New commissioners take seats amid board disputes New election passes as prior year's remains unresolved in District 2 BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer OLD BRIDGE - Two of five seats on the Old Bridge District 2 Board of Fire Commissioners have been filled, though a third continues to sit vacant as a court battle wages on. Linda Seiler and Robert Larson won commissioners' posts in Saturday's fire district elections. The spots were left open by President Robert Weiss and George Gillard, who served as commissioner in charge of personnel. Meanwhile, Eleanor Walker and Kevin Kingston will have to wait until their yearlong battle for a commissioner's seat comes to an end before one of them can take the post they have fought for. "My most important duty is to ensure the safety of the district … to prevent fires and to suppress them if and when they occur," Seiler said. Seiler, a vocal supporter of Walker, said she has attended meetings of the board of fire commissioners for a year now, and decided to run because she saw a need for change. "I've been concerned about some of the topics that were brought into executive session that I felt should have been kept in open session," Seiler said. "I want to bring the openness and transparency to the fire commission that the public deserves." Weiss said that the board is totally compliant with state Open Public Meetings Act requirements, and uses the guidance of its attorney to ensure that. "There is certainly nothing being done inappropriately in executive session," Weiss said. "[The commissioners] have all had the highest amount of integrity, and they've worked diligently to serve the residents in the fire district. They're not career politicians." Both Weiss and Gillard served on the board for nine years. Weiss was recently promoted to the position of captain in the Old Bridge Police Department, and said his additional duties have left him with less time to devote to other pursuits. Although his career has become more demanding, Weiss said there were other factors involved. "For the last several years, there is what I perceive to be a hostile environment between the leadership of the volunteer fire company and the board of fire commissioners, and that had some impact on my decision," Weiss said, adding, "It's been a pleasure and an honor to work with all of the members of the board of fire commissioners over the past nine years." Weiss said there seems to be a divide between career and volunteer firefighters in the district. Seiler agreed, and said she would like to do something about it. "The other thing I want to do is foster greater unity within the fire department, and make better relations between the volunteers and the paid firefighters," Seiler said. According to Seiler, animosities among the groups stemmed from last February's election, when Kingston, a career firefighter who works for East Orange and lives in Old Bridge, and Walker, who was strongly supported by the volunteer firefighters, butted heads and exchanged accusations. The results of that election were continually challenged by both parties, and have yet to reach a conclusion. Seiler said there seems to be a push by unions in the state to move toward all paid firefighters. Another one of her goals, she said, will be to attract more volunteers to the district through various outreach programs. Pending grant money would help to enhance programs like the Junior Fire Department for teens, as well as outreach efforts in schools and Scout groups. "Our tax base can't afford an all-paid force," Seiler said. "We don't seem to have any problems getting people out to fight fires." Weiss said the career firefighters, who are paid, provide the larger portion of fire protection in District 2. "I have nothing but respect for the career firefighters, and for the average volunteer firefighter who gives freely of his time to make his community a better and a safer place," Weiss said. "There is a place for both career firefighters and volunteer firefighters, and they need to work together to resolve these differences." Seiler pointed out that only two of the town's four districts have career firefighters. District 2, also known as Cheesequake, has seven, and Madison Park has two, she said. Kingston submitted his petition to run for a commissioner's seat in this month's election, but then withdrew it shortly after, according to board office staff. The current court battle centers around Walker challenging the legitimacy of some absentee ballots. Late in December, Weiss offered to vacate his seat early to help settle the bitter dispute, but Walker refused the offer. "She believes she's in the right, and I believe she's in the right, so this is going to be settled in court," Seiler said. The two other candidates in the election were Mark Kellett and Bernard "Bud" Michaeli. Seiler campaigned for both herself and Larson, she said. "I wish the current board success in resolving the hostilities between the leadership of the volunteer fire organization and the career firefighters," Weiss said.