TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Town Hall Meeting Draws Larger Crowd

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: October 18, 2008

SPRING HILL - Voters might not get another chance to have their say on the fire district after Nov. 4.

That was what Spring Hill Fire Rescue interim chief Mike Rampino said Thursday during one of the final public meetings prior to Election Day.

"This will be the last vote you will have," he warned. "This will be the last election for this particular question."

Will the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District be independent from the county or will the governing board be dissolved so that the county can take over? That is the question.

Some variation of it has been asked twice before in previous years. Both times, Spring Hill residents voted against independence.

This time, the stakes are the highest. Back then, a no vote meant everything would go back to normal. That was what residents chose - both times.

That is not the case this year. Spring Hill's only elected board would be disbanded if residents opt against an independent district.

Thursday's town hall meeting was an indicator of how passionate pro-independence voters can be. They far outnumbered those who were against it.

"Is it true the county can make up their own rules?" asked Anthony Langone, who earlier jawed with the fire district's attorney for failing to answer questions that would require a legal opinion rather than an explanation of legal facts.

The meeting was a question-and-answer session, just like the one held the week before. The banquet hall inside the Knights of Columbus building was filled with more than 70 residents. Most of them were for independence.

Langone's aforementioned question was rhetorical. He only phrased it in the form of a question because those were the rules. Thursday was not a pep rally. It was an informational meeting.

He still took a moment to offer his opinion.

"The county's scaring these senior citizens into taking their fire department," Langone said with his voice getting louder over the laughter and applause. "It's a disgrace. Vote them out."

If residents vote no on the independence question, the county commission would enact an ordinance that would dissolve only the fire board. The ordinance also states it would not dissolve the district itself. Spring Hill residents would not lose their assets, which were paid for with taxpayer dollars, commissioners have said.

Many like Langone are skeptical. They believe a future board could create and approve another ordinance that would allow them to consolidate fire departments, redistribute assets or close down stations.

One of the most vocal residents from Thursday was Tony Mosca, a former county commissioner who has publicly supported independence for Spring Hill Fire Rescue - a position he admitted he did not support while on the board.

He targeted those who suggested the county was "better off" with a consolidated fire department - a unification of the district's and county's fire services.

"(The county) cannot reach the level of service the district offers," Mosca said.

Like the previous town hall meeting, the format only allowed for Rampino to answer questions from the audience. All five fire commissioners were present, but only the chairman spoke - and that was to moderate the meeting.

The board agreed not to speak to avoid initiating a public debate.

A vote for independence would mean the Legislature would eventually vote on a bill to ratify that independence. After that, a new fire board would be elected. Should residents want to appeal a fire commission vote, they would need to do so by contacting legislators in Tallahassee.

Currently, they could address those concerns with the county commissioners in Brooksville.

Ken Fagan, one of the few opponents to independence who attended Thursday's meeting, addressed the commission and asked how adding another special district to the state's list would benefit Spring Hill residents.

As of early 2007, Florida had nearly 1,500 special districts statewide.

"How are we going to be better with 1,500 special districts already under the Legislature?" Fagan asked.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT