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Home My WebLink About26-05-12 Fire District Minutes DRAFT DANBY FIRE DISTRICT MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING May 12, 2026 Commissioner Westmiller called the regular meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. ATTENDANCE: COMMISSIONERS: OFFICERS: Kevin Faehndrich Joseph Freedman Charlotte Griggs Marvin Oltz (Absent) 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 April 14, 2026, Regular Meeting were sent to the Town Clerk on April 27, 2026, for posting to Town’s website and posted on District Website. Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the minutes of the April 14, 2026, Regular Meeting with revision to Town Board section to read did “not” receive any electric bills from the Town of Danby. 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. • Verizon (Internet WD) Closed – 2 months Credit • Visa Increase REJECTED by District • Still waiting on $4 tax from Starlink • Visa Charge made in error has been reimbursed • Bailey RESCHEDULED Insurance meeting to June 15th at 7pm Commissioner Westmiller moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Communications: • Email from NYCLASS April Economic Update • Email AFDSNY Cheektowaga Mini Summit – May 15th and May 16th • Email NYSAFC Conference & Expo June 10-13, 2026, in Syracuse • Email AFDSNY Legislative update • Email PERMA National Work Zone Awareness Week • Email AFDSNY April/May District Affairs (emailed to Commissioners, Treasurer and Chiefs) • Email NYS Fire Service Nominal Compensation webinar (Commissioners) • Email PERMA ICYMI Webinar: PERMA’s VFBL overview • Email NYS Association of Fire Chiefs: The NYSAFC Bugle • Email PERMA Public Service Recognition Week • Email NYS Station Association of Fire Chiefs: Latest Issue of Size Up Magazine • Email PERMA Seasonal Awareness • Email PERMA May newsletter • Email NYS Archives preparedness is preventiveness • Email NYS Association of Fire Chiefs join for a virtual roundtable discussion on May 13th • Email NYCLASS April 2026 Collateral Report • NYS EMS Mental Health & Wellness Symposium June 8, 2026, in Saratoga Springs NY • Future of Fire Law flyer from Fire Law Publishing • April and May Danby News • April and May Danby Town News Privilege of the Floor: NONE APPROVAL OF BILLS: Commissioner Faehndrich moved to pay the vouchers as audited and approved on Operating Account Abstract 5-A $54,211.44 claims 104-119 and on Operating Account Abstract 5-B $36,226.02 claims 120-133. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. CHIEF’S REPORTS: DVFC: (Chief Gaden) • Written report for April was received. Station Usage: 06/04/26 Medieval Dance club; 06/11/26 Magic Club; 06/13/26 Paula Wegner Celebration of Life; 08/15/26 Gaden family reunion • Training Request: E. Marx Seneca County Refresher Rescue Tech Basic class June 9th and July 13. No fee to take the training. Reimbursement of mileage up to $110.20. M. Metz Seneca County Refresher Rescue Tech Basic class June 9th. Reimbursement of mileage up to $55.10 if they do not carpool for this one day. • Water leak in washroom, appears to be coming in from the electric line. Com. Westmiller inspected and called HSC. HSC is coming Thursday to fix it. • Would like to purchase a sign for the side parking lot, problems with groups parking their when we have already given permission to a group using the fire station. • During truck check on 421 it was noticed that the 2.5 hard suction failed in 2023, Waterway’s report says it passed. Chief Gaden called Waterway and they are looking into it. • Trying to schedule a UTV class at Admiral Specialty Vehicle. Commissioner Faehndrich moved to accept station usage of 06/04/26 Medieval Dance club; 06/11/26 Magic Club; 06/13/26 Paula Wegner Celebration of Life; 08/15/26 Gaden family reunion. Commissioner Griggs seconded the motion. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to accept training request for E. Marx Seneca County Refresher Rescue Tech Basic class June 9th and July 13. No fee to take the training. Reimbursement of mileage up to $110.20. M. Metz Seneca County Refresher Rescue Tech Basic class June 9th. Reimbursement of mileage up to $55.10 if they do not carpool for this one day. Commissioner Griggs seconded motion. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. WDFC: (Chief McCray) • Written reports for February, March and April were received. • 1443 has a recall. Will make an appointment at Maguires for recall work and have the oil changed. • Email from E-Learning for OSHA does not respond. Secretary Gaden will check on this. • First Baptist Church in West Danby is donating a couple of vehicles for extrication/rescue training. Will store at West Danby Station. • Fire Company is going to purchase years of service pins. • Letters received from Chief McCray that Daniel Tome, Jr., and Jesse Tome have turned in all West Danby Fire Department property and verbally resigned. • Letter from Chief McCray and West Danby Fire Department Secretary that Howard VanEtten has dropped from active member to a social member. • Letter received from West Danby Fire Department Secretary that Benjamin Lovelace was voted into the Department at the February 9, 2026, meeting. • Chief McCray will prepare a letter for Daniel Tome, Sr. as he has moved out of state. • Letters of notice of inactivity will be sent to S. Griffin, T. Monroe-Griffin, and A. Monroe. COMMITTEES: PURCHASING: NONE BUILDING/GROUNDS: • Chief McCray reported 1st Asst. Chief K. VanEtten has just a little more painting to do and he will have the project complete. • 1st Asst. Chief K. VanEtten reported the Town of Danby patched the pothole. • Commissioner Westmiller reported HSC finished annual preventative maintenance at West Danby station. He did receive an estimate in the amount of $629.00 for noted repairs to the induction motor/ignitor for the furnace. This estimate includes labor. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion a motion to accept the estimate from HSC in the amount of $629.00 to repair the induction motor/ignitor for the furnace at the West Danby Station. Commissioner Griggs seconded the motion. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. • Com. Westmiller reported the architect just responded to our email on the floor project at West Danby and the concrete work at both stations. He needs time to review the response. GRANTS: • Com. Freedman reported there is no news on the grant submitted. Treasurer Hart will follow up. INSURANCE: • Com. Freedman reported the insurance committee investigated terrorism insurance. Cost is $200.00+ per year. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to add terrorism insurance to our policy for 2026 at the cost of $219.00 per year. Commissioner Griggs seconded the motion. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. TECH: • Com. Faehndrich reported he received a bill from Computer Room and emailed it to Treasurer Hart. Discussion held on usage. • Chief Gaden reported he purchased the monitors (2) and they did come with chords, he returned the chords he had purchased and purchased surge protectors. • Projector project is complete. TRUCKS: NONE • 442 went to Admiral and had stokes basket compartment revamped and an outlet added TOWN BOARD: • Com. Freedman reported still trying to get electric bill from the Town of Danby RECORDS: • Secretary Gaden asked Chief McCray for a copy of his Annual Report of Fire Department Demographics for District records. POLICY: • Discussion held on sending our policies to attorney Shahan for his review of them. Secretary is also going to discuss with him about possibly being able to simplify the Procurement Policy, easier procedures. • Chief Gaden and Secretary Gaden asked for permission to reach out to attorney Shahan about the Fire Company and 501c(3) vs 501c(4). Commissioner Freedman suggested also reaching out to the district’s accountants with any questions the Fire Company has on this too. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to approve Secretary Gaden discussion 501c(3) vs 501c(4) with attorney Shahan and the district’s accountants. Commissioner Faehndrich seconded the motion. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. MEMBERSHIP/TRAINING: • Firefighter Sc. Wendt has his physical scheduled. LONG RANGE PLAN: NONE AUDIT: NONE BUDGET: • Workshops will start at the second meeting in June. Commissioner Freedman reminded the Chiefs to get their equipment lists ready. OLD BUSINESS: • Get.gov website link to Squarespace is being worked on. Motion by Commissioner Freedman, seconded by Commissioner Griggs, to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a legal issue. Present were Commissioners: Westmiller, Freedman, Griggs and Faehndrich, Secretary Gaden, Treasurer Hart, Chief Gaden, Chief McCray and 1st Asst. Chief K. VanEtten. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. The Board entered Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. Motion by Commissioner Westmiller, seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich ,to end the Executive Session and to proceed with open session. 4 yes 0 no. Motion carried. The Board returned to open session at 8:02 p.m. Those present in open session: Commissioners: Westmiller, Freedman, Griggs and Faehndrich, Secretary Gaden, Treasurer Hart, Chief Gaden, Chief McCray and 1st Asst. Chief K. VanEtten No decision made in Executive Session. NEW BUSINESS: NONE APPROVALS of TRAININGS, ITEMS OR SERVICES TO BE PURCHASED: Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to pay the yearly contract to Brooktondale Fire District in the amount of $16,000.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to pay HSC for cleaning and treating Danby AC & Heating units and West Danby’s furnace in the amounts of $747.50 (Danby) and $556.41 (West Danby). Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to pay Airgas invoice in the amount of $223.82. Motion seconded by Commissioner Freedman. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Westmiller made a motion to pay Package Insurance 1st installment premium in the amount of $6,752.83 to McNeil Insurance, this does include terrorism insurance. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to pay Package Insurance 2nd installment premium in the amount of $6,528.00 to McNeil Insurance. Motion seconded by Commissioner Westmiller. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve Ace Locksmith to rekey the District Office and make 10 new keys. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve up to $300.00 for 1443 having an oil change when at Maguires Automotive for recall work. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve up to $55.10 for mileage reimbursement to M. Metz upon successful completion of Refresher Rescue Tech Basic class, certificate must be given to Secretary prior to reimbursement. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve up to $110.20 for mileage reimbursement to E. Marx upon successful completion of Refresher Rescue Tech Basic classes, certificate must be given to Secretary prior to reimbursement. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve up to $300.00 for a sign for the side parking lot at the Danby Station, so public will be on notice that it is a private parking lot. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve up to $6000.00 for EMT turn-out gear (4 sets) requested by Chief Gaden. Chief Gaden to obtain quotes. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Faehndrich made a motion to approve up to $1500.00 to purchase 4 orange helmets for EMTS that have no firefighting training, requested by Chief Gaden. Chief Gaden to obtain quotes. Motion seconded by Commissioner Griggs. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Commissioner Griggs made a motion to approve up to $384.00 to purchase 24 traffic vests, requested by Chief Gaden. Motion seconded by Commissioner Faehndrich. Motion carried 4 yes 0 no. Discussion on purchasing new hard suction unit for Danby was tabled. Next Meeting date and time: • 05/26/26 at 6:30 – cancelled • 06/09/26 at 6:30 – regular meeting • 06/23/26 at 6:30 – regular meeting with budget workshop to follow Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Gaden Secretary