Hempstead, Freeport officials team up on fire, sanitation services

Hempstead Town officials and Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy signed an agreement Monday to extend fire service to a new condo development and opened the town's bulk trash dump in Merrick to Freeport residents.

The Town of Hempstead's South Freeport Fire Protection District will pay the Village of Freeport $6,500 a year to extend coverage to an unincorporated area for fire protection service at 61 new condos at Ocean Watch at Harbor Pointe. The development is in an unincorporated area of the village, near Cow Meadow Park and Preserve.

Freeport firefighters have been providing interim fire protection for the condos, only one of which is occupied. Firefighters will also cover the unincorporated area, including the park and two marinas.

The three-year agreement -- which town Supervisor Kate Murray and Kennedy signed on the back of a firetruck Monday -- is effective through May 2018. The Hempstead Town Board will vote on the measure at its June 23 meeting. It will take effect then if the vote passes.

"We're glad to serve our residents more effectively and for less money," Murray said. "This arrangement will save taxpayers money through the synergy of two governments working together."

Murray said the fire protection agreement and the trash disposal services will not lead to a tax increase or additional costs to Hempstead Town residents.

Under the agreement, about 45,000 Freeport residents will have access free of charge to the homeowner disposal area of the sanitation facility at 1600 Merrick Rd., in addition to free regularly scheduled home pickup for bulk items and debris.

"This is a great example of efficiency in government to combine government services and reduce expenses for years to come," Kennedy said.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.