Fire commish faces challenge from fire chief

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North Merrick voters will choose next Tuesday between two longtime Fire Department officers running for a five-year term on the department’s Board of Fire Commissioners.

Incumbent Commissioner Greg Smith faces a challenge by Chief Sean Kelleher. Smith won a board seat in a special election last year after Michael Costanza, a former commissioner, was forced to resign because of a federal fraud conviction. Smith is completing Costanza’s original term through 2014, but must now win re-election for a regular term of his own. (For more on the candidates, see boxes, left.)

Also on the ballot will be a proposition to approve the purchase of two LIFEPAK 15s — defibrillators used in ambulances. David Ward, clerk of the North Merrick Fire District, said the Fire Department’s current ambulance defibrillators are about “14 or 15 years old.” According to the department’s website, the proposition will read:

“Should the North Merrick Fire District enter into an installment purchase contract at a rate not to exceed 2.5 percent for a term of 36 months at approximately $2246.14 per month to purchase 2 LIFEPAK 15’s at a total cost not to exceed $85,000?”

Voters must have lived in the North Merrick Fire District on or before Nov. 9 and registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections on or before Nov. 16 to take part in the election. Voting will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 9, at the North Merrick Fire Department, at 2095 Camp Ave.