Bristol Borough Mayor Joseph Saxton returned from a brief stint away due to health related issues and provided an update on changes borough fire companies are working on together, and  council appointed a new borough deputy chief to the fire service at its last meeting.

Council vice-president Betty Rodriguez celebrated the mayors return simply saying “he’s back” gesturing towards Saxton, with those in attendance cheering loudly. .

Saxton thanked council and the community for their support while he was away.

“Hopefully we’re back for good, he said “I’m not sure I’ll be at everything for the first month or two, but I hope to be at the(Christmas) parade that’s for sure.”

“We’re all happy that he’s back,” Rodriguez  said.

Saxton,  as part of his monthly report, updated council on his efforts to “bring the fire companies together” citing the state survey completed earlier this year on the borough fire services.

The Mayor said the now four fire companies have been meeting regularly in an effort to bring their efforts together. .

They’re working very hard. They have a company they have hired, that is leading them through the process of forming an association which is the primary recommendation in the state survey. That is the first big step in compliance with the studies recommendations,  he said.

As part of the formation process, a name will have to be chosen, and then the next step will be changing the borough fire ordinance which is being worked on now and is in the preliminary stages of development, said Saxton.

The study calls for the borough to restructure the fire chiefs reporting responsibilities to the borough manager. It also suggests the  fire ordinance to be reworked to determine the needs of borough and community the fire companies serve.

“The Borough should review, revamp and codify the Bristol Borough Municipal Code Chapter 7 as a means to determine, with the Fire Companies what the Borough and the citizens need in in the 21st Century in regard to Community Fire Protection, and what the Fire Companies need to achieve success in these areas,” the January 2021 report says.

To view a copy of the 2021 Fire Study please click here and do the same on the following page.

In related borough fire news  Alexander “AJ”  DeAngelis  the Fire Chief of Bristol Consolidated Fire Station 50  was approved to be deputy borough Fire Chief by council in a unanimous vote.

DeAngelis received an enthusiastic stamp of approval from  Saxton and Emergency Manager Merle Winslow.

Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack and first deputy Paul Gosline initially submitted DeAngelis’ name for the appointment, Saxton said.

“He’s very well trained and he’ll be a great asset to the town” said Winslow.