“It seems to me that it’s an outdated method of governance.”

Mark Smith, the Addison Fire Board’s chairman, wasn’t the only person to use the word “outdated” when talking about the fire board’s future, or lack thereof, in Addison Township and the Village of Leonard.

At its Jan. 15 meeting, the fire board members voted 4-0 to recommend to the Addison Township Board and Village of Leonard Council that it be dissolved. Pat Eisenhardt, a longtime member of the board, made the motion to dissolve.

Though the fire board has been an essential governing body during times of contention between the fire department and the township, the members felt its authority isn’t great enough to where it needs to be kept around. The only thing the board can independently do is grant or deny relief to firefighters who request it. Addison Fire Chief Jerry Morowski said the department has only gotten four of those requests in the last decade.

“The fire board has no authority, with one exception, as essentially all items that come before the fire board for approval must be forwarded to the township trustees for final approval,” a letter penned to Addison and Leonard officials from the board reads.

Because of that lack of authority, the fire board is recommending that township and village officials dissolve it.

During their discussion, board members suggested their responsibilities could be handled by township trustees or the township supervisor could appoint a fire “task force” for times when the department is in need of a governing body or the fire department could create a committee made of firefighters.

“If there is something that comes up that would need to or could be taken care of by a group such as this, the township supervisor could appoint a task force to come in and take care of the situation,” Smith said.

If a the board were to remain, it was the belief of members that it should meet less frequently than it currently does. The board is required to meet at least six times a year under its governing ordinance. Currently, it meets once a month.

But, even when discussing the benefits of having a fire board, the members strongly believed its purpose was outdated. One member, Robert DeWitt, talked of being on the Brandon Township Fire Board before it was dissolved and that community members didn’t miss it all that much, if at all.

“As a citizen over there at the time, I did not notice that it had gone away,” DeWitt said.

Despite the recommendation of the fire board, the decision is ultimately that of township and village officials. Even though the board has at least a few more meetings in its future, board members took time to voice their honor and enjoyment from serving.

“I’ve enjoyed all this years working on this fire board,” board member Geno Mallia said at the meeting’s end.

The fire board will meet again on Feb. 19. Meetings start at 7 p.m.