North East Fire District commissioners challenged in Dec. 12 election

MILLERTON — The North East Fire District will hold an election for three of the five seats on its board of commissioners Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The board of commissioners, the fire department’s municipal sector, oversees fire and emergency services for the Town of North East and the Village of Millerton.  

Any citizens registered to vote in North East or Millerton may participate in the election, which will be held at the firehouse at 24 Century Blvd. 

Four candidates, three of whom are incumbents, are jockeying for the three seats. The commissioners up for reelection are Larry Selfridge Jr., James Milton and David Vande Bogart; Anthony Sarvis is challenging.

 Commissioners’ responsibilities include management of the budget, taxes and insurance. They order and purchase the volunteer firefighters’ supplies including air packs and other safety equipment. Commissioners meet twice per month, for a workshop meeting and a general meeting. 

The commissioners’ five-year term is entirely volunteer, and most have full-time jobs as well.The only paid positions in both the fire district and the Millerton Fire Company are the secretary and the treasurer positions, which are non-voting positions on the board.

Selfridge, who is currently chairman of the board of commissioners, comes from a family of firefighters; he himself has been on the force for 33 years. He is also the fire/police captain, a position which concerns traffic and street closures as well as emergency response. In his daily life, he is a painter, and works on hardwood floors.

Milton, who also has a family background replete with firefighters, has been with the fire department for almost 41 years. Retired from the town and village in 2017, he is currently filling a vacated position; he was appointed to the role in 2022.

Vande Bogart, who works for The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, has been with the fire department for 37 years. He also has relatives in the firefighting field.

Selfridge, Milton and Vande Bogart all said that they want to continue to serve as commissioners because the longer you serve, the better you understand what the needs are, and the longer you stay, the more relationships you build.

All four candidates agreed that the most important thing is that everybody gets along.

Sarvis has been with the Millerton Fire Company for six years, and volunteered with the Dover fire department for five years before that. Sarvis, who works for Welsh Sanitation, moved to Millerton nine years ago. He plays the Grinch in the Christmas Parade and the Easter Bunny at Easter. 

Sarvis told The News that he came to a decision to devote himself to community service after losing his brother, Thomas, to post-traumatic stress disorder, following his military service.

 Sarvis said that he saw a need for volunteers in fire and emergency services, and began volunteering.

Sarvis agreed with the commissioners that the Millerton Fire Company is a great company and that everyone gets along, but he said that he hopes to get elected because he feels that some younger blood on the board would be a good thing, suggesting that he could bring some new ideas and some new energy.

All of the candidates reminded The News that there is always a need for volunteers. The Millerton department has in-house training, and invites anyone interested to pick up an application. 

It also invites the public to come to the firehouse any Monday (except holidays) at 6 p.m. to talk to its members and see what goes on.

The candidates urge voters to participate in the  Dec. 12 election.

Incumbent fire commissioners David Vande Bogart, Larry Selfridge and James Milton are running for reelection on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the firehouse  from 4 to 7 p.m. Photo by Patricia Lynch