TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Assemblywoman Didi Barrett (D-Hudson) visited the Fairview Fire Department recently to inspect the new ladder truck for which she helped secure funding. Barrett was unable to attend the August dedication ceremony for the $1.1 million apparatus. Portions of the dedication ceremony can be viewed here.
The lawmaker secured $250,000 for the rig and Marist College also made a sizeable contribution for the truck that is replacing a 23-year-old vehicle. Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners Art Grace thanked Barrett and Marist College but also credited the district taxpayers for the funding at the dedication. “Without everybody’s support, this doesn’t happen,” Grace told the gathered crowd.
Fairview Fire Chief Justin Bohlmann, Deputy Chief Robert Ridley, and Commissioner Grace welcomed Barrett to the firehouse, and Ridley gave the assemblywoman a thorough tour of the rig.
“We are very thankful for Assemblywoman Barrett’s assistance to bring this much-needed apparatus here to help us keep our community safe,” Grace said. “Going forward, we are hopeful that Assemblywoman Barrett can help us with funding for long overdue repairs that are vital to keeping the firehouse up to code and safe for the firefighters who stay here.”