You are elected by the residents from the community you are sworn to serve and protect. You are asked to collect and spend taxpayer's money wisely and efficiently. Keeping this in mind, how many people within the Wantagh Fire District knew that over $3.1 million was expended on a firehouse renovation? The dedicated and unselfish volunteer members deserve adequate accommodations, but they also deserve to be safe and comfortable while responding to fire alarms. As one long-serving senior member related to me, "How do the commissioners spend millions to renovate a firehouse, whose second floor resembles a swanky restaurant/bar," when on the first floor there is an outdated engine where the crew rides in an open unenclosed cab?

Since 1996, a long list of chiefs have requested that Wantagh's fleet of engines consist of fully enclosed crew cabs. Those requests have been ignored, not for a lack of money (Wantagh has the fourth highest budget on Long Island), but because new buildings and renovations to existing buildings have been the misplaced priority.

Beginning in January, two newly elected commissioners took the "oath of office." Knowing Commissioner-Elect Jay Cohen for many years, gives me the utmost confidence that excessive and wasteful spending will be a thing of the past. His integrity and business savvy should bode well for a more transparent and open board of fire commissioners. In my opinion, it is no coincidence that out-of-control spending started shortly after Jay left the board some years ago.

Also winning election was John Gillen. John served as my assistant chief for three years. I am hopeful he shares my philosophy that questionable spending on out-of-state conventions should be reserved for deserving chiefs, firefighters and fire medics. In light of Newsday's recent series on the fire service, publicly elected officials must set the example of being good stewards of the public's money by not participating in unnecessary travel.

Any one commissioner guilty of poor spending practices, should be exposed and admonished. The taxpayer has the right to know how his or her money is being spent.

Jim Johnston