Fire department will replace first responder vehicle

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen Village Board of Trustees voted during their regular meeting held on Monday, July 23, to allow the Watkins Glen Fire Department to replace their first responder vehicle dubbed “Squad 76.”
    The current Squad 76 vehicle, a red Subaru, is not running and has been “on its last legs” for some time, said Trustee Scott Gibson.  Gibson said that Fire Chief Dominick Smith has been looking at vehicles in the $11,000 to $15,000 range to replace the Subaru.  
    While discussing whether the village would approve the fire department purchasing a new vehicle, Mayor Mark Swinnerton pointed out, “it is quite impressive the number of calls this vehicle responds to, and the response time is fabulous.”  Trustee Kevin Smith explained that the Squad 76 car is a take home vehicle that is kept at the home of an on-call emergency responder.  When an emergency call comes in, the vehicle dispatches directly from the responders’ home to save them the trip from their residence to the fire station and then to the emergency, resulting in a “minutes faster” response, said Smith.  
    The board also discussed the funding for the vehicle. Gibson said that the Squad 76 car was involved in a traffic collision last year which resulting in a payment of $4,000. In lieu of repairs the money was set aside to help pay for a new vehicle.  Additionally, Smith said that he sat down with the fire chief to go through the budget and identify items that the department could do without when they realized the vehicle would need to be replaced. Smith said that Chief Smith, “really tightened his belt.”  Budget savings could also be put towards purchasing the new vehicle.  The board voted to approve funding for the fire department to purchase, register and insure a new Squad 76 vehicle to replace the red Subaru.
    In other business:
    •  The village received a letter from town of Dix attorney David English concerning the ongoing contract negotiations between Watkins Glen and Dix for fire protection services.  English had reviewed the proposed contract between the two municipalities and requested that it be modified so that either party could terminate the contract with thirty days written notice with a refund given to the town of Dix for any unused portion of the money that was paid up front under the contract.  Trustee Anthony Fraboni was uncomfortable with the suggested change. Instead he asked that either party be allowed to opt out at the end of the annual cycle, as the proposed contract is for multiple years.  Swinnerton said that they would give the letter and proposed contract to the village’s attorney and would discuss the matter further after receiving his recommendations.
    •  The board passed a resolution accepting title to a 147 square foot portion of Franklin Street that was recently declared abandoned by New York state. The abandoned part of the right of way lies underneath the brick building at the northern end of Franklin Street which is the former “Seneca Frosted Foods” building.  Area real estate agent Fanny LaForty attended the meeting and told the board that this title issue is holding up the sale of the property and inquired as to when the land will be transferred to the building owner.  Mayor Swinnerton responded that the process would occur through the village attorney and expected it would take a few weeks.
    •  The board voted to offer its participation in the development of a county wide comprehensive plan.  The board was approached at their last meeting by Rocky Kambo of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler requesting that the village participate.  The board approved a level of commitment of up to $4,000 towards the project.  There was no indication of how many, if any, other municipalities had agreed to participate.
    The next village board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.