MIDDLE TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT #2

October 16, 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, Conrad J. Johnson, Jenifer D. Sill, James
G. Neill, and Jean M. Zimmerman present. Also present were Rio Grande Fire Chief Jim Belles, Rio
Grande Assistant Fire Chief John Kendrick, and Bob Sweeten. Fire Official Dan DeSimone, Richard
Braslow, Attorney and Leon Costello, Ford Scott CPA were absent.
COMMUNICATION: Robert Zimmerman received the CNC 3 form from Liz Simpkins in Middle
Township’s Tax Assessor’s office. He forwarded this form to Leon Costello, Accountant, for use in our
2026 Budget. Robert reminded Leon of the budget work shop on Tuesday, October 21 st at 6pm.
OLD BUSINESS: Robert Zimmerman asked Conrad Johnson if he was able to get his $100 waived for not
filing his Financial Disclosure. He thought that it would be resolved this week. Jen Sill said if it wasn’t, he
should fill out a voucher for reimbursement.
NEW BUSINESS: Bob Sweeten, Fire Apparatus Coordinator, reported: September 23 rd , Barry from Fire
and Safety Store fixed the auto eject for the shore line power, replaced the broken cup holders in the
front of the cab and checked the back up camera resetting it to get it to work all on Tanker 72. He also
fixed the pull out step on the rear of Quint 72. *September 25 th , Barry from Fire and Safety Store
changed the defective sensor in the DEF tank of Squad 72. *ongoing issue with the 5 ton not starting due
to a fuel system issue. Bob said he had an uncle of a fireman who has military vehicles experience look
at it and he got it running prior to the storm last weekend. Bob asked John Miller to work on it but
wondered if the person who was able to get it running, a mechanic in the National Guard, could work on
it. Bob wanted to know who he should follow up with for the 5 ton. Bob mentioned that the 5 ton will
get the oil changed and serviced before the end of the year.
CHIEF’S REPORT: 353 fire calls; 11 firefighters took CPR class and passed; *discovered during the CPR
class that our two (2) AEDs on the trucks are outdated and should be out of service. Ideally, we should
have five (5) AEDs but would like to replace the two (2) for now at $1,853.30 each from D. E. Ralph and
Sons. Robert Zimmerman told the chief to go ahead and get two (2) now and put the extras on his
budget request. *elevator class by Rich Harron and Mark Barham was taken by six (6) guys. Two
certificates were given – one for elevator awareness and one for elevator operations; *Fire Prevention
Open House will be held October 26 th to November 2 nd from 11-2. There were 21, 3 rd grade kids from
Mrs. Maloney’s class on Tuesday, October 14 th who took a tour of the fire trucks and talked fire
prevention; *still working on the 2026 Budget.

Assistant Chief John Kendrick has had no response from the exhaust system representative
FIRE BUREAU: none at this time.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Robert W. Zimmerman read the bills, motion by resolution to pay the bills by
Jenifer Sill, second Conrad Johnson, of $22,412.14. Jen explained why the SJ Gas bill was so high. Seems
that SJ Gas put in a new meter in March, 2025, and wasn’t billing us correctly. Should have been billed at
10x per therm and not 1x per therm. She also mentioned that we had a CD renew on October 11 th at
3.54%. Jen told Chief Belles that some penalty money will pay for two (2) sets of gear when they arrive
estimated at $8,000. Motion carried.

Jean Zimmerman, Secretary