Board expected to sign fire contracts on Jan. 16
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

The Amherst Town Board has yet to sign the Fire Protection District contracts that insure the firefighters as they assist residents on fire calls and other emergencies.

The Village of Williamsville Board of Trustees held a special meeting to pass a resolution, stating that the existing 2006 contract, which expired Jan. 1, 2007, will remain in effect until the Town Board passes the Fire Protection District budgets.

If someone were to be injured or die during a call, the liability would fall on the town because the contract is between Amherst and the fire districts, according to village officials.

If an accident were to occur, the insurance would be taken from the money allocated in the 2007 budget, meaning there wouldn’t be a financial impact on the taxpayers, town attorney Matt Plunket said.

A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Amherst Town Board meeting, located at 5583 Main St. in Williamsville.

Plunket said the public hearing will be held approximately two weeks past the contract expiration date because the October storm pushed the budget process back one month.

Plunket also said all insurance coverage will remain in effect until the contracts are adopted by the board. The 2007 fire district protection budgets will be effective Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2007 pending adoption Jan. 16.

“As far as we are concerned they (firefighters) are protected,” Plunket said, citing that contracts have been passed late in previous years.

Supervisor Satish Mohan said town attorney Tom Jones sent a letter to each of the fire districts informing them they will be covered until the contract is signed.

The contracts need to be updated from year to year because of a change in dollar amounts, which are based on the assessed value of property in each district, officials said.

e-mail: JSchmelzer@beenews.com