Shane M. Liebler / The Citizen

MERIDIAN -- A majority of the Cato Town Board solidified its stance against negotiations with the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department before a capacity crowd Tuesday.

Town councilors voted 3-2 to allow coverage of Fire District 1 to end Dec. 31 for the third time in as many months after hearing from several department supporters who pleaded for more consideration. More than 75 people crowded town hall and prodded the board for about two hours.

Canceling the contract with Meridian firefighters would effectively close the department within a year, according to its leadership. The contract covers about 75 percent of its annual income.

Department attorney Tom Blair suggested a change to Cato, Ira, Jordan or Weedsport service would raise homeowner insurance premiums and lengthen response times. The town would lose the department's four basic life support-certified medics as well, which many argued, will put lives in danger.

"Fires are few and far between in our neck of the woods, really it's the emergency medical calls fire departments deal with the most," Blair said.

Town Councilman Ronald Dennison suggested the insurance premium figures the department quoted assume there is no fire protection, which will not be the case. Most Fire District 1 homes will fall within the required 5-mile radius, he added.

For more, read Wednesday's Citizen