The dispute between the town of Brighton and the West Brighton Fire Department over who should provide fire protection services to the West Brighton Fire Protection District continued today when Brighton Supervisor William Moehle announced that the town has commenced proceedings against the department.
The reason, he said in a statement, is to “ensure that the firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road does not ‘go dark’ on Wednesday, Aug. 1, when the Rochester Fire Department assumes primary fire and emergency service duties in the West Brighton Fire Protection District.”
Last Wednesday, the Brighton Town Board terminated its agreement with the West Brighton Fire Department for fire protection services in the West Brighton district and approved an agreement with the city of Rochester for coverage of the district, effective Aug. 1. The decision came after a several hours-long open forum, in which numerous people spoke both for and against the agreement, and discussion by the town board.
Moehle said that since the meeting, the West Brighton Fire Department, through its attorney, Bradley Pinsky, has threatened to shut the Rochester Fire Department out of the firehouse.
“The West Brighton firehouse was constructed with taxpayer funds, and it must be kept open to serve the West Brighton community,” he said.
Pinsky, who said that he has not received any information about the court proceedings, denied Moehle’s claim. He said that members of the West Brighton Fire Department met with residents on Sunday, “and, as a result, has determined to offer the city to see if they would like to lease the firehouse.” Pinsky said the West Brighton Fire Department sent a letter today to the city of Rochester to see if it would like to lease the firehouse, with the condition that the lease would end if and when the fire protection district is dissolved.
A referendum has been scheduled for Aug. 28 regarding dissolution of the West Brighton Fire Protection District.
Kenneth Gordon, town attorney, said that if residents vote to dissolve the district, this would not terminate the agreement with the city of Rochester. It would instead initiate a process in which the town board would be charged with coming up with an alternative fire protection plan.
Moehle said that if the West Brighton Fire Department does not allow the Rochester Fire Department to use the West Henrietta Road firehouse, it will respond out of its South Avenue firehouse until access to the firehouse can be obtained.
The dispute between the town of Brighton and the West Brighton Fire Department over who should provide fire protection services to the West Brighton Fire Protection District continued today when Brighton Supervisor William Moehle announced that the town has commenced proceedings against the department.
The reason, he said in a statement, is to “ensure that the firehouse at 2695 W. Henrietta Road does not ‘go dark’ on Wednesday, Aug. 1, when the Rochester Fire Department assumes primary fire and emergency service duties in the West Brighton Fire Protection District.”
Last Wednesday, the Brighton Town Board terminated its agreement with the West Brighton Fire Department for fire protection services in the West Brighton district and approved an agreement with the city of Rochester for coverage of the district, effective Aug. 1. The decision came after a several hours-long open forum, in which numerous people spoke both for and against the agreement, and discussion by the town board.
Moehle said that since the meeting, the West Brighton Fire Department, through its attorney, Bradley Pinsky, has threatened to shut the Rochester Fire Department out of the firehouse.
“The West Brighton firehouse was constructed with taxpayer funds, and it must be kept open to serve the West Brighton community,” he said.
Pinsky, who said that he has not received any information about the court proceedings, denied Moehle’s claim. He said that members of the West Brighton Fire Department met with residents on Sunday, “and, as a result, has determined to offer the city to see if they would like to lease the firehouse.” Pinsky said the West Brighton Fire Department sent a letter today to the city of Rochester to see if it would like to lease the firehouse, with the condition that the lease would end if and when the fire protection district is dissolved.
A referendum has been scheduled for Aug. 28 regarding dissolution of the West Brighton Fire Protection District.
Kenneth Gordon, town attorney, said that if residents vote to dissolve the district, this would not terminate the agreement with the city of Rochester. It would instead initiate a process in which the town board would be charged with coming up with an alternative fire protection plan.
Moehle said that if the West Brighton Fire Department does not allow the Rochester Fire Department to use the West Henrietta Road firehouse, it will respond out of its South Avenue firehouse until access to the firehouse can be obtained.
