Vigilant Fire Company will run a $185,000 deficit by Dec. 31 unless Great Neck village officials approve the recently released 2011 contract, which must be signed by mid-August, said David Weiss, chair of the board of trustees. The volunteer fire and ambulance company has been without a full contact since 2009 due to intervillage disagreement.
“There’s no wiggle room,” Weiss said. “Some of the things in the budget that are usually paid for will not be paid for.”
He said the volunteer fire and ambulance company puts money aside for new fire apparatus and building emergencies, but that might not happen this year.
“What happens next year when we’re down more money?” he asked. “Maybe fire-fighting equipment is not going to be bought. The free social events may have to be cancelled.”
Vigilant officials pled for a new contract at a community meeting April 5.
Great Neck mayors held a closed meeting mid-June to discuss the issue, but Weiss said they have were not able to agree upon a new contract.
“My understanding of that meeting is that it went very badly, that none of the villages will agree,” Weiss said.
The lack of progress prompted Vigilant officials to write and send out a contract with a sign by date. Weiss said it provides for a minimal increase.
The crisis stems from disagreement over a cost splitting formula.
Vigilant provides ambulance service to every village north of the Long Island Rail Road tracks, but only provides fire protection to the villages of Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza and Kensington.
Vigilant’s budget has historically been paid by a 70/30 split between fire and ambulance.
In 2009, every village signed a contract with Vigilant with the understanding that in 2010 the proportion of fire and ambulance would change to a 62/38 split.
The modification would have cost the northern villages, those without fire protection, more for ambulance service.
Northern villages signed a contract with Vigilant in 2010 with the original 70/30 arrangement. The Village of Kensington signed reluctantly, while the villages of Great Neck Estates and Great Neck Plaza refused.
Weiss said the lack of a new contract is a problem because costs have continued to rise since the old contracts were signed.
“We have two villages that are paying us at a 2009 rate,” he said. “All the other villages are paying us at a 2010 rate.” Vigilant officials sent out a contract with the original 70/30 split because “that is what we have always done,” Weiss said.
Asked about the mid-June meeting, Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said it was private and had no comment for the public.
Great Neck Estates Mayor David Fox was unable to comment for personal reasons, said Great Neck Estates Village Administrator Kathleen Santelli.
Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman said he is willing to sign a contract at a Village of Great Neck trustee meeting July 5.
“I called the chairman last week or the week before saying we still have not received the contract and we are willing to sign,” he said. “We need the contract and then we will have a public hearing.”
Village of Saddle Rock Mayor Leonard Samansky has provided outspoken support for Vigilant, while Village of Thomaston Mayor Robert Stern has said he would support any contract about which the other villages agree.
Village of Kensington officials received the contract but Mayor Susan Lopatkin was on vacation and unable to comment.
“I will tell you that Krietzman is going to sign that contract because it benefits him the most,” Weiss said. “The southern villages will probably not.”
