WEEDSPORT - New members of the Weedsport Fire Department were introduced at the Wednesday night meeting of the Weedsport Village Board, Cassandra Schram and Allan Harmon, both 18.

Fire Chief David James also reported that during a firehouse inspection by an insurance company, some general questions related to how drivers qualify to operate emergency vehicles were asked. James explained drivers without experience get 10 hours of driving time and are then tested, beginning with the ambulance and moving to large trucks.

Those already qualified spend three hours training to familiarize themselves with new vehicles.

Trustee Harry Hinman questioned the village's fire contract with Cato. Two months earlier, the village received a contract from the town for its fire services, but the amount on the original contract was incorrect by $5,000, so the village moved to sign the contract for $19,680 to cover Cato's Fire District No. 3. The town was waiting for a corrected version to be sent back, but the one they received still had errors.

Hinman said elements of the contract did not apply to the village, especially one related to not being paid if work was not satisfactory.

Mayor Jean Saroodis noted that Cato Town Supervisor Charles Ray said contracts issued to all fire departments had similar wording, and the town knew some items did not apply to Weedsport. Saroodis said she'd seen the same version of the contract for a number of years.

“I really hate to sign a legal contract that contains things that are not necessary or not right,” Hinman said.

He wondered how the figures were arrived at. James said he believes there needs to be more board-to-board discussion.

The town agreed because of time constraints they would overlook non-applicable items and go ahead and sign. They agreed that next year they would have the village attorney write the contract and send figures to the town from the village.

“It's kind of crazy we have to write up their contract for us,” Hinman said, but other members of the board noted that used to be the system in the past.

The village treasurer has the formula and does send the amount, but trustee Ray Swim said, “You don't have any way to check their assessment figures.”

The board agreed that next year the details should be agreed on ahead of time.

The Weedsport Fire Department has also come up with a new way to remind everyone during the holiday season to focus on fire prevention. They have decorated the front wall of the firehouse on South Street with a blue wreath, a reminder to have a safe and happy holiday season.

Whenever there is a structure fire anywhere in Cayuga county from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year's Day, one of the blue bulbs is removed and replaced with a red one. So far there are three red bulbs.

Tom Young, a volunteer fireman, got the idea when he went to a meeting of the Volunteer Firemen's Association in Schuyler County.

Tom's mother put the wreath together for the Weedsport Fire Department this year.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net