At a referendum today, residents of the West Brighton Fire Protection District voted overwhelmingly to dissolve the district. The tally was 459 to 78 in favor of dissolution, according to unofficial results.
The result does not mean that the district has been dissolved, said Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle. Rather, the town now has six months to come up with a new plan for fire protection in the district. Once a plan is developed, a public hearing will be held and the town board will vote on the plan.
Moehle said it is too early to say what direction the town will go in. But, he said, “the goal will be the same. We will take a hard look at how to provide the best service.”
“I’m very pleased with the results,” said West Brighton Fire Department President Chris Smith. “I’m very happy with the support from the community. I hope the (new) plan involves the community and the West Brighton Fire Department.”
Moehle added that there will be no disruption to fire protection service in West Brighton, and Rochester firefighters will continue to cover the district.
The referendum comes in the midst of a dispute between the town of Brighton and the West Brighton Fire Department about if the department is required to turn over its assets, including its firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road, to the direction of the town.
Effective Aug. 1 at 8 a.m., the town board terminated the 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. Rochester firefighters moved into the West Brighton firehouse Aug. 2 after state Supreme Court Justice John Ark gave a temporary restraining order to allow them to have shared access to the firehouse. The West Brighton Fire Department has access to the firehouse, but is not responding to calls.
The two parties were in state Supreme Court Aug. 15 before Ark after the town submitted court proceedings that requested ordering the department to turn over its assets. Ark decided that the West Brighton department’s attorney, Bradley Pinsky, would present a proposed lease agreement to the town for the firehouse, and a conference between the two parties and Ark has been scheduled for Sept. 10. In the meantime, Rochester firefighters would continue to operate out of the West Brighton firehouse.
Moehle said that mediation would be the best approach to resolve the dispute with the West Brighton department.
Smith said he thinks the West Brighton department will be more open to working with the town to come up with a new plan that involves the department now that the referendum to dissolve the district has been approved by voters.
At a referendum today, residents of the West Brighton Fire Protection District voted overwhelmingly to dissolve the district. The tally was 459 to 78 in favor of dissolution, according to unofficial results.
The result does not mean that the district has been dissolved, said Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle. Rather, the town now has six months to come up with a new plan for fire protection in the district. Once a plan is developed, a public hearing will be held and the town board will vote on the plan.
Moehle said it is too early to say what direction the town will go in. But, he said, “the goal will be the same. We will take a hard look at how to provide the best service.”
“I’m very pleased with the results,” said West Brighton Fire Department President Chris Smith. “I’m very happy with the support from the community. I hope the (new) plan involves the community and the West Brighton Fire Department.”
Moehle added that there will be no disruption to fire protection service in West Brighton, and Rochester firefighters will continue to cover the district.
The referendum comes in the midst of a dispute between the town of Brighton and the West Brighton Fire Department about if the department is required to turn over its assets, including its firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road, to the direction of the town.
Effective Aug. 1 at 8 a.m., the town board terminated the 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. Rochester firefighters moved into the West Brighton firehouse Aug. 2 after state Supreme Court Justice John Ark gave a temporary restraining order to allow them to have shared access to the firehouse. The West Brighton Fire Department has access to the firehouse, but is not responding to calls.
The two parties were in state Supreme Court Aug. 15 before Ark after the town submitted court proceedings that requested ordering the department to turn over its assets. Ark decided that the West Brighton department’s attorney, Bradley Pinsky, would present a proposed lease agreement to the town for the firehouse, and a conference between the two parties and Ark has been scheduled for Sept. 10. In the meantime, Rochester firefighters would continue to operate out of the West Brighton firehouse.
Moehle said that mediation would be the best approach to resolve the dispute with the West Brighton department.
Smith said he thinks the West Brighton department will be more open to working with the town to come up with a new plan that involves the department now that the referendum to dissolve the district has been approved by voters.
