To illustrate the predicament of the fire departments in keeping their volunteers, Andrew DeMartin passed around a photograph of the Vigilant Fire Department members that was taken in 1979 and one that was taken in 2006. He told the assembled Great Neck leaders at the February 28 Village Officials Association (VOA) meeting that only three people were in both photos. While the most recent recruitment numbers have been high, he also reported that since 2000, the Vigilant Fire Company has lost 32 members due to their need to move away for affordable housing. He said, "We need our members to form deep roots in the community."

VOA president Bonnie Golub had requested that a presentation be made to the mayors and other officials about the fire department's need for affordable housing after a controversial proposal emerged in the Village of Great Neck requesting that the village rezone a landlocked parcel from single family to multifamily. The deal sweetener was the offer from developer Frank Lalezarian to provide land for a firefighter's apartment building if he were granted the ability to construct an adjacent larger, market-value building. The hue and cry over the rezoning bid has highlighted the situation of first responders being priced out of the community.

Affordable housing has become a widespread issue, affecting countless locales that have seen escalating real estate values and tax hikes, increases that outstrip income raises, effectively squeezing the middle class out. Some firefighters who bought houses years ago when they were more affordable are now feeling the pinch of unrelenting taxes. The young members cannot buy here and some older members cannot stay here.

The fire departments need a cross-section of varying age groups to do, not only the fire fighting, but the first responder work that comes with power failures, ice storms, windstorms and those predicted hurricanes. They need the members who are young and strong enough to do the "heavy lifting" but they also need the seasoned members who can provide the leadership.

Mr. DeMartin said, "We currently have 28 members who are at-risk (for moving away)." Even Mr. DeMartin says that he is not 100 percent sure of the viability of the fire fighter apartment building project that has been proposed, but he says, "It's the only proposal on the table." He has never said in any public meetings that this building would be more than a stop gap measure to stem the tide of the demand for housing.

Robert Lincoln, another former Vigilant chief who is on staff at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, said that the department took a survey of its members, a number that hovers around 75-80 men and women. The demographics show that the numbers spike in the 17-21 age group and drop off in the late 20s; spike again between the ages of 30 and 40 and again when members are in their 50s and over. The survey also showed that the majority of members want to remain in Great Neck and purchase homes. Some young people represent the third generation of fire-fighters in the community.

Mr. Lincoln also provided information about the Vigilant's ambulance service, which serves the peninsula. The company has three ambulances, one of which is located at the Alerts' Steamboat Road firehouse in order to more quickly be deployed to an emergency on the north side of town. There are enough trained volunteer EMTs to staff two ambulances at one time with three people per vehicle. That's a good thing because records show that there are an uncanny number of unrelated calls that come in simultaneously. In fact, there were 400 times last year that separate calls for an ambulance came within 5-10 minutes of each other. Last year, the ambulance service answered 1,800 calls.

According to Mr. Lincoln, the Vigilant's response time is well within the national standard, which calls for an ambulance on the scene within 10 minutes of a request 90 percent of the time. It was noted at the meeting that with the aging of the baby boomers, demand for ambulance services will likely increase.

If the community had to hire EMTs to respond at the same level of service, the personnel costs alone, including benefits, would amount to $1.9 million.

Mike Green, representing the Alerts, echoed the sentiments of his fellow fire fighters, noting that the Junior Alert program is one of the best in the state.

A report issued by the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department in 2006 estimated that if volunteers were replaced with a paid fire department in Nassau County, it would cost just over $700 million, including all benefits, and would result in a 19 percent increase in property taxes.

There was a consensus that the volunteer fire departments are integral to the quality of life enjoyed here. Clearly, there is a need for innovative planning on the matter, which deserves attention separate from the rezoning issue. No one questioned the importance of the people referred to by Mr. DeMartin as "the folks who pack your parachute."

Bonnie Golub called for a committee composed of representatives from each village and from the Town of North Hempstead to study and make recommendations on short-and long-term comprehensive approaches to the issue of affordable housing for first responders.

After the meeting, Mr. DeMartin told the Record that Mr. Lalezarian has shown them plans for the proposed fire fighter 24-unit, 21,000 square foot building that would contain studio, one-and two-bedroom apartments. He added that Mr. Lalezarian has indicated that if the village does not approve his rezoning proposal, he could always sell the land to a religious institution.