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K'hook, Stuy' fire contracts smolder
By Paul Crossman
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Officials from the Town and Village of Kinderhook and the Town of Stuyvesant met with representatives from the Village of Kinderhook, Stuyvesant, and Stuyvesant Falls fire companies at an impromptu gathering before the Town of Kinderhook’s budget meeting on Thursday night to discuss fire coverage throughout the districts. Though Kinderhook Supervisor Doug McGivney started off the discussion by saying that he hoped everyone could reach a mutual agreement, no solid arrangement was reached by the end of the night.
The issue started when Village of Kinderhook Mayor William VanAlstyne received a letter from the Board of Commissioners of the Stuyvesant Fire District stating that the town would not be renewing their $6,000 Contract for Protection with the Village of Kinderhook. This means protection for Eichybush, and parts of Hollow, Wilkins and Sunset roads would fall on the Stuyvesant Fire department, which VanAlstyne said results in slower response times.
It then escalated when McGivney, in response to Stuyvesant’s decision, proposed that the Town of Kinderhook take the $9,000 contract for protection with Stuyvesant Falls and give it to the Village, thus covering the monetary loss of the first contract and protecting the taxpayers.
The meeting was called by McGivney and was attended by Stuyvesant Supervisor Valerie Bertram, VanAlstyne, Kinderhook Councilman Mike Kipp, and members of the various fire departments.
Supervisor Bertram was the first to speak, and wanted to make it clear to her neighboring towns that while the Stuyvesant Fire Department did speak to her about the issue, she has no jurisdiction about the budget of the department, and the Board of Commissioners has final say.
“The issue for me is a public safety issue,” said Bertram. “...I can’t tell them not to do it.”
She raised a point echoed by VanAlstyne and the firefighters, saying that in her mind, the issues were completely different, and that just because Stuyvesant had chosen not to renew a contract of protection with the Village of Kinderhook didn’t mean that the town should do the same with Stuyvesant Falls.
But McGivney told the crowd that if the Kinderhook Fire Department could protect the area along Routes 9H and 25 just as well as Stuyvesant Falls does, then it’s his duty to make sure the taxpayers of his town aren’t hurt, and give the contract to Kinderhook. He went on to say that he didn’t necessarily think this was the best option, but prepared to do if the village was going to lose Stuyvesant’s $6,000 contract.
“I don’t see any reason for the village to lose this money,” he said. “I’m just saying let’s work this out.”
Some residents who live in the district covered by Stuyvesant Falls are worried Kinderhook village would not be able to cover the area as well, both because of the distance to the station, and the department’s lack of a tanker trunk.
According to McGivney, the Village of Kinderhook Fire Department doesn’t see things this way and feel they could provide more than adequate protection.
VanAlstyne spoke up next, voicing his support for the fact that even though the Village would be losing money without Stuyvesant’s contract for protection, it wasn’t a matter that the town needed to get involved in.
“I don’t see why we’re here quite frankly,” said VanAlstyne. “It’s a village issue.” He later added “In the grand scheme of things, $6,000 is not a lot of money. I hope we don’t lose it, but if we do we can make it up somewhere.”
He said the Stuyvesant Fire Department had made a mistake and hoped they’d change their minds, but it’s between the Kinderhook Village Board and the Stuyvesant Fire Commissioners, and that he didn’t think the Town of Kinderhook doing the same thing to Stuyvesant Falls was the answer.
Stuyvesant Fire Chief Steve Montie said he can’t speak his commissioners but the Village of Kinderhook should have been given more notice before the decision was passed not to renew the contract for protection. He agreed with VanAlstyne that this was no reason to make the same mistake with Stuyvesant Falls.
“You’re turning around and doing the same thing to Stuyvesant Falls,” the Chief told McGivney. “What I’m saying is that two wrongs don’t make a right. The beef here is between the Village of Kinderhook and Stuyvesant Fire Dept. #1, not Stuyvesant Falls Dept. #2.”
He went on to say that he thought a meeting like this was a great idea, but that no one should be in attendance but the Village of Kinderhook Board, and the Stuyvesant Fire Commissioners.
Chris Bortugno, commissioner of the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Department said their budget was already completed, and that even if the town of Kinderhook decided not to renew their contract for protection, Kinderhook still owes Stuyvesant Falls the money for 2010.
The debates grew heated, no resolution was made, but VanAlstyne said he plans to work things out between Kinderhook village and the Stuyvesant fire commissioners.
The Kinderhook Town Board will votie on the Stuyvesant Falls contract for protection 7 p.m. Monday.
Though no agreement was reached, McGivney did say that the budget meeting which occurred after was one of the best meetings he’s ever had with the fire departments.
“It was very productive concerning our budgeting process,” said McGivney. “The Valatie Rescue Squad, Valatie fire fighters, and Kinderhook fire fighters discussed overall budgeting practices with very real solutions.
***
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
The issue started when Village of Kinderhook Mayor William VanAlstyne received a letter from the Board of Commissioners of the Stuyvesant Fire District stating that the town would not be renewing their $6,000 Contract for Protection with the Village of Kinderhook. This means protection for Eichybush, and parts of Hollow, Wilkins and Sunset roads would fall on the Stuyvesant Fire department, which VanAlstyne said results in slower response times.
It then escalated when McGivney, in response to Stuyvesant’s decision, proposed that the Town of Kinderhook take the $9,000 contract for protection with Stuyvesant Falls and give it to the Village, thus covering the monetary loss of the first contract and protecting the taxpayers.
The meeting was called by McGivney and was attended by Stuyvesant Supervisor Valerie Bertram, VanAlstyne, Kinderhook Councilman Mike Kipp, and members of the various fire departments.
Supervisor Bertram was the first to speak, and wanted to make it clear to her neighboring towns that while the Stuyvesant Fire Department did speak to her about the issue, she has no jurisdiction about the budget of the department, and the Board of Commissioners has final say.
“The issue for me is a public safety issue,” said Bertram. “...I can’t tell them not to do it.”
She raised a point echoed by VanAlstyne and the firefighters, saying that in her mind, the issues were completely different, and that just because Stuyvesant had chosen not to renew a contract of protection with the Village of Kinderhook didn’t mean that the town should do the same with Stuyvesant Falls.
But McGivney told the crowd that if the Kinderhook Fire Department could protect the area along Routes 9H and 25 just as well as Stuyvesant Falls does, then it’s his duty to make sure the taxpayers of his town aren’t hurt, and give the contract to Kinderhook. He went on to say that he didn’t necessarily think this was the best option, but prepared to do if the village was going to lose Stuyvesant’s $6,000 contract.
“I don’t see any reason for the village to lose this money,” he said. “I’m just saying let’s work this out.”
Some residents who live in the district covered by Stuyvesant Falls are worried Kinderhook village would not be able to cover the area as well, both because of the distance to the station, and the department’s lack of a tanker trunk.
According to McGivney, the Village of Kinderhook Fire Department doesn’t see things this way and feel they could provide more than adequate protection.
VanAlstyne spoke up next, voicing his support for the fact that even though the Village would be losing money without Stuyvesant’s contract for protection, it wasn’t a matter that the town needed to get involved in.
“I don’t see why we’re here quite frankly,” said VanAlstyne. “It’s a village issue.” He later added “In the grand scheme of things, $6,000 is not a lot of money. I hope we don’t lose it, but if we do we can make it up somewhere.”
He said the Stuyvesant Fire Department had made a mistake and hoped they’d change their minds, but it’s between the Kinderhook Village Board and the Stuyvesant Fire Commissioners, and that he didn’t think the Town of Kinderhook doing the same thing to Stuyvesant Falls was the answer.
Stuyvesant Fire Chief Steve Montie said he can’t speak his commissioners but the Village of Kinderhook should have been given more notice before the decision was passed not to renew the contract for protection. He agreed with VanAlstyne that this was no reason to make the same mistake with Stuyvesant Falls.
“You’re turning around and doing the same thing to Stuyvesant Falls,” the Chief told McGivney. “What I’m saying is that two wrongs don’t make a right. The beef here is between the Village of Kinderhook and Stuyvesant Fire Dept. #1, not Stuyvesant Falls Dept. #2.”
He went on to say that he thought a meeting like this was a great idea, but that no one should be in attendance but the Village of Kinderhook Board, and the Stuyvesant Fire Commissioners.
Chris Bortugno, commissioner of the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Department said their budget was already completed, and that even if the town of Kinderhook decided not to renew their contract for protection, Kinderhook still owes Stuyvesant Falls the money for 2010.
The debates grew heated, no resolution was made, but VanAlstyne said he plans to work things out between Kinderhook village and the Stuyvesant fire commissioners.
The Kinderhook Town Board will votie on the Stuyvesant Falls contract for protection 7 p.m. Monday.
Though no agreement was reached, McGivney did say that the budget meeting which occurred after was one of the best meetings he’s ever had with the fire departments.
“It was very productive concerning our budgeting process,” said McGivney. “The Valatie Rescue Squad, Valatie fire fighters, and Kinderhook fire fighters discussed overall budgeting practices with very real solutions.
***
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
Ripple wrote on Oct 26, 2009 5:10 PM:
" Maybe if the Stuyvesant Fire Co. would stop spending there money so foolishly they wouldn't need to do this. Did they need that new set of Jaws. Do they need to PAY there CHIEFS to respond to calls like they do. Its only Ten bucks but for every call they go to. Maybe they should take stock in the surrounding departments and do what is right for the people who we all protect. "
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stonepound wrote on Oct 24, 2009 3:57 PM: