News
No decision on fire contract for Kinderhook, Stuyvesant
By Paul Crossman
The Kinderhook Town Board met on Monday to, among other things, consider the best course of action in regards to its contract of protection with the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Company.
The issue at hand — proposed by Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney — was whether to discontinue its contract for protection with Stuyvesant Falls and give the same contract to the village of Kinderhook. The supervisor made the proposal after the town of Stuyvesant decided to discontinue its own contract for protection with the village.
At its Monday meeting, the Town Board voted to wait on making a decision about who to give the town’s contract for protection to until a later date, as the town officially has until Jan. 1 to issue the contract.
The board did however, plan the $9,000 expense of the fire contract into the budget, regardless of who it decides to contract with in the future.
According to Councilman Mike Kipp, there were also a number of community members at the meeting who spoke out against the change in fire protection districts, and believed that the town should stick with the contract it already has.
Kipp himself though, believes that the best course of action is to continue to look at the issue, and keep the options for the town open.
“I think what we really need to do is step back a little from it,” he told the Register-Star. “It’s not something we’re going to rush into, we have until January.” He went on to say that there were a number of feasible options that the town can consider, and that one of the reasons for waiting is to give Kinderhook Village Mayor William VanAlstyne more time to try and work the matter out with Stuyvesant.
VanAlstyne, who at a previous meeting voiced his opinion that the town should not be involved in an issue which was essentially between the village and the Stuyvesant Fire commissioners, declined to comment about the town’s decision.
The issue originally started when 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.
Residents who are against the switch and live in the area of Kinderhook covered by the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Department are worried that the town may not be able to cover its district as effectively as the closer Stuyvesant department. McGivney though, says that he conferred with the Kinderhook Fire Department, and they feel they can adequately do the job.
Though no meetings between the Stuyvesant Fire commissioners and the village of Kinderhook board have yet occurred, VanAlstyne says that he definitely plans on initiating them in the near future.
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e- mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
The issue at hand — proposed by Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney — was whether to discontinue its contract for protection with Stuyvesant Falls and give the same contract to the village of Kinderhook. The supervisor made the proposal after the town of Stuyvesant decided to discontinue its own contract for protection with the village.
At its Monday meeting, the Town Board voted to wait on making a decision about who to give the town’s contract for protection to until a later date, as the town officially has until Jan. 1 to issue the contract.
The board did however, plan the $9,000 expense of the fire contract into the budget, regardless of who it decides to contract with in the future.
According to Councilman Mike Kipp, there were also a number of community members at the meeting who spoke out against the change in fire protection districts, and believed that the town should stick with the contract it already has.
Kipp himself though, believes that the best course of action is to continue to look at the issue, and keep the options for the town open.
“I think what we really need to do is step back a little from it,” he told the Register-Star. “It’s not something we’re going to rush into, we have until January.” He went on to say that there were a number of feasible options that the town can consider, and that one of the reasons for waiting is to give Kinderhook Village Mayor William VanAlstyne more time to try and work the matter out with Stuyvesant.
VanAlstyne, who at a previous meeting voiced his opinion that the town should not be involved in an issue which was essentially between the village and the Stuyvesant Fire commissioners, declined to comment about the town’s decision.
The issue originally started when 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.
Residents who are against the switch and live in the area of Kinderhook covered by the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Department are worried that the town may not be able to cover its district as effectively as the closer Stuyvesant department. McGivney though, says that he conferred with the Kinderhook Fire Department, and they feel they can adequately do the job.
Though no meetings between the Stuyvesant Fire commissioners and the village of Kinderhook board have yet occurred, VanAlstyne says that he definitely plans on initiating them in the near future.
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e- mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
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