MIDDLE TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT #2

July 17, 2025

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Robert W. Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman
stated that notice had been given to the Herald Newspapers, the official paper and is posted on
the bulletin board of the Middle Township Municipal Hall as required by P.L. 1975, c231, the
Sunshine Law.
Roll call was taken with commissioners Robert W. Zimmerman, Jenifer D. Sill, James G. Neill,
and Jean M. Zimmerman present. Also present were Rio Grande Fire Chief Jim Belles, Nick
Adkins, and Bob Sweeten. Conrad J. Johnson, Fire Official Dan DeSimone, Richard Braslow,
Attorney and Leon Costello, Ford Scott CPA were absent.
COMMUNICATION: none at this time
OLD BUSINESS: none at this time
NEW BUSINESS: Robert Zimmerman received the 2024 Audit and distributed them to the
commissioners. He said that for the second year in a row, there were zero deficiencies. Because
Conrad Johnson was absent the resolution was not read and the affidavit was not signed or
notarized. They will be done at the August meeting.
Bob Sweeten updated on the two (2) injured firefighters and JIF. At the Grande Woods South
fire, one (1) firefighter had passed out from heat exhaustion. He was transported to the
hospital which tested and discharged him but he had to follow up with his primary who also
cleared him. The township asked for copies of his report before they allowed him back to duty.
The second firefighter wasn’t feeling well so for sake of caution they were transported as well
to the hospital and followed the same routine but were put on light duty.
Bob Sweeten, Fire Apparatus Coordinator, reported: on June 23 rd , the 2020 Chief’s Chevy Tahoe
had its oil change and service at Mr. Tire for a cost of $154.42; on June 28 th , Quint 72 AC system
was checked and worked on by Shop One Fire Apparatus, John Miller, who also put a charge
into Tanker 72 AC system. There is no bill yet.; on June 30 th , Barry and Lewie from Fire and Safety worked
on Tanker 72 foam system. They installed replacement foam pump and a jumper harness
supplied by Pierce; on July 1 st , Barry and Lewie came back for a second day to finish since the
tanker which they were working on went to a structure fire the day before. They worked on an
electrical issue with the AC that was found by John Miller and load shedding. They also checked
a problem with the brakes locking up at slow speed in reverse that John Miller thought might
be an ABS sensor. Their bill was $11,777.96; on July 7 th , Shop One checked Quint 72 and found a

leak that caused the AC to not work again. No bill has been received yet.; on July 11 th , Shop One
replaced a fitting on Quint 72 and recharged the system. No bill has been received yet.; on July
17 th , the Assistant Chief’s 2017 Chevy Tahoe had an oil change and service at Mr. Tire for
$143.29. There was a noise in the front end that Mr. Tire was asked to diagnose and was found
to be problem with the wheel bearings for a cost of $550.99.
Bob Sweeten, LOSAP Coordinator, reported LOSAP was done for the year.
CHIEF’S REPORT: 243 fire calls; SCBA batteries have been replaced in all the air packs, so far so
good and defective batteries have been picked up by the Fire Store; *AC has been fixed in the
Quint; *trailer fire at Grande Woods South on June 30 th with six (6) exposures that had damage
to their trailers and two (2) firefighters had injuries. One (1) firefighter is back to full duty and
the other is on light duty until further notice; *a truck will be going to the Police Academy on
Monday, July 21 st for the Middle Police Summer Camp; *invited by Middle Police to National
Night Out on Tuesday, August 5 th and a truck will be going to that; *SCBA annual flow test has
been completed on all air packs and passed; *July 22 nd the aerial and ladder testing will take
place; *July 29 th the annual hose testing will be done.
FIRE BUREAU: none at this time. Greg Neill asked Chief Belles if there was any resolution to the
emails that were sent. Famous Footwear said their alarm was fixed but obviously not since they
had another call to their store.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Robert W. Zimmerman read the bills, motion by resolution to pay the
bills by Jenifer Sill, second James G. Neill, of $30,456.71. Bob Sweeten explained that the Fire &
Safety Services bill was higher than quoted because Lewie and Barry were there for two (2)
days and a large part of the bill is their hourly rate. Motion carried.
Jean Zimmerman, Secretary