2 more villages sign contracts with Vigilant

Jessica Ablamsky

The villages of Kings Point and Thomaston signed the Vigilant Fire Company’s 2011 contract this week, after a series of public hearings that garnered little controversy.

Previously signing were the Town of North Hempstead and the villages of Great Neck and Saddle Rock. The Village of Great Neck Estates, which has not yet approved the full 2010 contract amount, set a public hearing on the 2011 contract for Sept. 12.

The 2011 contract provides for a “minimal” increase, mostly to cover the cost of a new fire truck whose purchase was state mandated, said David Weiss, chair of Vigilant’s board of trustees. He said a five-year budget projection shows decreased costs next year, with no increase in the following four years.

“We don’t want to have increases,” Weiss said. “The board consists of all businessmen, and we are understanding of the environment. We’ve cut everything.”

The Village of Great Neck Plaza signed the 2010 contract at a trustee meeting July 20, with the caveat that Vigilant make all books and records available “if and when” village trustees hire a private consultant. “We have offered this for years. They have never taken advantage of it,” Weiss said. “As long as they pay for it, they can do whatever they want. We have nothing to hide.”

Vigilant has been without a full contract since 2009, due to inter-village disagreement. The volunteer fire and ambulance company will run a $185,000 deficit by Dec. 31 unless village officials approve the 2011 contract.

Volunteers provide ambulance service to every village north of the Long Island Rail Road tracks, but only provide fire protection to the villages of Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza and Kensington.

The budget has historically been paid by a 70/30 split between fire and ambulance.

Three years ago, Vigilant’s accountant recommended a 62/38 split, which provoked resistance to the old formula from Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza and Kensington. A study from the Town of North Hempstead last year recommended a 72-38 split.

In 2009, every village signed a contract with Vigilant with the understanding that in 2010 the proportion of fire and ambulance would change to 62/38. The modification would have cost the northern villages – those without fire protection – more for ambulance service.

When northern villages signed a 2010 contract with the original 70/30 arrangement, Kensington signed reluctantly. Great Neck Plaza refused, while Great Neck Estates signed a 62/38 contract.

Great Neck mayors held a closed meeting mid-June but were not able to agree on a contract. The lack of progress prompted Vigilant officials to write and send out a contract with a sign by date, using the 70/30 split.

In a July 8 letter to Weiss, Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said though she respects and admires Vigilant, Plaza residents “pay more than their fair share” of Vigilant’s expenses. That position is shared by Village of Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin, who said in a letter to residents that their share rose 6 percent in 2011.

The 62/38 split would have saved Great Neck $47,000, Celender said at the July 20 meeting.

Village of Great Neck Plaza Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen pointed out a “dramatically” increased number of ambulance calls.

“And the amount of fire is down,” said Village of Great Neck Plaza Trustee Gerry Schneiderman.

Weiss said since he started 20 years ago, fire calls have stayed level.

“They should be careful how they word that,” Weiss said. “Their ambulance calls have gone up dramatically too.”

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