Some members of the Cayuga County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee are taking county codes enforcement officer Jerry VeVone to task for suggesting that the county nursing home install heat and smoke detectors in each resident's room, with one going so far as to suggest that VeVone be fired.

During a discussion Tuesday about the cost of replacing the nursing home's emergency fire equipment, it was learned that an original $101,000 proposal had risen to $131,610 because VeVone had amended the proposed course of action.

Nursing home administrator Deb English explained that because a fire in a resident's room would not necessarily trigger emergency sprinklers, that, in the event of a fire, additional heat and smoke detectors would not only help prevent damage to the building, but, more importantly, help prevent a person from being injured.

Seems like a no-brainer, right?

Well, it seems that under state law, smoke detectors are only required in public areas, not in each individual room, so some Ways and Means Committee members said that VeVone had overstepped his authority in making the recommendation.

Christopher Palermo said he is not in favor of going above and beyond the state-mandated minimums for smoke detectors. Daniel Schuster said that the county should consider firing VeVone.

And all of this came after an explanation that concessions offered by the contractor would keep the additional cost at only about $20,000 more than the initial proposal.

We certainly understand the need for county lawmakers to keep a close eye on expenses. In fact, we encourage it. But when we weigh $20,000 against the need to keep the current and future residents of the county nursing home safe from fire, it becomes impossible to argue that the county should skimp on this project.