GREENBURGH – The Town of Greenburgh will study the feasibility of consolidating the three paid fire districts in the town – Fairview, Greenville and Hartsdale.  

Town Supervisor Paul Feiner asked Alan Hochberg, former President of the Poets Corner Civic Association, to chair a citizens commission.

Police Chief John Kapica recently released a detailed analysis highlighting the costs of the three independent fire districts.

The cost of funding the Greenburgh Police Department, which serves the entire unincorporated section of Greenburgh, is $22.5 million.

The cost of funding the three paid fire districts, which serve about 73 percent of unincorporated Greenburgh, is $28 million.

The town has contracts with seven volunteer fire protection districts to serve the remaining sections of unincorporated Greenburgh. That cost is $1.9 million.

The commission which Hochberg will chair will evaluate the feasibility of a 2010 referendum. Recently, Governor David Paterson signed legislation allowing citizens to place on the ballot a referendum on consolidation of fire districts and local government services. 

“Our goal is to maintain or improve services while cutting expenses that can be achieved by consolidation,” said Hochberg.