HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-15 - Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF A MEETING
SPECIAL VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK BOARD OF TRUSTEES
938 KING STREET
RYE BROOK, NEW YORK 10573
JULY 15, 1998
CONVENE MEETING
Mayor Filipowski convened the meeting at 5:40 p.m
The Following members of the Board of Trustees were present:
Mayor Francis L. Filipowski
Trustee Donald E. Degling
Trustee Joseph Pellino
Trustee Eugene R. Strum
Trustee Gary J. Zuckerman
Village staff attending the meeting were:
Village Administrator, Christopher J. Russo
Village Attorney, Kenneth E. Powell
Assistant to the Administrator, Richard C. Slingerland
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Mayor Filipowski announced that last evening, Tuesday, July 14, 1998 they had received a
proposal from Port Chester on fire services, and the Board needed to adjourn into Executive
Session to further deliberate over this proposal and the terms of the negotiation.
Upon the motion of Trustee Strum, seconded by Trustee Pellino, the Board adjourned into
Executive Session with a unanimous vote.
The Board teconvened into public session at 7:15 p.m. The Mayor noted that a resolution would
be put before the Board this evening to continue a Rye Brook municipal fire department. The
resolution was read by the Village Administrator
On the motion of Trustee Strum, seconded by Trustee Pellino, the following Resolution was
adopted:
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RESOLUTION
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TO CONTINUE A RYE BROOK
MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, the Village of Rye Brook will be without fire protection services when the
current agreement with Rural/Metro Fire Department Inc. expires on September 30, 1998; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 1998, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rye Brook
passed a resolution establishing a committee to negotiate with the Village of Port Chester with
regard to fire service, which resolution was forwarded to Port Chester the following day; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Port Chester made a proposal on July 14, 1998 for a short-
term fire protection agreement while negotiations are pursued for a possible long-term
arrangement; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board wishes to ]seep lines of communication open with the
Village of Port Chester and to continue the dialogue for possible cooperation, but has determined
after careful consideration that it would not be in Rye Brook's best interests to disband its fire
department at this time in order to take advantage of a financially attractive, but short-term
proposal; and
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WHEREAS, the Village Board wishes to express its appreciation to the Village of Port
Chester, including its negotiating team, for engaging in discussions and negotiations and desires
such negotiations to continue.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village Administrator is authorized
to give Rural/Metro Fire Department Inc. a written notice of Rye Brook's intention and decision
to implement a municipal fire department, to include municipal employees, and request
confirmation from Rural/Metro that the fire service will be extended under the terms of the
Agreement of Modification and Termination until October 31, 1998;
AND IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village Administrator is authorized and
directed to commence the steps necessary to implement this resolution including, but not limited
to:
1. initiating civil service processes concerning hiring of personnel;
2. acquisition of equipment;
3. coordination with the County Fire Coordinator;
4. negotiation of any appropriate consultant agreements;
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5. negotiation of automatic mutual aid or similar agreements with other municipalities
or fire departments;
6, negotiation with Rural/Metro for optional extension of fire service; and
7. any other administrative actions necessary or appropriate to implement this
resolution.
Trustee Degling Voting Nay
Trustee Pellino Voting Aye
Trustee Strum Voting Aye
Trustee Zuckerman Voting Aye
Mayor Filipowski Voting Nay
Mayor Filipowski stated that there would be a Special Meeting to take place on Tuesday, July 21,
1998 at 7:30 p.m, to continue the Executive Session discussion. Upon a motion by Trustee
Strum, seconded by Trustee Pellino, this meeting was unanimously approved.
The Mayor then asked if anyone had comments to make.
Andy Wels asked what the proposal was going to cost. The Mayor replied that at this stage it
would not cost anything. The cost will be evaluated depending on the potential for the other
aspect of negotiations presently going on. Mr. Wels then asked if the Village had done a study to
ascertain what it will cost to create a municipal department. The Village Administrator responded
that there were figures which are part of the negotiations and the Village has a good idea of what
it will cost. The Mayor noted that it was difficult to talk about the negotiations at this point but
possibly next week they could give more information. Mr. Wels stated that he would defer to the
Board at this time but that any decision they make they would be held accountable to the
taxpayers.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher usso, illage Clerk