Lodi, NJ moving forward with fire department alcohol ban. Now working with fire officials to modify ordinance covering firehouse bar & related issues.

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Here’s an update on the controversial move by the Borough Council and mayor in Lodi, New Jersey to regulate the use of alcohol at the Lodi VFD. The Borough Council is working with fire officials to come up with a modified version of the ordinance that would deal with the firehouse bar and related issues.

Kim Lueddeke, The Record via NorthJersey.com:

The ordinance had been scheduled for a final vote at the council’s meeting Tuesday, but was pulled from the agenda after the council met with fire officials in closed session last week. At that meeting, Mayor Marc Schrieks said firefighters’ concerns and possible changes to the ordinance were discussed.

“There were ideas and suggestions they came up with that we didn’t think about,” Schrieks said.

(Fire Chief Darren) Yuhas has said that any alcohol kept in the firehouses is stored in a locked area and that — while firefighters might have a few drinks after responding to an emergency call — he did not believe firehouse alcohol consumption was excessive.