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October 10, 2023 Work Session

Mayor James M. Jaroszynski
Trustee Anthony Cavallaro
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee Alan Gustafson, Jr.
Trustee Annette Miller

Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, October 10, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding.

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

Trustee Gustafson, Trustee Dunn, Trustee Cavallaro, Trustee Miller and Mayor Jaroszynski were all present.

Visitors

– Nina Gustafson                  

Fire Advisory Board Presentation

Steve Vanstrom from the Fire Advisory Board made a presentation to the board as to the status of the current equipment plan and projections for the future. The Fire Department is in the 45th year of a 50-year plan. The plan is still working but needs to be modified due to a 26% increase in equipment prices in 2023 and projected increases of 4-6% in the next several years. The Fire Advisory Board will be working on the plan and providing recommendations prior to budget preparation early next year. With the current plan, we replace a truck every 20 years. The major source of revenue for the FD is the property tax base from the Village of Falconer and the Town of Ellicott, 55% comes from the town, 45% comes from the village. Sale of used equipment and money saved from small equipment are also sources of revenue. One of the recommendations will be to change the 20-year cycle so that we can minimize the payments we need to make on future purchases.

What is needed in the new plan:

  • Realize that we must continually update plan budget to meet inflation
  • Need to strengthen existing government cooperation and communication
  • Need to closely monitor expenditures and channel control chief spending
  • Better Communication/cooperation with surrounding agencies for both fire and rescue support services.

We are very fortunate to have volunteer firemen and rescue services here. If this service were to be provided by the city or county, the cost to our tax base would be unsustainable. There is no viable alternative to the current volunteer system and we should not take it for granted.

Trustee Cavallaro made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the work session at 6:16 p.m.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk