CATO - The Cato Town Board did not take any action on its proposed 2009 budget Thursday night in response to a number of vocal protests against its decision to reinstitute the Meridian Fire Department contract at its Oct. 7 meeting. The proposed 2009 budget of $443,953 is slightly more than last year's one of $441,706. Until the budget is approved, fire contracts for next year are not firm.
At the October meeting, in separate resolutions, the board voted 3-1 (Gerald Hunter voting no, with Town Supervisor Charles Ray abstaining) to award the Meridian Fire Department a 2009 contract to provide fire protection services to Cato Fire District No. 1, North. It also resolved 4-1 to award a contract to the Jordan Fire Department to cover District No. 1, South, which it had covered the previous year.
Fire protection figures in the proposed budget indicated Fire District No. 1 North would be served by Meridian Fire Department for $40,209, minus worker's comp, which is combined with the Jordan Fire District at $3,687. Jordan Fire District was awarded the southern half of that district at $39,647 plus worker's comp.
Totals for Cato Fire Department in Fire District No. 2 were $20,988 plus $953 worker's comp, and Weedsport Fire Department, serving District No. 3, would receive $19,680 plus $1,439 worker's comp.
Total fire protection for 2008 was $118,469, while the proposed figure in 2009 is $126,603.
The public hearing was delayed about 25 minutes as the board immediately went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter on which no action was taken.
The public comments were then heard at 8:33 p.m., beginning with Cayuga County Legislator Michael H. Chapman.
“I wrote a letter to each town board member as a taxpayer, and I represent 10 people who came and asked me about the Town of Cato awarding a portion of District No. 1 to the Meridian Fire Department,” Chapman said.
As none of the board members had their copies, he read from the letter, making three points to question the town's decision.
He noted that the Meridian Fire Department was supposed to attend training classes to comply with issues of safety, but “no New York state training is recorded for 2008.” Chapman said the department had seven months to get critical training through state classes offered hosted by neighboring fire departments.
He wanted to know how the town verified that the standards have been met before offering Meridian a contract.
He also said that Meridian firefighters had no HAZMAT training to enable them to put out vehicle fires.
Chapman said the town could have saved $19,754 with an alternate plan that was offered.
His final point was that no 990 form had been filed by Meridian although it had proclaimed itself a not-for-profit entity. Chapman wanted to know how the town would review its activity and the expenditure of taxpayer dollars, which the 990 would provide a means for.
He also stressed the need for a governing body to exercise due diligence in order to provide for public safety.
A member of the Meridian Fire Department said one reason some of the training was incomplete was that the volunteers had to travel too far to get the training.
“This county is one of the longest counties in the state,” he said.
He cited expense and liability as well as the time needed to travel a distance for five or six nights to get the training.
Chapman said that Meridian could request that the state come and provide training at their location.
Amed Perrotta, Meridian fire chief, said that he had contacted the Emergency Management Office, trying to get classes, but all he was offered was a fire-police class in Ira a month ago.
Residents asked board members to provide reasons for their votes on the fire contracts.
Councilman Stefan House said he had 400 people ask him to approve the Meridian contract.
“I'd like to see everybody get along,” he said.
Kathy Bratt, a school board member, rebuffed House for his decision, saying, “There are 2,750 people in the town of Cato. You are responsible to every single one, not just those 400 people. The law says you have to provide adequate fire protection.”
Councilman Hunter thought that the idea of consolidation of services would have been a better idea.
“I think Mr. Cummings had the right idea about merging,” Ray said.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Fire protection figures in the proposed budget indicated Fire District No. 1 North would be served by Meridian Fire Department for $40,209, minus worker's comp, which is combined with the Jordan Fire District at $3,687. Jordan Fire District was awarded the southern half of that district at $39,647 plus worker's comp.
Totals for Cato Fire Department in Fire District No. 2 were $20,988 plus $953 worker's comp, and Weedsport Fire Department, serving District No. 3, would receive $19,680 plus $1,439 worker's comp.
Total fire protection for 2008 was $118,469, while the proposed figure in 2009 is $126,603.
The public hearing was delayed about 25 minutes as the board immediately went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter on which no action was taken.
The public comments were then heard at 8:33 p.m., beginning with Cayuga County Legislator Michael H. Chapman.
“I wrote a letter to each town board member as a taxpayer, and I represent 10 people who came and asked me about the Town of Cato awarding a portion of District No. 1 to the Meridian Fire Department,” Chapman said.
As none of the board members had their copies, he read from the letter, making three points to question the town's decision.
He noted that the Meridian Fire Department was supposed to attend training classes to comply with issues of safety, but “no New York state training is recorded for 2008.” Chapman said the department had seven months to get critical training through state classes offered hosted by neighboring fire departments.
He wanted to know how the town verified that the standards have been met before offering Meridian a contract.
He also said that Meridian firefighters had no HAZMAT training to enable them to put out vehicle fires.
Chapman said the town could have saved $19,754 with an alternate plan that was offered.
His final point was that no 990 form had been filed by Meridian although it had proclaimed itself a not-for-profit entity. Chapman wanted to know how the town would review its activity and the expenditure of taxpayer dollars, which the 990 would provide a means for.
He also stressed the need for a governing body to exercise due diligence in order to provide for public safety.
A member of the Meridian Fire Department said one reason some of the training was incomplete was that the volunteers had to travel too far to get the training.
“This county is one of the longest counties in the state,” he said.
He cited expense and liability as well as the time needed to travel a distance for five or six nights to get the training.
Chapman said that Meridian could request that the state come and provide training at their location.
Amed Perrotta, Meridian fire chief, said that he had contacted the Emergency Management Office, trying to get classes, but all he was offered was a fire-police class in Ira a month ago.
Residents asked board members to provide reasons for their votes on the fire contracts.
Councilman Stefan House said he had 400 people ask him to approve the Meridian contract.
“I'd like to see everybody get along,” he said.
Kathy Bratt, a school board member, rebuffed House for his decision, saying, “There are 2,750 people in the town of Cato. You are responsible to every single one, not just those 400 people. The law says you have to provide adequate fire protection.”
Councilman Hunter thought that the idea of consolidation of services would have been a better idea.
“I think Mr. Cummings had the right idea about merging,” Ray said.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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