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Garrison Fire Department Finances Again Face Scrutiny at Town Board Workshop
Moratorium on use of outdoor furnaces examined
by Mike Turton
Even his harshest critic could not fault Joe Regele for lack of persistence. Regele, a Garrison resident, has appeared before the Philipstown Town Board several times in the past year to express concern over what he sees as irregularities in how the Garrison Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) reports its finances to the Town Board. The Town of Philipstown is the fire department's major funder. GVFD provides Philipstown with fire protection services based on three-year contracts. The current agreement runs through 2010. In 2008 Philipstown will provide GVFD with $663,733 in funding.
Regele attended the Town Board's July 9, 2008 meeting and summed up what he sees as the problem, stating "The budgeting process that the Town uses with the Fire Department is broken. It's badly broken. And we have to fix it," he said. There was no representative from the Fire Department to respond to Mr. Regele's comments.
Regele came armed with more than just his opinions. He distributed copies of a report he compiled that included a six- page summary and analysis of the GVFD's finances, supported by nineteen tabbed references to the GVFD's own audited financial statements, proposed budgets, correspondence and other related documents.
The Town received the GVFD's 2007 audited financial statement at the end of June, 2008. Early this year, GVFD representatives had indicated that the audited statement would be submitted by the end of March.
According to Regele, major financial concerns include proposed GVFD budgets submitted to the Town that have included expenditures but omitted estimated outside revenues of $140,000 and the lack of adequate funds to purchase a new pumper. GVFD used bond financing to acquire the new truck and Regele contends that there was adequate cash on hand for outright purchase and that financing cost Garrison tax payers an additional $84,000. He also cites cash on hand at the end of 2008 which could total $343,000, an amount Regele feels is excessive
Town Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Richard Shea expressed frustration that the GVFD's financial statements were submitted "180 days into the year" and agreed that "the fire department shouldn't be carrying big cash reserves." Shea indicated that he had supported a policy that would permit the GVFD to carry no more than three months' operating expenses in reserve at any given time, an amount he had estimated at approximately $105,000. Stan Freilich, a Garrison resident and former trustee with Garrison School Board, indicated that school boards are not permitted to carry over more than two percent of their budget into the next year and that a three-month reserve for the GVFD was too great.
Regele outlined suggestions as to how the situation can be resolved and stated in his report that if his recommendations are followed, Garrison taxpayers could save as much as $500,000 in 2009. His principle recommendations include: voiding the current contract between the Town and GVFD before August 20, 2008, a contingency permitted by the contract; negotiating a new one-year contract; revising GVFD's budget format to include all expenditures and revenues and establishing a budget oversight committee consisting of representatives of GVFD, residents and the Town Board.
Richard Shea, who chaired last week's meeting, agreed that "Something has to be done" and supported the concept of a budget oversight committee. Shea pointed out that Town Supervisor Bill Mazzuca is the Town's financial officer and has dealt directly with the GVFD during budget talks. "We will rely on him for leadership" Shea said. Mazzuca is recovering from surgery and was not in attendance.
Shea indicated that a meeting will be called to deal with the issues raised regarding the fire department's finances.
In other business, Councilwoman Nancy Montgomery reported that paving of the new parking lot at the Philipstown Recreation Center was complete and that construction of the new entrance road was well underway. The works are being carried out by the Town's highways department under the direct supervision of Roger Chirico, Superintendent of Highways. Board members praised Chrico's efforts on the project and underlined the savings that have resulted by completing the project in-house.
Councilwoman Betty Budney noted that Indian Brook Road is closed until further notice while gabion baskets are installed and other works are undertaken to repair damage caused by heavy rains.
Richard Shea pointed out that painting and minor exterior repairs have been completed on the Town Hall. He also indicated that New York State has informed the Town that an archaeological study will not be required for the planned expansion of the building. Shea said that the Town has outgrown the building and that there is a dire need for additional meeting and storage space, facilities for proper filing of historic records and an overall need to bring the building up to code and into compliance with be the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A resolution was passed authorizing Town attorney Ed Doyle to draft a local law imposing a temporary moratorium on the installation of outdoor woodburning stoves within Town limits. The stoves are used to supplement conventional home heating. Diane Uhle, a resident of Ryder Court, attended the meeting and complained that smoke from an outdoor furnace on a neighboring property creates smoke that is so dense that at times she and her family have been forced to leave her home. Councilman Shea indicated that while use of the furnaces will be permitted, regulations will tightly control their use through such requirements as large setbacks from property lines and large lot size.
Other issues discussed included the recent realignment of the intersection Fishkill Road and Route Nine completed by Putnam County. Town Board members and residents alike complained that the changes, intended to make the intersection safer, have actually created a situation which is even more dangerous. A traffic study is being undertaken by the County which could result in a traffic light being placed at the intersection, a move strongly supported by all in attendance.
Justine Bruno, a resident of Continental Village attended the meeting and complained of difficulties in getting either the Putnam County Sheriff's office or the State Police to respond to calls for help around the July 4 holiday period.
The Town of Philipstown will hold Workshops to adopt the Soil Mining Overlay District Law on July 16 and to discuss the draft zoning law on July 23. Both meetings will begin at 7:30 pm.
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