The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About26-01-13 Fire District Minutes DRAFT DANBY FIRE DISTRICT MINUTES OF THE REGULAR EETING January 13, 2026 Commissioner Westmiller called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ATTENDANCE: COMMISSIONERS: OFFICERS: Kevin Faehndrich Joseph Freedman Charlotte Griggs Marvin Oltz Wayne Westmiller Sharon Gaden, Secretary, Deputy Treasurer John Gaden, Danby Fire Chief Robert McCray, West Danby Fire Chief Ken VanEtten, West Danby 1st Asst. Chief Call to Order Minutes: Preliminary minutes for December 23, 2025, Regular Meeting were sent to the Town Clerk on January 5, 2025 for posting to Town’s website and posted on District Website. Commissioner Griggs moved to approve the minutes of the December 23, 2025 Regular Meeting. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 5 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 • NYS 45 Q4 completed and electrically transferred • 4th Qtr Payroll Audit submitted to Perma • Annual Report on Revenue and Expenditures of Foreign Fire Insurance Premiums – forwarded to Department Treasurers to be completed. • All paperwork has been filed with insurance company for Wright, H Commissioner Griggs moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion seconded by Commissioner Oltz. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Communications: • Email from NYCLASS 2025 in the Rearview • Email NY State Association of Fire Chiefs: The NYSAFC Bugle bulletin • Email from NYS Archives webinar “Your Role as Local Government Records Management Officer” • Discussion with County Assessment Department on Tax Levy received from the Town of Danby • Email communication with attorney Shahan on receiving District files from previous attorney. • Email NYS Archives webinar “Introduction to Managing Audiovisual Records” • Email communications on Volunteer Firefighters Workers Exemption with the County Assessment Department • Email NY State Association of Fire Chiefs Size Up Winter 2025 issue • Email communication with Attorney Butler regarding policy distribution • Email communications with McNeil & Co. representative regarding training and distribution of policies electronically • Email communications with Nancy Tenkate • Email from ESIP by McNeil & Co – Live Training Seminary for Emergency Responders (forwarded to Chiefs) • Email from LENS regarding deleted suspension notification • Email from PERMA regarding Safety Grant Initiative • Email Association of Fire District webinar • Email NYS Association of Fire Chiefs – Long Island Metro Fire/EMS Expo January 30th-February 1st (forwarded to Chiefs) • Email from McNeil & Co regarding State required Cybersecurity Awareness Training • Email from NYSCLASS December 2025 Collateral Report • Email from Treasurer with new phone list • Email Central Region Fire Districts meeting 01/26/26 at Brewerton Fire District • Email from Association of Fire Districts regarding 2026 Commissioner Training • Email regarding 17th Annual Onondaga County Fire and Emergency Education Conversation (forwarded to Commissioners) • Email Association of Fire Districts “Ready or Not” 2026 Mini Summit – White Plains NY on March 27th and 28th • Email Association of Fire Districts Commissioner Training Sonesta Downtown White Plains on March 26th • Email Communication from Treasurer to Fire Company Treasurers regarding Foreign Fire Insurance Report 2025 • Tompkins Trust Company reminder of holiday schedule • Email from PERMA introducing Soter AI • Certificate of Liability insurance for Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Inc. • January edition of Danby News • January edition of Danby Town News Privilege of the Floor: NONE APPROVAL OF BILLS: Commissioner Freedman moved to pay the vouchers as audited and approved on Operating Account Abstract 1-A $13,591.20 claims 1- 17 and on Operating Account Abstract 1-B $1,945.04 claims 18-26. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. CHIEF’S REPORTS: DVFC: (Chief Gaden) • Written report for December was received. • Training Request: C. Dworken to attend BEFO in Cortland County Dates: 01/21/26 to 03/16/26. Requesting reimbursement of mileage. No registration fee. • Extrication tools serviced; all passed • 3 new life members voted in: Peter Goodman, Roger Grant and Mark Speiser • Has reached out to salesman regarding turn-out gear. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to accept training request for C. Dworken to attend BEFO class in Cortland County and to reimburse for mileage up to $316.83. Commissioner Griggs seconded. 5 yes 0 no. Motion carried. WDFC: (Chief McCray) • Written report for December was received. • Has a potential new member gave paperwork to Secretary for background checks. • Station Usage: 01/25/26 Bill McIlroy birthday; 01/31/26 J. Warner and L. Barton for birthday party; 02/07/26 Rebecca Hall for birthday party; 03/14/26 WD pancake breakfast; 03/28/26 WD Easter Egg Hunt • Emailed the Board that the TPM Housing on 1421 and pump testing was done; passed. Still need instrument clustering and head light on driver side to be fixed. • Starlink equipment is in. Installation will be when it is warmer. • Turn-out gear sign for the apparatus bay door is being doing donated by the City of Ithaca sign shop. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to accept station usage requests: Station Usage: 01/25/26 Bill McIlroy birthday; 01/31/26 J. Warner and L. Barton for birthday party; 02/07/26 Rebecca Hall for birthday party; 03/14/26 WD pancake breakfast; 03/28/26 WD Easter Egg Hunt. Commissioner Griggs seconded the motion. 5 yes 0 no. Motion carried. COMMITTEES: PURCHASING: • Chief Gaden reported in the process of getting quotes for a projector, screen and installation for the meeting room. BUILDING/GROUNDS: • Chief Gaden reported kitchen hoods at Danby and West Danby will be cleaned on January 14, 2026. • Commissioner Westmiller reported the septic tank at the Danby station was pumped and a riser was installed. • Commissioner Westmiller reported Climate Control fixed the leak in the Danby Station Apparatus Bay but then found another issue and has ordered part(s) to fix it. • Commissioner Faehndrich reported D. Schauffler has volunteered to trim the pine tree in front of the Danby Station. Com. Faehndrich has a call into NYSEG about trimming the trees in the hedge behind the Danby Fire Station. • Chief Gaden reported plumber suggests getting extra tiles for hallway and men’s room to replace when there is water dripping from pipes that have condensation leaking off of them. Discussion held. • Com. Westmiller discussed tiles and condensation on pipes at West Danby too. • Chief Gaden reported on getting extra storage in the apparatus bays. He had professional come in and look at creating storage over Ready Room, Staff Office and Laundry/Storage Room. It would be to expensive. Looked at creating storage from Radio Room to storage over EMS Room. Discussion held. • Chief McCray requested a plumber be called to check the toilet in the Women’s room, runs continuously. Discussion held on storage. GRANTS: • Committee to review last year’s grant application to submit for this year. INSURANCE: • Commissioner Freedman reported: o We are getting a new representative for McNeil Insurance. o Would like another insurance training session with both Fire companies. o There were a lot of accidents and injuries in 2025. Reminder to get information and forms to Treasurer Hart in a timely manner. Discussion followed. TECH: NONE TRUCKS: NONE TOWN BOARD: • Town did get the correct tax levy to the Assessment Department. RECORDS: • Will be sending link for makeup OSHA training to those that did not attend. POLICY: • Commissioner Freedman suggested one commissioner thoroughly read the Association of Fire District Affairs bi-monthly newsletter and report back to the Board. Commissioner Faehndrich volunteered to do this. • Discussion held on legislation coming that as of 04/01/26 cameras will need to be installed in all apparatus. Will likely need a policy. MEMBERSHIP/TRAINING: NONE LONG RANGE PLAN: • Com. Freedman reported it is done and will be given to the auditors. AUDIT: • Com. Freedman gave a brief update. BUDGET: NONE OLD BUSINESS: • Need to pick a different domain name for .gov. Decision to pick danbyfiredistrictny.gov. Secretary Gaden will continue to work to get this set up. NEW BUSINESS: NONE APPROVALS of TRAININGS, ITEMS OR SERVICES TO BE PURCHASED: Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to pay Meridian Training $895.00 for the annual OSHA Training. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to pay Mark Butler, Esq. $158.00 for legal representation more than retainer. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to pay Gaggle $415.80 for the cost to install a riser on the septic tank at the Danby Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich to pay Climate Control $1,146.51 in addition to previously approved amount of $1,500.00 for work done at the Danby Fire Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to pay Lexis Nexis $155.13 for 2 New York State Law Books. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve $21.70 additional expenditure in office supplies from the previously approved amount of $500.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. (see Danby Chief’s Report for approval of mileage reimbursement) Commissioner Freedman made a motion approve $114.46 to Lowes for new shore power cord and property plug end for 1421. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve up to $300.00 for the purchase of 3 new sets of chainsaw chaps from Lowes or Home Depot. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve the purchase of a 300 diesel tank from E&F Energy up to $1,500.00 for the West Danby Fire Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve the purchase of an air compressor from Tractor Supply up to $3,500.00 for the West Danby Fire Station. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve the purchase of 2 signs for the offices at the West Danby Fire Station from Taylors Tin’s up to $92.00 (this includes shipping and handling). Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve the purchase of ceiling tiles for the Danby Fire Station from Lowes up to $100.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to approve hiring Pat Collins Plumbing to replace one of the women’s toilets at the West Danby Fire Station up to $500.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve up to $500.00 for office supplies from Staples or Amazon for the District Office. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 5 yes 0 no. Next Meeting date and time: • 01/27/26 at 6:30 – to be cancelled • 02/10/26 at 6:30 - to be Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Gaden Secretary