambulance for over 25 years. When someone in your home needs to call 911 for a medical emergency at 2 a.m., she’s one of the volunteers who shows up and gets you to the hospital.

Equally important, Robin Murphy also is a local businesswoman and would bring her business owner’s financial experience to the Board of Fire Commissioners. Something well worth thinking about, as the board oversees an annual taxpayer-funded $4 million budget.

The people we choose, and elect, to serve on the Board of Fire Commissioners have a duty to be good stewards of our tax dollars. I believe Robin Murphy would be a good steward. Robin Murphy will have my vote — I encourage you to give her yours as well.

The other issue to vote on is an increase in LOSAP, the Length of Service Award Program. This is a state-run pension system for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service personnel. The proposed increase is $10 a month. Yes, you read that right — $10 a month. Collectible only after the volunteer turns 65.

Bridgehampton has the lowest LOSAP contribution of any volunteer department on the East End. The LOSAP increase, which helps retain those volunteers who come to your aid, is far cheaper than having to pay full-time ambulance crews and firefighters. It is an investment in the community of Bridgehampton, helping recognize the efforts of our fire and ambulance volunteers.

I know how I will vote; I encourage you to vote yes on the LOSAP increase.

David Goodman

Bridgehampton

Goodman is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, a retired former detective in the NYPD, and a National Registry paramedic — Ed.