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Changing from a Fire Protection District to a Fire District:
Fire Protection:
Fire protection in New York State is complex, with many options. Fire protection may be provided directly by a municipality, arranged under contract with a municipality, or provided by an independently governed fire district. Fire departments may have all-paid or “career” members, all-volunteer, or a combination of paid employees and volunteer members. Firefighters may work for a municipal fire department, be appointed as fire department members by fire district commissioners, or be members of a not-for-profit fire corporation.
Fire Protection District until 31 Dec 09:
What is a fire protection district?
Although the term “fire protection district” is similar to “fire district,” they represent very different ways of managing fire protection. While a fire district is a separate unit of government, run by elected commissioners; a fire protection district is a geographic service area within a town, established for the purpose of fire protection. Towns contract for fire protection services within these districts at the expense of the property owners in that district. The contract may be with a city or village fire department, a fire district, or an independent fire company.
A town board can create a fire protection district, consolidate adjoining fire protection districts, alter the boundaries of a fire protection district, or dissolve a fire protection district on its own motion or by petition.
Contracts between a town and a fire protection district vary in detail; some simply name a price for protection. The trend is for town boards to convert fire protection districts to fire districts, placing the decisions regarding fire protection in the hands of independently elected fire commissioners.
Fire District starting 01 Jan 10:
What is a fire district?
A fire district is a separate unit of local government that is established for the purpose of providing fire protection and response to emergencies. A fire district need not have its own firefighters or equipment; it can contract with a neighboring municipality or district. A fire district is created, extended, or dissolved by a town board. However, such changes must be at the request of a majority of the fire district commissioners or land-owning resident taxpayers of the district, and is subject to permissive referendum.
A fire district is overseen by an elected board of commissioners composed of five members serving five year terms. (The fire commissioners in joint fire districts may be elected or appointed.) The commissioners appoint the members of the fire companies within the fire district, and may provide for the removal of those members for cause. They also organize, operate, maintain and equip fire companies.
Newly formed Board of Fire Commissioners:
Recently members of the Hopkinton Town Board selected and appointed 5 Hopkinton residents to serve on the newly formed Board of Fire Commissioners. Frank Barney, Mike Opal, Dale Nicholson, Jim Hollenbeck and Gerald Goldsworth now form Hopkinton's first Board of Fire Commissioners and they will govern the newly formed Fire District. There will be monthly meetings which the public is welcome to attend. (Gerald Goldsworth was nominated and voted into the Board of Fire Commissioners after the recent resignation of Jim Tolles.)
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