Fate of Southern Tier Fire Dept. Relies on Election Results

[Geppetto 31]

WETM

Brittni Smallwood

3/15/11

Van Etten, N.Y. - The fate of the Van Etten Village Fire Department relies on Tuesday's elections results....

http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Fate-of-Southern-Tier-Fire-Dept-Relies-on/kRQjHBV-7kWhaLJumunN4w.cspx

[jtarby 3]

Looks like the board of trustees feel they won this round:

http://www.stargazette.com/article/20110608/NEWS01/110608003/Village-restructures-Van-Etten-fire-department?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Local%20News

[SOUSGT 357]

Looks like the board of trustees feel they won this round:

http://www.stargazet...xt|Local%20News

But its the residents who will loose. Right now the department has 13 members for fire and EMS. I wonder how many calls the board of trustees will cover.

[nycemt326 6]

I used to vollie in Chemung County when I was younger before moving to the city. It is a shame what they are doing to this department. A lot of which are old timers with grudges against the current Fire Chief. Van Etten is a very rural department and small town. Most other departments in the county will make exceptions for out of district members by restricting the offices and ranks they may run for, but to flat out say no you can't, especially when membership is at an all time low is scumbag move and clearly shows the game that the trustees are trying to play.

[Cos Cob 215 7]

Being as they were covering the village and the town shouldn't people from both be encouraged to participate?

[nycemt326 6]

Wow, this is getting worse.

Neighbors say Mayor Brown also pad locked the fire house. Preventing E.M.S. services or fire protection.

http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Neighbors-In-Van-Etten-Want-Mayor-To-Step-Down/GF_pyvlfcEezLZBO8RskaQ.cspx

[IzzyEng4 427]

I love the quote at the end of the video "We spoke with the mayor...about the petition...it's not one of his immediate concerns."

Hope the hell he doesn't run into an emergency and no one shows up because of his actions.