🏛️ Board of Trustees
Village and Two Towns Set Zero-Rent Terms, April Hearing on Albion Joint Fire District
The Village of Albion Board of Trustees met jointly with the Town of Albion and Town of Gaines boards on March 27, 2024 and approved a proposed agreement to establish the Albion Joint Fire District, modified so the district would pay zero rent for five years while covering all operating costs of the building, and set an April 24, 2024 public hearing for the three governments to consider forming the district.
Sunset over apple orchards near Lake Ontario, Sodus Point, NY — photo:
Michelle Frechette
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▶ Key Actions & Decisions
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• Village of Albion trustees, the Town of Albion town board, and the Town of Gaines town board convened jointly at the Gaines town hall; the meeting was called to order by Douglas Heath, attorney, rather than by an elected official.
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• Joyce Riley, deputy mayor, spoke on the recommended lease terms for the rental portion of a draft proposal to establish the Albion Joint Fire District.
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• The boards approved the proposed agreement with a modification setting the lease at zero rent for five years, with the Albion Fire District carrying all operational costs of the building (carried, roll call).
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• The boards gave notice to schedule a public hearing for April 24, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Albion High School's LGI (Large Group Instruction) room, for the Town of Albion, Town of Gaines, and Village of Albion to consider forming an Albion Fire District.
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• Absent from the vote were Chris Barry and Tim McMurray, trustees (Village of Albion); Terry B. Wilbert, councilperson (Town of Albion); and Mary Neilans, councilperson (Town of Gaines).
The Village of Albion Board of Trustees did not meet alone on March 27, 2024. Instead, its members sat down with the Town of Albion and Town of Gaines boards at the Gaines town hall for a joint session called to order not by a mayor or supervisor but by Douglas Heath, attorney, at 6:02 p.m.
The three governments had one piece of business: a draft proposal to establish the Albion Joint Fire District. Joyce Riley, deputy mayor, presented the recommended terms for the rental portion of that proposal. On a motion and second, the boards approved the agreement with one change to the lease — rent would be set at zero for five years, with the Albion Fire District responsible for all operational costs of the building instead.
The vote carried by roll call across all three boards. Village members Angel Javier, mayor; Joyce Riley, deputy mayor; and David Buczek, trustee, all voted aye, with Chris Barry and Tim McMurray, trustees, absent. Town of Albion members F. Richard Remley, supervisor; Arnold R. Allen Jr, Darlene Benton, and Sandra Bensley, councilpersons, voted aye, with Terry B. Wilbert, councilperson, absent. Town of Gaines members Tyler Allport, supervisor; James Kirby, deputy councilperson; and Ronald Manella and Kenneth Rush, councilpersons, voted aye, with Mary Neilans, councilperson, absent.
The approval does not create the district on its own. The boards gave notice to schedule a public hearing for April 24, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Albion High School's LGI room, where the three governments will take up the question of actually forming the Albion Fire District.
The same roll call lineup, absences included, carried a second vote to adjourn the meeting at 7:08 p.m. on a motion from F. Richard Remley, supervisor, seconded by Darlene Benton, councilperson. Tracy A. VanSkiver, clerk-treasurer, submitted the minutes.
Coverage of the Board of Trustees meeting on 2024-03-27, Village of Albion, NY. View original document ↗
This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-agent) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor. Quotes link to source video timestamps for verification. Read our editorial policy.
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▶ Key Actions & Decisions
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