CATO - Despite heated discussions and a court hearing, the Meridian Fire Contract was granted Tuesday night. Fire and ambulance service contracts were voted on separately and approved at the regular meeting of the Cato Town Board.
The contract with Meridian Fire Department in the amount of $40,209 for Fire District No. 1 North was approved 4-1, with Gerald Hunter opposed. Jordan Fire Department's contract for Fire District No.1 South in the amount of $39,647 was also approved, 4-1, with Stefan House opposed. Weedsport's contract in the amount of $19,680 for District No. 3 and Cato's contract in the amount of $20,988 for District No. 2 were both unanimously approved.
The proposed Meridian contract had been challenged in court by a couple of residents in Fire District No. 1 North, but judge Mark Fandrich ruled that there was no evidence that residents in the town's Fire District No. 1 would suffer as a result of the decision or that the town voted in bad faith.
Ronald L. Dennison, of Route 176, a former board member and Michael Grant, of Dugar Road, maintained that the town board's decision to contract with Meridian's understaffed department, with only three interior firefighters, put residents at risk of injury and cost the town more than the alternative of remaining with the Cato Fire Department.
The town also voted 4-0 to contract with CIMVAC for ambulance service with a time change from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $28, 458. Councilman Irving Foster abstained.
During the public comments, Dorothy Ray and Don Thompson of the Civic Heritage Historical Society asked the board to turn the Brick Church Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse located on Route 34 opposite the entrance to Short Cut Road, over to the Society for the sum of $1.
“This is a little jewel for our community,” Ray said. “The kids and teachers love it. It's an educational tool. There's not another such school in the state that has the kids go down and stay for a day.”
Ray was alarmed when she heard that the town might turn the school over to Cayuga County, but it was only a rumor.
“The town board has never discussed turning it over to the county or even closing it,” Charles Ray, town supervisor, said. He noted that a suggestion was made to him in passing that the county might take it over.
“I'm tickled that so many people are interested,” he said.
Ray had brought along a number of letters written by elementary school children to plead her case.
“I don't want all the other kids to miss out on a one-room schoolhouse,” Andrew, a sixth grader, wrote.
“If you close it, hundreds of tears will be rolling from little kids' eyes,” a little girl wrote.
“If you need money, charge $1.25 to keep it running,” yet another boy wrote. “I like it so much I'll pay $2.”
Dorothy said light repairs were needed to the building amounting to $1,578 for repairs to the roof and cupola. She had someone lined up who might do the work at reduced cost.
Thompson said that Civic Heritage could handle the expense with the monies it now has, not enough for all repairs but enough to keep it functional while they seek grant money.
The town made no decision about the transfer of ownership and would consult with the town lawyer before deciding.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The proposed Meridian contract had been challenged in court by a couple of residents in Fire District No. 1 North, but judge Mark Fandrich ruled that there was no evidence that residents in the town's Fire District No. 1 would suffer as a result of the decision or that the town voted in bad faith.
Ronald L. Dennison, of Route 176, a former board member and Michael Grant, of Dugar Road, maintained that the town board's decision to contract with Meridian's understaffed department, with only three interior firefighters, put residents at risk of injury and cost the town more than the alternative of remaining with the Cato Fire Department.
The town also voted 4-0 to contract with CIMVAC for ambulance service with a time change from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $28, 458. Councilman Irving Foster abstained.
During the public comments, Dorothy Ray and Don Thompson of the Civic Heritage Historical Society asked the board to turn the Brick Church Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse located on Route 34 opposite the entrance to Short Cut Road, over to the Society for the sum of $1.
“This is a little jewel for our community,” Ray said. “The kids and teachers love it. It's an educational tool. There's not another such school in the state that has the kids go down and stay for a day.”
Ray was alarmed when she heard that the town might turn the school over to Cayuga County, but it was only a rumor.
“The town board has never discussed turning it over to the county or even closing it,” Charles Ray, town supervisor, said. He noted that a suggestion was made to him in passing that the county might take it over.
“I'm tickled that so many people are interested,” he said.
Ray had brought along a number of letters written by elementary school children to plead her case.
“I don't want all the other kids to miss out on a one-room schoolhouse,” Andrew, a sixth grader, wrote.
“If you close it, hundreds of tears will be rolling from little kids' eyes,” a little girl wrote.
“If you need money, charge $1.25 to keep it running,” yet another boy wrote. “I like it so much I'll pay $2.”
Dorothy said light repairs were needed to the building amounting to $1,578 for repairs to the roof and cupola. She had someone lined up who might do the work at reduced cost.
Thompson said that Civic Heritage could handle the expense with the monies it now has, not enough for all repairs but enough to keep it functional while they seek grant money.
The town made no decision about the transfer of ownership and would consult with the town lawyer before deciding.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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