Massena trustees says town not paying enough for fire protection

Nov. 24—MASSENA — Village trustees have agreed to a new fire protection contract with the town of Massena, with one board member voting against it.

Trustee Kenneth J. McGowan said he was in favor of the village providing fire protection for the town and appreciated the work that went into the contract, but had an issue with it.

"I don't think the dollar amount is enough," he said.

McGowan said received information from treasurer Kevin M. Felt on the cost of fire service for the village taxpayer.

"I went on Tax Lookup and compared it to what the town residents pay. They pay a sixth of what we pay in the village. If you compare that to Brasher, Canton, even the town of Potsdam, the town of Massena residents are still paying under half of what those residents pay," he said. "I'm all in favor of the village doing fire protection, but I think the town should be paying their fair share. We just spent $100,000 on air packs. We just spent $800,000 on a fire truck. That's just how I feel."

He said that, when he served as foreman at the fire department, "I brought this up and it didn't go very far either then. So, it's not a new issue."

Under the terms of the two-year agreement, the town will pay the village $101,948.30 in 2024 and $102,967,80 in 2025. The town will also pay the village $5,000 annually as part of a capital fund that was set up to pay for future firefighting equipment. All payments are due before May 31 each year.

As part of the agreement, the village will furnish "flight standby" services at the Massena International Airport. Flight standby is described as physically manning the airport fire truck, which will be supplied by the town, for a predetermined amount of time prior to arriving flights and after departing flights.

The town will reimburse the village "for any costs incurred for flight standby such as additional straight (over regularly scheduled hours) or overtime wages, travel costs, special training costs, etc. incurred by the Village of Massena or the Massena Fire Department, Inc."

During their meeting, trustees unanimously approved a two-year lease agreement between the village and the fire department for the department's 34 Andrews St. headquarters. As part of the rental agreement, the department will pay $1,376.40 on or before May 31, 2024 and $2,064.60 on or before Dec. 31, 2024, with the same amounts and payment deadlines in 2025.

A separate contract covers the lease of the lower basement at the fire department.

Trustees also approved a three-year contract with the town of Louisville to provide general ambulance services from the Massena Volunteer Emergency Unit. The town will pay $7,000 the first year and $10,000 each for the second and third years.

Mayor Gregory M. Paquin said he had discussed the contract with Town Supervisor Larry R. Legault.

"We were going to ask him for nine ($9,000), but they had already budgeted seven ($7,000)," Paquin said.