Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1945_04_13 Town Board Minutes 'r"' SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD AS THE BOARD OF FIRE COM- NISSIONERS OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK, FEW TORY, HELD APRIL 13 , 1945, AT 8 o ' clock P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE WEAVER STREET FIRE HOUSE , TOWN. Present: Supervisor and Chairman, Owen A. Mandeville Councilmen and Commissioners , David A. Embury Munroe Stiner — Absent: Councilman and Commissioner , Edward A. Keeler The presence was also noted of the Town Clerk and Secretary of the Board of Fire Commissioners Robert D. Payne , Town Attorney John L. Delius , Town Accountant Alexander Finson, Fire Chief George W. Burton, Jr. , and the following members of the Fire Council: Leonard Arickson, Joseph Torre , Robert Johnson, Frank Turco, Dominick Ianella , Henry Butterfield , Henry Nalloy. The Supervisor announced that the purpose of the special meeting was to discuss two matters and that while it was first thought that Mr. Keeler could be present it was learned later that he could not return to Town from Washington in time for the meeting. He added that he knew that Per. Keeler would want to be present but that since so many had to be called together that he thought that it was best to go through with the meeting and have open discussion on the matters in question. First , he said, was the ODT order for the chassis for a fire truck, and second , what is going to happen if the Town should accept a gift which might result in unfavorable publicity which would in turn not be very good for the Tom. He said that from facts which he had at hand he was franklin admitting that he did not like it , not for himself personally, but that because it concerns the Town and the members of the Fire Department. That he wished that those present would have a frank discussion on the subjects. He added that in his remarks he was speaking for himself and not for the other members of the Board. One of the members of the Fire Council asked what the other members of the Town Board thought. Councilman Embury said that he had several feelings about it and that he just did not know cow it was started or why it was being done. Fie said he happened to know Mr. Manville ' s personal attorney and that he is a close friend of his. That he asked this gentlemen what was in back of it and he said that the attorney did not know and that Mr. Manville might just as quickly give a truck chassis to the Town as make other gifts for which he is known. Councilman Embury said that he could not figure it out and that in his opinion the Town was on a spot whether the gift is accepted or not . He said that emphatically he was against it. Councilman Stiner stated that he could not understand why just half a gift was offered. Also that he would be interested to know as to how this all originated. One of the members of the Fire Council asked if it would be accepted if the apparatus was complete . Supervisor Mandeville replied that he had before him an ODT order which was obtained on the premise that the present #1 Pumper would be traded in and that this new truck would replace it. He asked if this was true. Some one asked Chief Burton who obtained the order. Chief Burton replied that he had prepared the application under the direction of Mr. Harry T. Flinn who said that this is the usual procedure. The Chief added that it is true that the #1 Pumper would be replaced by the new apparatus. He gave the age of the Pumper and explained the reed for a new piece of equipment. He said that the new chassis was sold to him as Fire Chief. There was considerable discussion by all regarding the disposition of Pumper #l. The CDT order was passed around for those to see who did not see it before , and. it was agreed that it should be corrected if the old piece of apparatus was to be considered replaced and kept in reserve. Councilman Embury said that he thought that the Town would get into very serious trouble on the grounds of misrepresentation if the old apparatus was to be put on reserve and that if so, the ODT order should be straightened out. A member of the Fire Council pointed out that the companies are incorporated. Another member of the Fire Council asked if it made any difference as to who the donor is and if this had anything to do with the opposition to it. The Supervisor pointed out the publicity which might accompany it with one donor- as against another. He explained that one or two incidents had caused some people of the community to talk to him and said that it might happen that some embarrassment night be suffered if certain other things should happen. The question was asked by Mr. Butterfield if the Department can or can not accept offers of pieces of equipment. He said that he had some one in mind who wished to give a certain piece of equipment. The Supervisor referred Mr. Butterfield' s question to Attorney Delius. Mr. Delius stated that it would depend upon the type of equipment , that something like a lantern or furniture , or such, night be accepted , but that a piece of apparatus which was something the Town is obligated to supply , maintain and cover with insurance pro- tection is another matter. The Chief explained that Tommy Manville had always expressed his desire to help the boys in the Department in any way that he could and that recently after being named honorary chief he said that he wanted to express his appreciation by offering a gift. The Chief stated that he explained the need for a piece of equipment. He pointed out that if the request asked in the last two proposed budgets was granted by the Town Board they could never have gone to Manville. The Supervisor asked the members of the Fire Council if they would rather have a piece of equipment furnished by the Town than to accept the gift. It was almost unanimous that they would rather feel that all of the equipment on the floor was Town-Owned through purchase. The Supervisor stated that because of the absence of Council- man Feeler the matter would be further discussed at the next Town Board meeting which would be held on April 12 and at which meeting Mr. Keeler would be present. He suggested that since it was figured that there waas enough in the budget to equip the unit being offered that there should be enough money to purchase the unit and equip it several months later. He said that it was possible that the figures for equipping the unit night be included in next year ' s budget. However , he said, that after next Wednesday's meeting , Mr. Keeler will deliver to the members of the Fire Council the wishes of the Town Board. L He reminded the members of the Fire Council that in Mr. Keeler they had a representative who was continuously looking out for the interests of the Fire Department. Councilman Embury stated that the members of the Town Board feel deeply grateful for the splendid work being done by the Fire De- partment, Chief Burton pointed out that eighty per cent of the people do not know, that the Town has a volunteer Fire Department and that the biggest majority take it for granted that re have a paid force. The Supervisor stated that on behalf of the Torn Board he wished to thank the Fire Council for their presence and patience in the mat ers discussed. He said that he hoped that whatever the de- cision of the Town Board may be that it would be satisfactory to the Fire Council. The meeting adjourned at 9.30 P.M. Town Clerk