Fire protection continues despite lack of contract
by DAVID F. SHERMAN Managing Editor

The president of one of Amherst’s 10 fire companies says recent actions within the Mohan administration may force the volunteers to become more politically involved.

Jim Goss, president of the Getzville Fire Company, said his entire organization met last week prior to a ruling by the town attorney’s office relative to the status of insurance and workmen’s compensation claims if a new contract between the town and its independent fire districts was not signed on time.

Contrary to many rumors, the firefighters did not vote to stop responding to alarms if a new contract was not signed.

“I don’t know how that got started,” said Goss. “We were still prepared to respond.

“Our question was whether or not we could legally respond to emergency calls without a contract with the town. We were prepared to ask for an emergency opinion from the state attorney general.”

Goss said all the fire company wanted was a letter of understanding from the town, which was provided on Dec. 28. The letter stated the town intends to continue its contract with each of the fire companies protecting the town.

In the meantime, the last two business days of 2006 were filled with speculation and tension about whether or not it was legal for firefighters to respond after the old contract legally expired.

“The contract that will be approved (at its Jan. 16 meeting) is effective from January 1, 2007 through and including December 31, 2007. All contact terms will continue from January 1, 2007 unless the town receives reasonable notice of termination from you,” the letter read.

Goss expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which discussions in general between the fire service and Supervisor Satish Mohan have been held during the first year of Mohan’s administration.

“He hasn’t really opened anything up for discussion,” Goss said. “If the town budget had been approved on time, our contracts might not have been affected. No one really had the right numbers from the budget.”