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Home My WebLink About25-08-12 Fire District Minutes (draft) DRAFT DANBY FIRE DISTRICT MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING August 12, 2025 Commissioner Westmiller called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ATTENDANCE: COMMISSIONERS: OFFICERS: Katherine Anderson (absent) Kevin Faehndrich (absent) Joseph Freedman Charlotte Griggs Wayne Westmiller Bonnie Hart, Treasurer Sharon Gaden, Secretary, Deputy Treasurer John Gaden, Danby Fire Chief Robert McCray, West Danby Fire Chief (absent) Ken VanEtten, WD 1st Asst. Chief PUBLIC: NONE Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Bid opening for Hose, Ladder & Hard Suction Units: 1. US Fire Services total for all testing $9,675.25 2. Safety First Equipment total for all testing $10,539.25 3. No bid received from Industrial Inspection & Analysis Inc. Commissioner Westmiller moved to accept proposal from US Fire Services, seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. Bid opening for Annual Truck Maintenance and Pump Testing: 1. Ward’s Apparatus - $9,117.16 2. No bid from Twin Tier Fire Safety Services 3. Priority Fire - $17,944.39 Commissioner Westmiller moved to accept proposal from Ward’s Apparatus, seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. Discussion on West Danby water usage on the last bill received Discussion on cameras at West Danby and installing the ones they have Minutes: Preliminary minutes for June 24, 2025, Budget Workshop; July 22, 2025, Regular Meeting and July 22, 2025, Budget Workshop were sent to the Town Clerk on August 4, 2025, for posting to Town’s website and were also posted on the Fire District’s Website on August 4, 2025. Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the minutes of the June 24, 2025, Budget Workshop Meeting; July 22, 2025, Regular Meeting and July 22, 2025, Budget Workshop. Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. Treasurer’s Report: • Emailed Financial Reports to Commissioners/Secretary/Chiefs o Balance Sheet o Profit and Loss o Equipment (100/200) (Secretary and Chiefs) o Fuel (Secretary and Chiefs) • Bank statements reconciled. • McNeil Insurance 3rd Installment invoice for $6129 received. • NYSEG/Solar billing backup received • Billed WDWD for Kinsley repair • 2% Fire Tax Received • Boiler Inspected (NYS Dept Labor) Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. APPROVAL OF BILLS: Commissioner Freedman moved to pay the vouchers as audited and approved on Operating Account Abstract 8-A $33,253.71 claims 171-186 and Operating Account Abstract 8-B $6,593.73 claims 187-191. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. COMMUNICATIONS: • Email from NYCLASS regarding an enhanced online transaction portal • Email form PERMA – Safety Tip Tuesday • Email NY State Association of Fire Chiefs – The NYSAFC Bugle • Email Central Region Fire Districts meeting August 25, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. • Email from NYS Archives • Email from NYCLASS introducing PTMA Financial Solutions: Enhanced Service & Support • Email from NYS Archives • Email from NYCLASS with new statement • Email from PERMA Monthly newsletter • Email from PERMA Safety Grant Initiative • Email from PERMA Hazard Huddle Challenge • Danby Town News – August 2025 • Danby News – August 2025 • Email from Attorney Butler with Budget Guideline; Tax Cap information and information on new law going into effect 12/21/25 pertaining to Fire District’s having website that ends in .gov (Secretary Gaden) Discussion followed on researching how to get a .gov ending for our current website. Privilege of the Floor: NONE CHIEF’S REPORTS: WDFC: (1st Asst. Chief VanEtten) • No Written report for August was received. • Station Usage: 08/20/25 by West Danby Water District for a meeting. 08/30/25 Celebration of Life for Sims • H. Wright and J. Warner were accepted for Cortland Bootcamp (previously approved on 04/22/24) • 1442 new battery needed • 1401 went to Ward’s Apparatus last week for the emergency repair of the pump valve, finding: wiring to switch was bad • 1445 still going to have Ward’s look at it. • Getting quotes for enclosing pavilion to house 1442 • Cameras they have already need to be installed Commissioner Westmiller moved to accept the following station usage: 08/20/25 by West Danby Water District for a meeting. 08/30/25 Celebration of Life for Sims. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. DVFC: (Chief Gaden) • Written report for July was received • Station usage: 09/06/25 by Danby Resilience group for the Danby Resilience Fair • Training requests: o S. Wyatt for EMT Refresher at State Academy in Montour Falls (Schuyler County) November – January asking for $35.00 tuition fee and $315 for milage reimbursement. o M. Metz to attend Cortland Boot camp in Cortland County for IFO/BEFO/Hazmat from 08/20/25 through 12/08/25 • 401 fixed by Ward’s today, new primer installed, and ladder rack repaired • 442 passed state inspection, oil and filter changed. • 441 will go next for inspection and oil/filter change • 443 will have inspection and oil/filter change in November • 09/27/25 Fire company is having a picnic, commissioners, treasurer, and West Danby Chief McCray with their families are invited. If Chief McCray cannot attend, 1st Asst. Chief was invited to attend in his place. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to accept station usage by Danby Resilience group for the Danby Resilience Fair on 09/06/25, approved for pavilion and parking lot off Gunderman Road. The group will need to provide their own electricity. Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. Commissioner Westmiller moved accept training request by S. Wyatt to attend EMT Refresher in Schuyler County, M. Metz to attend Boot Camp in Cortland County. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. COMMITTEES: PURCHASING: NONE BUILDING/GROUNDS: • Generators at both stations will be inspected 08/14/25 • Cleaning company is doing good at both stations. • Discussion on getting blinds or curtains or tinted windows for the meeting room, conference room, chief’s office, and district office. GRANTS: • We do not qualify for the Digital Equity Program Grant • Grant for 2 new gear washers was submitted INSURANCE: NONE TECH: NONE TRUCKS: NONE TOWN BOARD: NONE RECORDS: • Commissioner Training certificate is needed • SCBA Flow test was done, and all passed POLICY: • Commissioner Westmiller reviewed his assigned policies and had one revision to Policy #3, Paragraph #5 would read “The current position”, instead of “The then position.” • Commissioners, Chiefs, Treasurer and Secretary were reminded to review and let Secretary know of any questions, amendments, approvals. MEMBERSHIP/TRAINING: • Secretary read the names of members still required to have physicals LONG RANGE PLAN: • Committee is working on it AUDIT: NONE BUDGET: • Commissioner Freedman discussed the proposed 2026 budget. Noted the line item A9901.9 Transfers to Reserve Accounts was decreased from $60,000.00 to $43,000.00. No other changes from last budget workshop. Discussion followed Commissioner Freedman moved to adopt the Proposed Budget for 2026 of $611,000.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. Commissioner Westmiller moved to set the Budget Hearing for the 2026 Budget for October 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. and to set a Special Meeting for the Board of Fire Commissioners to follow the Budget Hearing on October 21, 2025. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: NONE APPROVALS of TRAININGS, ITEMS OR SERVICES TO BE PURCHASED: Commissioner Freedman moved to approve the purchase of part needed to repair Cutters Edge chainsaw at Danby Station in the amount of $50.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Small Equipment Account) Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the purchase of MSA SCBA face pieces from Firematic in the amount of $2800.00 plus shipping and handling. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Danby Equipment account) Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the tuition fee of $35.00 and mileage reimbursement of up to $315.00 to S. Wyatt for EMT Refresher class in Schuyler County. Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Danby Training Account) Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve emergency purchase of battery for 1442 from Charlie’s up to $400.00 . Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (1442 Maintenance Account) Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve emergency repair of 1401 by Ward’s Apparatus. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (1401 Maintenance Account) Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to approve tuition fee and mileage reimbursement for M. Metz to attend Cortland Bootcamp pending a completed District Training Request Form. Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Danby Training Account) Commissioner Westmiller made a move to approve the purchase of a battery backup for Chief Gaden ’s computer from the Computer Room in the amount of $90.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Office Equipment Account) Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve the payment of $75.00 to the Commissioner of Labor for the inspection of the boiler at the Danby Fire Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Danby General Maintenance Account) Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to approve the purchase of a roll of postage stamps in the amount of $219.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Supplies Account) Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve up to $300.00 to Maguires for State inspections, and oil/filter changes for 441, 442 and 443. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (441,442 and 443 Maintenance Accounts) Next Meeting dates and time: • 08/26/25 at 6:30 p.m. – to be cancelled • 09/09/25 at 6:30 p.m. – Regular Meeting • 09/23/25 at 6:30 p.m. – Regular Meeting • 10/14/25 at 6:30 p.m. – Regular Meeting • 10/21/25 at 6:30 p.m. – Budget Public Hearing • 10/21/25 after Budget Hearing – Special Meeting Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Gaden Secretary