WRENTHAM — Fire chiefs are outraged after learning they may not get state grants for safety gear they need if their town doesn’t follow the new MBTA Communities Act.
“No firefighter should have their life put at risk because their community doesn’t have a particular housing policy,” said State Senator Bruce Tarr.
Sen. Tarr says he’s sending a letter to the governor, urging her to reconsider the state’s new requirement for Fire Safety and Equipment grants.
“To put these grants out of the reach of those communities does not seem appropriate,” said Senator Tarr.
Fire chiefs across the state were notified Wednesday about a new amendment to their grant applications, which says they’re only eligible if their communities comply with the state’s new MBTA Communities Act.
“To go through the entire process, have all our applications submitted and then have the rules changed and actually be held kind of hostage for compliance for something that we don’t have a vote on, it directly affects the safety of firefighters,” said Chief Antonio Marino, Fire Chief of the Wrentham Fire Department.
Chief Marino says his department relies on that state grant to fund new, essential gear.
This year their priority is getting new ensembles to fight wildfires made without toxic PFAS chemicals.
“A lot of these state-run facilities with DCR and the State Forest and the preserves are covered by communities like mine, and now we’re being told that the state’s impact on us, which isn’t reimbursed, is going to cost us extra just to have the equipment to go onto their properties to be effective and safe,” said Chief Marino.
The MBTA Communities Act requires towns to change their zoning to allow for more multi-family housing near public transit stops.
Voters in Needham just rejected that plan in a special election this week, joining towns like Milton, Wrentham, and Duxbury, all voting against the required changes.
The Governor’s office says right now, no community has been denied a fire safety grant.
A spokesperson for the Governor released the following statement Thursday:
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to supporting local fire departments and working with communities to come into compliance with the MBTA Communities Law, which is an essential component of our efforts to make housing more affordable. We are reviewing the status of these grants in light of the recent Supreme Judicial Court ruling.”
“We will not build the housing we need simply by continuing to punish communities and to vilify communities,” said Sen. Tarr.
The Governor’s office has also extended the deadline for communities to comply with the new MBTA law within the next six months.
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