LWV regionalism forum to explore fire district mergers

The Bay Village, Rocky River, Fairview Park, Lakewood and Westlake/North Olmsted chapters of the League of Women Voters-Cuyahoga Area are sponsoring the third of three voter education forums on regionalization on Wednesday, June 19, 7:00 p.m., at the Fairview Park Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 21225 Lorain Road.

This third forum will focus on the factors involved in a merger of fire departments: how it should be evaluated and implemented and the impact on citizens, cities and firefighters. The forum speakers are Dr. Mary Pisnar-Sweeney, an associate professor of business administration at Baldwin Wallace University and Bernard W. Becker, Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. 

Dr. Mary Pisnar-Sweeney co-authored an influential 2005 study proposing a fire district merger in Parma, Parma Heights, Middleburg Heights, Brook Park and Berea. Director Bernard Becker spent 31 years in fire service, 13 of those years as a fire chief. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers. The forum speakers will answer questions from the public after their presentations. 

The LWV-CA officially supports "voluntary intergovernmental, collaborative agreements which reduce costs, foster transparency and accountability, improve efficiencies and maintain service standards."

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Volume 5, Issue 11, Posted 9:49 AM, 05.29.2013