Rochester firefighters covering the West Brighton Fire Protection District are expected to move into the West Brighton firehouse in the next couple days after State Supreme Court Justice John Ark today gave a temporary restraining order to allow the city of Rochester to have shared access to the West Brighton firehouse, said Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle.
The West Brighton Fire Department will have access to the firehouse, but will not be responding to calls, said Moehle.
Ark also set a hearing for Aug. 15 at noon regarding court proceedings submitted Monday by the town of Brighton that requested ordering the West Brighton department to turn over its assets and allow the Rochester Fire Department access into its firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road.
Last Wednesday, the Brighton Town Board terminated its agreement with the West Brighton Fire Department for fire protection services in the West Brighton Fire Protection District and approved an agreement with the city of Rochester for coverage of the district, effective 8 a.m. this morning.
Until the Rochester firefighters are moved into the West Brighton firehouse, Moehle said, they will be responding to the West Brighton district out of their South Avenue firehouse. Two paid firefighters — which the town has been paying to respond out of the West Brighton firehouse — will continue to respond out of that location until the Rochester firefighters are in the West Brighton firehouse. These paid firefighters, Moehle said, are not part of the West Brighton Fire Department. The Henrietta Fire Department will provide mutual assistance to the district.
“We wanted to make sure there was a smooth transition,” said Moehle.
West Brighton Fire Department President Chris Smith said he does not anticipate any animosity between the Rochester and West Brighton firefighters.
“It’s never been about the Rochester firefighters,” he said. “We’re all firemen. They have a job to do just like we do. Obviously, we’ll be as accommodating as we can.”
Moehle said that he hopes an agreement can be reached with the West Brighton Fire Department to provide supplementary service to the district.
“I welcome even today, especially today, participation by the West Brighton Fire Department now that we’ve made the transition to the city of Rochester.”
Bradley Pinsky, attorney for the West Brighton Fire Department, said the department sent a letter to the city of Rochester Monday morning to see if it would like to lease the firehouse, with the condition that the lease would end if and when the fire protection district is dissolved. As of this morning, Pinsky said, he has not received a response from the department.
Rochester firefighters covering the West Brighton Fire Protection District are expected to move into the West Brighton firehouse in the next couple days after State Supreme Court Justice John Ark today gave a temporary restraining order to allow the city of Rochester to have shared access to the West Brighton firehouse, said Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle.
The West Brighton Fire Department will have access to the firehouse, but will not be responding to calls, said Moehle.
Ark also set a hearing for Aug. 15 at noon regarding court proceedings submitted Monday by the town of Brighton that requested ordering the West Brighton department to turn over its assets and allow the Rochester Fire Department access into its firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road.
Last Wednesday, the Brighton Town Board terminated its agreement with the West Brighton Fire Department for fire protection services in the West Brighton Fire Protection District and approved an agreement with the city of Rochester for coverage of the district, effective 8 a.m. this morning.
Until the Rochester firefighters are moved into the West Brighton firehouse, Moehle said, they will be responding to the West Brighton district out of their South Avenue firehouse. Two paid firefighters — which the town has been paying to respond out of the West Brighton firehouse — will continue to respond out of that location until the Rochester firefighters are in the West Brighton firehouse. These paid firefighters, Moehle said, are not part of the West Brighton Fire Department. The Henrietta Fire Department will provide mutual assistance to the district.
“We wanted to make sure there was a smooth transition,” said Moehle.
West Brighton Fire Department President Chris Smith said he does not anticipate any animosity between the Rochester and West Brighton firefighters.
“It’s never been about the Rochester firefighters,” he said. “We’re all firemen. They have a job to do just like we do. Obviously, we’ll be as accommodating as we can.”
Moehle said that he hopes an agreement can be reached with the West Brighton Fire Department to provide supplementary service to the district.
“I welcome even today, especially today, participation by the West Brighton Fire Department now that we’ve made the transition to the city of Rochester.”
Bradley Pinsky, attorney for the West Brighton Fire Department, said the department sent a letter to the city of Rochester Monday morning to see if it would like to lease the firehouse, with the condition that the lease would end if and when the fire protection district is dissolved. As of this morning, Pinsky said, he has not received a response from the department.
“I hope in the interim (before the hearing on Aug. 15), it will give the city time to present some lease terms,” he said.
The West Brighton Fire Department isn’t the only entity that has expressed its opposition to the town of Brighton’s agreement with the city of Rochester.
In a letter to the Rochester City Council on Monday, James McTiernan, president of the Rochester Fire Fighters Association Local 1071, said that the Rochester Fire Department is understaffed, and the agreement with the town of Brighton would “spread the resources of the RFD even thinner.” Covering West Brighton, he said, would increase the department’s geographical coverage area by 25 percent.
The letter also stated that the union hasn’t been invited to any discussions or negotiations regarding the agreement.
Rochester Fire Department Interim Chief Salvatore Mitrano III could not be immediately reached for comment.
Gary Walker, City Hall spokesperson, said, “The fire chief is very confident that we can do this, that the city has the resources.”
A referendum has been scheduled for Aug. 28 regarding dissolution of the West Brighton Fire Protection District.
Includes reporting by Messenger Post news partner News 10 NBC.
