The Meridian Volunteer Fire Department will make another plea for contract renewal to the Cato Town Board that twice voted against it.

Department officials will outline the impact of closure at the board's meeting tonight. The 104-year-old organization has predicted it will close its doors because the Cato contract represented about 75 percent of its income.

A letter from the department's lawyer asks the board to rescind a pair of 3-2 tallies against the contract primarily on the grounds no studies were performed before making the decision. Premiums, response times and service could all be affected, attorney Tom Blair wrote in a Sept. 30 letter.

“Higher insurance premiums, longer response times, fewer available trained emergency medical responders and possibly higher taxes,” fire chief Amed Perrotta said in a press release. “It's not really a pretty picture if you ask me.”

The department obtained the backing of the county Judicial and Public Safety Committee this month. The committee adopted a resolution supporting a contract extension.

The town councilor who recommended the contract with the Meridian Fire Department cease at the end of the year did not expect to change her vote.

“I stand by my decision,” board member Linda Chapman said. “I haven't heard or seen anything that would make me change my mind.”

The department has been aware of financial, manpower and equipment concerns since contract negotiations began about a year ago, Chapman said. Closure will be a department decision, she added.

“That was not our goal,” Chapman said, suggesting the department could discuss its situation with the village or consider consolidation.

The town board meets tonight at 7 p.m.

Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net