🚒 Reopening Neuner Training Center: Vital—but Part of a Bigger Crisis
This week, Putnam County marked a major step forward with the ribbon‑cutting ceremony for the Lt. Michael Neuner Fire & EMS Training Center, officially reopening to train our volunteers in advanced firefighting and emergency medical skills.
Why This Facility Matters
Honoring Lt. Neuner: Named after a dedicated firefighter who died in the line of duty, this facility ensures his legacy lives on by safeguarding today’s first responders.
State-of-the-art Training: Featuring modern classrooms, simulation props, and real-life scenario setups, the center enables hands-on, realistic training.
Regional Hub: Serving Putnam and neighboring counties, it supports volunteer departments that typically rely on aging or borrowed facilities.
This $300,000 project—funded by Putnam County alongside a grant from Senator Pete Harckham—demonstrates what responsible investment in public safety can achieve. As County Executive Kevin Byrne highlighted, this kind of infrastructure support is essential to protect lives while honoring taxpayer stewardship.
🚨 The Decline in Volunteerism: A Growing Threat
But while we celebrate this milestone, a much larger challenge looms: volunteerism—especially in emergency services—is plunging across New York, including right here in Putnam County.
Statewide Crisis: New York has seen a 33% drop in volunteer firefighter numbers over the past 20 years, with only ~80,000 active members remaining. Alarm bells are sounding across rural counties as departments struggle to fill shifts.
Putnam’s Reality: Our all‑volunteer departments serve around 2,000 EMS and 150 fire-related calls annually, yet are straining to maintain coverage as volunteers face increased time demands, training hurdles, and burnout.
Regulatory Pressures: New OSHA training standards requiring significantly more time and equipment are prompting volunteer chiefs to warn that mandates may “cripple many volunteer fire departments”.
In Putnam County alone, COVID’s disruption and economic pressures caused volunteer EMTs to step away. One district, in Brewster, was even forced to hire full‑time EMTs to fill the gap—underscoring the urgency at hand.
↗️ Why This Training Center Is Crucial—But Only Part of the Solution
This facility gives us the tools—but we must also fix the system:
Recruitment & Retention
We need incentives like stipends, tax breaks, and LOSAP programs to meet today's volunteer expectations.Flexible Funding
Our departments can't bear the cost of equipment and training alone. Programs such as the Governor’s wildfire equipment grants help—but coverage is inconsistent.Regulatory Relief
We must advocate for volunteer exemptions to sweeping OSHA standards that don't align with local volunteer capacity.Regional Collaboration
Consolidating training, equipment, and mutual‑aid resources across districts—or adding modest paid personnel—can prevent breakdowns in service as volunteer numbers dwindle.
✅ I’m Committed to Fixing This
I’ll push for expanded tax exemptions, stipends, and training support in the Legislature, building on the groundwork laid by County Executive Byrne’s recent property‑tax exemptions.
I’ll work to secure federal and state grant funding so our departments aren’t stuck filling gaps out of pocket.
I’ll continue lobbying for OSHA reforms, advocating for localized standards that recognize Putnam's unique volunteer system.
In Summary
The reopening of the Neuner Center is a beacon of hope—but we can’t confuse it with the finish line. Without tackling the volunteerism crisis head‑on, we risk leaving our communities without coverage when it’s needed most.
Investing in training is essential—but investing in people is vital. It’s time we matched this world‑class centerpiece with comprehensive support for the volunteers who show up, day and night, in Putnam County’s moments of greatest need.