The Village of Albion Board of Trustees took a final, formal step Tuesday night to dismantle the old structure of local fire protection and replace it with a consolidated entity. During a special meeting at Village Hall, the board unanimously adopted a resolution ratifying the formation of the Albion Joint Fire District (AJFD). This action follows the August 6 special election, where voters in the Village and the surrounding towns of Albion and Gaines approved the proposition to merge their fire services into a single district. Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley, along with Trustees Greg Bennett, William Gabalski, and Timothy McMurray, voted in favor of the resolution. Mayor Angel Javier Jr. was absent from the meeting. The resolution acknowledges that the legal requirements for creating the new district—including environmental reviews and the public referendum—have been satisfied. It also confirms the appointment of David Buczek as the Village’s sole representative on the five-member Board of Fire District Commissioners. According to the minutes, the new commissioners have already moved quickly to organize. The resolution notes that an organizational meeting was held on August 20, where the board began the process of establishing a budget and setting duties for the new district. The approval also included a "nunc pro tunc" clause, essentially legalizing any actions taken by the Towns of Gaines and Albion simultaneously with the village to ensure the transition operates smoothly under state law. **Protecting Park Turf** While the fire district formation marks a major shift in local governance, the board also turned its attention to maintaining village infrastructure, specifically the grounds at Bullard Park. Trustee Timothy McMurray moved to restrict vehicle parking for the upcoming Honda-Tech and Hospice Car Show. The board specifically prohibited cars from parking on the grass of the multi-use field on the east side of the park. The field is currently being utilized by the ASAP program. By keeping vehicles off the grass, the village aims to prevent soil compaction and damage to the turf that could occur from heavy traffic during the car show. **Labor Negotiations and Personnel** The board met in executive session for over an hour immediately upon convening at 5:30 p.m., exiting the closed session at 6:39 p.m. Following that private discussion, the board authorized Village Attorney John Gavenda to respond to legal representation for the village police department regarding ongoing negotiations. The minutes do not specify the nature of the contract talks. In personnel matters, the board set the salary range for the Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator. The civil service position will now have a pay scale between $65,000 and $75,000 annually. The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.