North Bergen and Guttenberg have decided to end their partnership with the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue (NHRFR), a regional fire department they’ve been a part of for 25 years.
Aside from fire services, the decision to leave NHRFR is tied up in local politics and long-standing disagreements between North Bergen’s Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Union City’s Mayor Brian Stack.
Now, North Bergen and Guttenberg want to start a joint fire department in hopes of creating a more efficient and locally focused service.
Here’s what’s behind this decision and what it could mean for residents in both towns.
- North Bergen and Guttenberg are leaving NHRFR due to ongoing political issues and concerns over service quality.
- They plan to set up their own fire department to improve response times and save costs.
- The move may take several years, and the towns must navigate legal and financial challenges.
The Reason for Leaving
For years, North Bergen has felt that it doesn’t get a fair deal from NHRFR.
Town officials argue that North Bergen receives far more calls for fire services than it should, based on what they contribute financially to NHRFR.
From their perspective, they’re paying more than their fair share but not getting the level of service they expect.
But there’s more to it than the numbers.
Mayor Sacco has clashed with Mayor Stack on several issues over the years, and recent events have only added to the tension.
One of the biggest disagreements came when Stack opposed North Bergen’s plans to keep a pre-K program in trailers at James J. Braddock Park, which serves young children, including those with special needs.
For Sacco, this was a step too far and made it impossible to keep working together in NHRFR.
Feeling fed up with political and service concerns, Sacco and other North Bergen officials believe it’s time for a change.
By forming their own fire department with Guttenberg, they hope to have a service that focuses more on local needs and is free of regional politics.
Partnering with Guttenberg for a New Fire Department
For Guttenberg, teaming up with North Bergen to create a new fire department couldn’t have come at a better time.
Guttenberg has been exploring the idea of creating its own fire service, but joining forces with North Bergen makes the plan more feasible and cost-effective.
By working together, they can share resources and hopefully build a service that meets the needs of both towns.
As you can expect, the process of leaving NHRFR and starting their own department won’t be quick or easy.
Both towns plan to use an exit clause in their NHRFR agreement to begin the separation, but it might not be fully completed until 2028.
To settle any disputes over equipment, funds, and staffing, they’ll need to go through a legal process, which could involve court cases and arbitration.
Despite these hurdles, Guttenberg’s Mayor, Wayne Zitt, believes this new plan will benefit both towns.
He’s optimistic that a joint department will allow them to control costs and offer better services to residents.
Understandably, Zitt thinks it’s time to move on from NHRFR, which he says hasn’t been run fairly and transparently.
What Residents Can Expect from This Change
The shift to a new local fire department could bring some important changes for residents of North Bergen and Guttenberg.
These towns hope to improve response times with their own departments and ensure more effective fire service delivery.
Instead of relying on a regional system, they want a department that’s more in tune with their specific needs.
That said, it’s not going to be a simple process.
Breaking away from a large, regional department like NHRFR means facing some high costs.
Dissolving a fire department is expensive, and there will be a lot to work out when it comes to hiring firefighters, buying equipment, and setting up a fully operational fire service.
Therefore, this decision has stirred some controversy.
Not everyone thinks that political issues should lead to such a big change.
Weehawken’s Mayor Richard Turner, on the NHRFR management committee, has said he’s concerned about the costs and challenges of breaking up NHRFR.
He worries that political disagreements influence a decision that should focus on public safety.
However, North Bergen and Guttenberg officials believe the change is necessary to get their towns a fair, well-run fire service.
The Future of Fire Services in North Bergen and Guttenberg
For North Bergen and Guttenberg, forming a new fire department is about more than ending a partnership—it’s about taking control of their fire services and ensuring they’re efficient, fair, and reliable.
Over the next few years, these towns will work through the legal steps needed to leave NHRFR and establish their own system.
It won’t be easy, and there will likely be challenges and delays along the way.
However, both Sacco and Zitt hope that the new department will allow them to improve fire services for their residents and keep local needs at the forefront.
This move by North Bergen and Guttenberg marks a major change in how fire protection is handled in the North Hudson area.
As they start this journey, they’re aiming to build a department that’s directly accountable to their residents and can deliver the services they believe their towns deserve.
