Firefighters, ambulance vols won't get free park passes

There are no free season passes to Lynn Deming Park on Candlewood Lake for New Milford firefighters or the town's ambulance crew.

A request for the passes made to the New Milford Parks & Recreation Commission by Rich Squires, a lieutenant from Water Witch Hose Co. No. 2, was denied during the commission's July 10 meeting.

Mr. Squires believed free passes would be a way of thanking the volunteers who respond to some 650 calls a year, he said in a letter to the commission.

Parks & Recreation Director Dan Calhoun felt such an move would result in a big loss in revenue for his department.

Commission member Bill Kamp said there are approximately 250 to 275 volunteers in the two groups and added they already receive a reduction in town taxes.

Vice chairwoman Susan Lamb's suggestion of one free day pass for each volunteer was not accepted either.

Using Mr. Kamp's approximation of volunteer numbers, a free season pass to the park on Candlewood Lake for each volunteer could range from $11,250 to $12,375 in lost revenue.

A free one-day pass for each volunteer could result in up to $1,250 to $1,375 in revenue loss.

Susan Tuz