Frelinghuysen fire company, mayor exchange public statements over leadership dispute
FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — The Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company and Mayor Kirk Perez publicly exchanged statements Friday over an ongoing dispute regarding the confirmation of the department’s elected chief and deputy chief, with both sides saying public safety remains their priority.
In the first of three Facebook posts, the fire company said it submitted the names of its elected Chief Angel Ortiz and deputy chief to the Township Committee in January for confirmation under township ordinance but never received a response. The department said township officials referred to Ortiz as chief throughout the year and approved stipend payments designated for the chief and deputy chief, leading members to believe there was no issue with their status.
The fire company said it first learned during a recent Township Committee meeting that the township did not recognize Ortiz as chief because the confirmations had never been acted upon. According to the fire company, the township attorney advised the committee that the confirmations should occur as soon as possible to protect the township, the department and its volunteers.
The fire company said the Township Committee instead voted to table the matter, leaving the department’s command structure unresolved. It also stated that members were uncomfortable responding to emergency calls while the township maintained it did not recognize the department’s elected chief and deputy chief, initially saying the department could not responsibly continue responding to emergencies under those circumstances.
In a second Facebook post, Ortiz said the department contacted the Warren County Fire Coordinator for guidance after expressing concerns about its operational status.
“As many of you know, we recently shared our concerns regarding the Township’s failure to confirm the department’s duly elected Chief and Deputy Chief. At this time, we have still not received that confirmation, and the issues outlined in our previous statement remain unresolved,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the county advised the department it remains Frelinghuysen Township’s primary fire department.
“Based on that guidance, we will continue to proudly respond to emergencies and serve our community,” Ortiz said.
He added that the department’s position regarding the confirmations had not changed and that members remained hopeful the township would resolve the matter promptly.
In a written statement, Perez said concerns had been raised during a recent Township Committee meeting regarding the fire department’s communications, credibility, emergency responses and public safety.
Perez also said it was reported during the chief’s report that nonmembers of the fire department had been riding in department vehicles. He further said a review of current and future fire protection costs found the expenses could result in a 65.3% increase in taxes and that more than $650,000 had already been spent on fire services after residents had repeatedly been told establishing the fire department would cost taxpayers nothing.
Perez said the fire department gave the township less than 24 hours to confirm the chief and deputy chief after sending a letter requesting action by 5 p.m. Friday.
The mayor also said certifications provided Friday showed Ortiz “lacks the proper credentials to serve as fire chief, as per the New Jersey State Fire Marshall’s Office.”
Perez said the township ordinance requires the chief to be confirmed by the Township Committee before taking office and said he would not approve the appointments until he could interview the chief and deputy chief, verify qualification requirements and obtain assurances regarding fire protection.
“I will not ratify the Chief or Deputy Chief without the ability to interview them, confirm their qualification requirements, and obtain assurances regarding fire protection,” Perez said.
Perez said he met with Warren County emergency dispatch officials and spoke with the township’s insurance carrier, adding that neighboring fire departments were prepared to respond if needed.
“There is no place for threats not to respond to public safety calls. My goal is to protect our residents and ensure that, if our Fire Department does not respond, our residents are covered,” Perez said.
In a third Facebook post responding to the mayor’s statement, the fire company said it had attempted to work cooperatively to resolve the issue by resubmitting documents and seeking guidance from the Warren County Fire Coordinator so it could remain in service.
The department disputed the mayor’s statement regarding Ortiz’s qualifications, saying the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety had reviewed the required certifications and qualifications before the department was released into service. The fire company also accused township officials of publicly attacking the department and its chief rather than working toward a resolution, stating that its volunteers, chief and residents “deserve better.”
