Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle said at tonight’s town board meeting that he will be available to meet with West Brighton Fire Department President Chris Smith to discuss a partnership for fire protection in the West Brighton Fire Protection District, in tandem with the primary coverage of the Rochester Fire Department.
“I will be in my office at 9 a.m,. tomorrow morning,” he said, and will be available to meet with Smith.
Smith said tonight that he will have to speak with the department’s attorney, Bradley Pinsky, before deciding whether or not to meet with the town. He said he is not sure if they will meet at this time because the town has sued the department to turn over its assets.
A hearing has been scheduled for next Wednesday, Aug. 15, in state Supreme Court to address court proceedings submitted by the town that requested ordering the department to turn over its assets, including its firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road.
Smith said that the town speaks about wanting to collaborate with the West Brighton department, but, “in the same breath, they turn around and sue us for all our money and all our assets. How do they expect the volunteer organization to survive?”
Effective last Wednesday at 8 a.m., 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.
According to Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle, the agreement with the West Brighton Fire Department stated that the department be required to transfer its firehouse to the direction of the town upon termination.
Pinsky, however, disputes this claim.
Rochester firefighters moved into the West Brighton firehouse last Thursday after State Supreme Court Justice John Ark gave a temporary restraining order to allow the city of Rochester to have shared access to the firehouse, said Moehle. The West Brighton Fire Department has access to the firehouse, but will not be responding to calls, he said.
Smith said that the department is remaining active and is doing community outreach leading up to a referendum on Aug. 28 regarding dissolution of the West Brighton district.
Kenneth Gordon, town attorney, said that if residents vote to dissolve the district, this would not terminate the agreement with the city of Rochester. It would instead initiate a process in which the town board would be charged with coming up with an alternative fire protection plan.
Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle said at tonight’s town board meeting that he will be available to meet with West Brighton Fire Department President Chris Smith to discuss a partnership for fire protection in the West Brighton Fire Protection District, in tandem with the primary coverage of the Rochester Fire Department.
“I will be in my office at 9 a.m,. tomorrow morning,” he said, and will be available to meet with Smith.
Smith said tonight that he will have to speak with the department’s attorney, Bradley Pinsky, before deciding whether or not to meet with the town. He said he is not sure if they will meet at this time because the town has sued the department to turn over its assets.
A hearing has been scheduled for next Wednesday, Aug. 15, in state Supreme Court to address court proceedings submitted by the town that requested ordering the department to turn over its assets, including its firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road.
Smith said that the town speaks about wanting to collaborate with the West Brighton department, but, “in the same breath, they turn around and sue us for all our money and all our assets. How do they expect the volunteer organization to survive?”
Effective last Wednesday at 8 a.m., 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.
According to Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle, the agreement with the West Brighton Fire Department stated that the department be required to transfer its firehouse to the direction of the town upon termination.
Pinsky, however, disputes this claim.
Rochester firefighters moved into the West Brighton firehouse last Thursday after State Supreme Court Justice John Ark gave a temporary restraining order to allow the city of Rochester to have shared access to the firehouse, said Moehle. The West Brighton Fire Department has access to the firehouse, but will not be responding to calls, he said.
Smith said that the department is remaining active and is doing community outreach leading up to a referendum on Aug. 28 regarding dissolution of the West Brighton district.
Kenneth Gordon, town attorney, said that if residents vote to dissolve the district, this would not terminate the agreement with the city of Rochester. It would instead initiate a process in which the town board would be charged with coming up with an alternative fire protection plan.
