🏛️ Board of Trustees
Fire District Infrastructure and Police Negotiations Dominate Village Board Session
Village officials met with Fire District leadership to discuss building and utility issues, while the Board entered executive session to negotiate with the police union.
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Fire District Discussion: Board and Fire Commissioners discussed "various avenues" for the district regarding building infrastructure and utilities.
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Executive Session: Board met privately for 40 minutes to discuss collective bargaining with the PBA (Police Benevolent Association).
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Attendance: Mayor Javier and Trustees Gabalski and Bennett were present for the executive session vote; Trustee McMurray was absent.
ALBION — The Village Board took a close look at the physical and financial infrastructure supporting local emergency services during a special meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Village Hall.
Mayor Angel Javier Jr., alongside Trustees William Gabalski and Tim McMurray, convened the session at 5:00 p.m. The primary focus of the public portion of the meeting was a joint discussion with leadership from the Albion Fire District.
Fire Chief Jeremy Graham was in attendance, along with Fire Commissioners Chris Kinter, David Buczek, and Joe Martillotta. According to the minutes, the groups held a broad discussion regarding "various avenues for the fire district regarding the building and utilities."
Infrastructure maintenance for fire districts—which includes not only the stations themselves but also the heating, water, and electrical systems required to keep them operational—is a perennial topic for municipalities. In many New York villages, the costs and responsibilities for these utilities are shared or contracted between the village government and the independent fire district. While the minutes do not specify which "avenues" were explored, the discussion likely pertained to future capital projects, energy efficiency upgrades, or the分担 of operational costs.
The public session was brief, with some movement in the boardroom membership. Trustee Greg Bennett, who was absent at the call to order, arrived at 5:49 p.m. Shortly after his arrival, at 5:55 p.m., Trustee Tim McMurray left the meeting.
At 6:07 p.m., the board shifted topics to personnel matters. Trustee Bennett moved to enter into executive session—private meetings closed to the public—to discuss strategy regarding negotiations with the PBA collective bargaining unit. The PBA typically represents the interests of the village's police department employees in contract talks. Trustee Gabalski seconded the motion.
The vote to enter executive session carried with support from Mayor Javier, Trustee Bennett, and Trustee Gabalski. Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley, who had arrived late at 6:31 p.m., was listed as absent for the initial vote, as was Trustee McMurray.
The board remained in executive session for approximately 40 minutes. Upon returning to open session at 6:47 p.m., Trustee Bennett moved to adjourn the meeting, with no further business to conduct. The motion was seconded by Trustee Riley and carried unanimously.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for October.
Coverage of the Board of Trustees meeting on 2024-09-19,
Village of Albion, NY.
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