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Home My WebLink About25-11-11 Fire District Minutes PRELIMINARY DANBY FIRE DISTRICT MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING November 11, 2025 Commissioner Westmiller called the regular meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. ATTENDANCE: COMMISSIONERS: OFFICERS: Katherine Anderson (absent) Kevin Faehndrich 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 Ken VanEtten, West Danby 1st Asst. Chief PUBLIC: NONE Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Minutes: Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the minutes of the October 28, 2025, regular meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Treasurer’s Report: • Emailed Financial Reports to Commissioners/Secretary/Chiefs o Balance Sheet o Profit and Loss o Equipment (100/200) o Fuel • Bank statements reconciled. • Contacted Town for Electric/Solar billing Commission Westmiller moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. COMMUNICATIONS: • Email from PERMA with Fall Newsletter • Email from PERMA Annual Member Conference save the date – May 14th & 15th, 2026 • Email from AFDSNY regarding 2026 Membership Dues & Continued Member Benefits; forwarded to Treasurer • Email from NYCLASS regarding Government Shutdown Adds to Uncertainty • Email from NYS Association of Fire Chiefs – The NYSAFC Bugle • Email from NYCLASS – FOMC Cuts Rates by 25 bps • Email from AFDSNY October 2025/November 2025 Fire District Affairs newsletter; forwarded to Commissioners, Treasurer and Chiefs • Email from NYS Archives – webinar • Email from PERMA – Safety Tip Tuesday • Email from GPS Month-End Statements Availability • Email from PERMA Monthly Topics • November 2025 Danby News • November 2025 Danby Town News Privilege of the Floor: NONE CHIEF’S REPORTS: WDFC: Chief Robert McCray reported: • Written report for October was received. • Station usage requests: 11/22/25 by Keely Mangle – Celebration of Life pancake breakfast from 11:00 to 2:30 p.m. 12/13/25 and 01/31/26 Jesse Warner for birthday parties from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. • H. Wright and J. Warner have passed BEFO and IFO and have one more section to complete in the Cortland Bootcamp program. • 1421 TPM Housing for the pump needs repairing and the instrument cluster on the dash needs repairing. Estimate from Wards Apparatus is $11,662.00 • Starlink hardware order has been placed. • Siren tower is in bad shape, wood is rotting. Would like it taken down. Commi ssioner Westmiller will contact an electrician to first remove the wiring. • Would like the plumber to look at the cold-water spigot in the kitchen when he is there to look at the toilet in the women’s restroom. • 1441 is back from preventative maintenance. • 1443 and 1442 will be going out for NYS inspections Commissioner Freedman moved to accept station usage as follows: 11/22/25 by Keely Mangle – Celebration of Life pancake breakfast from 11:00 to 2:30 p.m. 12/13/25 and 01/31/26 Jesse Warner for birthday part ies from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve the estimate from Wards Apparatus in the amount of $11,662.00 to repair 1421. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. (1421 maintenance account) DVFC: Chief John Gaden reported: • Written report for October was received. • 5 new members were accepted by the Fire Company and pending are pending Fire District approval for probationary membership: Arkaedi Barker; William Barker; Julie Clougherty; Tabitha Gray; and Jackson Strong • Station usage requests: 11/14/25 Red Cross blood drive; 11/15/25 A. Washburn for birthday party from 11:00 – 4:00 p.m.; 11/16/25 pancake breakfast; 12/04/25 Medieval Dance; 12/09/25 School Board special project vote from 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.; 12/09/25 Fire Commissioner Election from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; 12/13/25 W. Westmiller for Holiday party from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. • 441 oil change and NYS inspection is done. • 443 oil change and NYS inspection is being scheduled. • New thermostat in Ready Room was installed. • Side door lock is not working, Ace Locksmith was called. • Leak behind 401 is being addressed, heater is off, obtaining quotes. • Part has been ordered to fix the entryway heater. • 12/15/25 is holiday party, Commissioners, Treasurer and Chief McCray are invited with their spouses and children. • Would like to order a baby changing tables for each restroom. • Received quote for blinds for meeting room, conference room, chiefs’ office, and district office. Decision to hold School Board vote in meeting room on 12/09/25; to hold Fire Commissioner election in Conference Room and to hold Regular meeting of Board of Fire Commissioners in Apparatus Bay. Commissioner Faehndrich moved to accept station usage as follows: 11/14/25 Red Cross blood drive; 11/15/25 A. Washburn for birthday party from 11:00 – 4:00 p.m.; 11/16/25 pancake breakfast; 12/04/25 Medieval Dance; 12/09/25 School Board special project vote from 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.; 12/09/25 Fire Commissioner Election from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; 12/13/25 W. Westmiller for Holiday party from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Motion seconded by Commissioner Westmiller. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Westmiller moved to accept Arkaedi Barker; William Barker; Julie Clougherty; Tabitha Gray; and Jackson Strong as members of the Danby Fire District pending satisfactory physical. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to approve up to $500.00 for two (2) commercial grade baby changing tables, one (1) for each of the restrooms at the Danby Fire Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. (Danby building maintenance account) Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve the sole source estimate from Lowes for blinds for the Danby Fire Station includes materials and installation. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. (Danby building maintenance account) (Commissioner Faehndrich was excused) COMMITTEES: PURCHASING: NONE BUILDING/GROUNDS: • Commissioner Westmiller reported he put tape down on ledge into the apparatus bay at Danby Fire Station. • Commissioner Westmiller thanked 1st Asst. Chief Ken VanEtten on the paint job at West Danby. • Commissioner Westmiller reported he is working on getting estimates on duct system work. • Chief McCray reported on December 12th HSC will being doing furnace maintenance at West Danby. GRANTS: NONE INSURANCE: • Chief Gaden reported a member hurt her finger in BEFO training 2 weeks ago. Treasurer Hart gave her the paperwork to complete. TECH: • Chief McCray asked if the fire district pays for Dish Network now at West Danby. The district does not. TRUCKS: NONE TOWN BOARD: NONE RECORDS: • Secretary emailed Chiefs a list of members that need to pick up their physical cards POLICY: NONE MEMBERSHIP/TRAINING: NONE LONG RANGE PLAN: • Commissioner Freedman needs comments from other commissioners and chiefs on preliminary plan. AUDIT: • Auditors have been sent information they requested BUDGET: NONE APPROVAL OF BILLS: Commissioner Griggs moved to pay the vouchers as audited and approved on Operating Account Abstract 11 -A Claims 252 – 264 in the amount of $19,825.16 and Abstract 11-B Claims 265 – 268 in the amount of $3,264.04. Motion seconded by Commissioner Westmiller. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. APPROVALS of TRAININGS, ITEMS OR SERVICES TO BE PURCHASED: Commissioner Freedman made a motion to pay $505.40 invoice to Climate Control for thermostat in Ready Room. Motion seconded b y Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Danby building maint enance account) Commissioner Griggs made a motion to pay $383.98 invoice to Lowe’s for paint and supplies for the West Danby Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Westmiller. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (West Danby building maintenance account) Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to pay US Fire Services $7,303.25 for the annual hose, ladder, and hard suction units testing. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Equipment maintenance accounts) Commissioner Freedman made a motion to pay McNeil Insurance Co. $1,168.60 for Accidental & Health and MAP insurance. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Insurance account) Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to approve up to $1,500.00 to repair the control valve in the new apparatus bay at the Danby Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. (Danby building maintenance account) OLD BUSINESS: • Requested poll books and list of voters from Tompkins County Board of E lections • Published notice of elections in Ithaca Journal • Received letter from candidate interested in 5-year term as Fire Commissioner. NEW BUSINESS: • Organizational meeting discussed. All Line Officers need to attend to be sworn in. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to set the date of January 13, 2026, for the Organizational Meeting. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 3 yes 0 no. Chief McCray reported D. Gentile is no longer a member of West Danby Fire Department. Next Meeting dates and time: • November 25, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting – to be cancelled • Fire Commissioner Elections December 9, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. • December 9, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Gaden Secretary