Hearing on Gordon Heights fire district

More than 350 residents packed Brookhaven Town Hall last night over the possible closure of the Gordon Heights Fire District, the most-taxed fire district on Long Island.

The financial viability of the 900-home fire district, where some homeowners pay more than $1,500 a year for protection, has been the subject of intense debate in the community for years. The town board is considering a consultant's report that recommends the town either seize the district's finances or dissolve the district and search for a new provider.

The crowd at last night's meeting was evenly divided between supporters and detractors of the district.

Several residents faulted the consultant's report, prepared by Emergency Services Consulting International of Oregon,for failing to take into account the district's historic value to the community. The fire department, founded in the 1940s, was the first all-black force in Suffolk County.

One resident held a sign that read: "Save Our Heritage."

Another resident, Tracy Gibbs, said: "It has a history that is well established and to take it away would be to rip the heart out of the community."

But Paul Sabatino, an attorney for a group of pro-dissolution residents, said the town must establish "fair, equitable, sustainable fire services that the community can afford."

"It's not about turf," he said, "it's not about power, it's not about this new concept of gentrification."

A spokesman for the consultant told the town there are two possibilities for lowering taxes in the district. They are:

The town government takes control of district finances, which could reduce the district's $1.4 million annual budget by 40 percent.

Search for a new fire-service provider through competitive bidding, creating a new town fire protection district and dissolving the existing district.

The consultant also said the town could dissolve the district and attempt to consolidate it with a neighboring district, but cautioned against that option. Representatives from two neighboring districts -- Coram and Middle Island -- said their districts are not interested.

The town board must vote on what to do. Town officials said a public hearing will be held when the town crafts a plan.