Swift sides with tennis players on firehouse location; courts, station should stay put
By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – While the city commissioners are setting up appointments for the Gibson-Tarquini group to return and discuss plans for the renovation or relocation of the Margate City Fire Station, City Commissioner John Swift made a surprise announcement this week regarding the location of the station.
Swift said that after careful consideration of the facts and of the opinions expressed by the members of the tennis community about the proposed relocation of the firehouse to the Jerome Avenue tennis courts, he believed it would be contrary to the best interests of the city and its residents.
Swift sent out a press release saying that he would take no action and would not vote in favor of a measure that would force the tennis courts from their current location.
The city was looking at the Jerome Avenue location as a follow-up to recommendations made by the Margate Long Term Planning Commission, which indicated in a report submitted to the commission in December 2005 that the current Fire Department facilities are “inadequate.”
The commissioners also recently asked Tarquini to give them a cost analysis on renovations to the current facility at Washington and Ventnor Avenues.
Swift lauded tennis activist June Martin for her efforts to bring the community’s voice forward with a petition and for rallying residents to attend meetings in support of keeping the courts.
Swift asked his fellow commissioners to come forward with their opinions on the firehouse as well. TOP
