“This may sound crass, but if you choose to live at the end of Marion Road or end of Miller Street or someplace else, you’ve made a decision because you know there’s not a fire station there. You’re taking a degree of risk, as an individual, and in some cases asking us to incur a half a million dollars across everyone else to do some of the staffing we have.”

~ Middleboro Selectman Stephen P. Spataro at the June 27, 2011 Board of Selectmen meeting

Crass. Insulting. Infuriating. All words I would use to describe Mr. Spataro’s statement during last night’s Board of Selectmen hearing about whether or not to accept the recent FEMA grant awarded to Middleboro’s Fire Department.

My husband and I own two houses and one business in Middleboro. Two of those properties are in the center of town, within two minutes of the central fire station. The third property is “someplace else” – in south Middleboro. We pay property and business taxes. We have chosen Middleboro as the place where we want to live and work. Following Mr. Spataro’s logic, however, we only deserve fire protection or prompt ambulance service at two of those properties. Apparently we’re on our own for our home in south Middleboro.

It’s good to know that we should not expect the same level of service that “in town” people receive. I just added south Carver’s fire station to my phone speed dial. I’ll just call them should I have an emergency at my home. They’re closer. They’re faster. I know they will respond.They’ll send Middleboro the bill.

Don’t worry, Mr. Spataro, we won’t bother you and the in-town folks with our piddling emergencies. We also won’t be voting for you when you come up for re-election.