Village fire department disagrees with decision with concern for fire safety
The North Syracuse Village Board met at the Community Center at 4:30 p.m. March 25 to make a final decision on the pending Sprinkler Law debate, and to bring new village issues to the table.
With a unanimous vote, the section 115-43 North Syracuse Sprinkler Law has officially been rescinded. This vote takes place nearly two months after concerns about the sprinkler systems were brought before the board by the village’s Sprinkler Review Committee during the January 14 meeting.
Trustee Gary Butterfield noted that with the improvements in firefighting equipment and smoke detectors, there is no real nee to have “an extra layer of governing” on top of the preexisting New York State sprinkler code enforcements.
Deputy Fire Chief Pat Brennan, of the village fire department, was rather upset by the removal of the law.
“It’s a very irresponsible thing to do to the village residents,” Brennan told the board. He said that if the code enforcement division kept up on it’s duties in making sure commercial buildings and condominiums were up to date on sprinkler codes, fewer variances would have been approved, and the local sprinkler law look like it was actually serving a useful function.
“Removing the law is putting lives at risk,” Brennan said.
In addition to the sprinkler law vote, the board also discussed and unanimously voted on the passage of the Emergency Veterinary Agreement from the last meeting’s agenda.
This agreement provides the Animal Control Department with a maximum on $250 to spend on the health care of an animal, more specifically dogs, that have been injured in some way and have been picked up by the Dog Control Officer. The $250 pays for basic care of the animal, including bandaging, pain management and euthanasia, to name a few.
Heather Cole, village attorney, said that approval of the agreement does not necessarily mean the village is guaranteed repayment from the pet’s owner for the cost of care. By state law, the village Animal Control Department must pick up and find treatment for injured animals they find loose in the village. A total of $500 will be included in the budget to be set aside for the use of injured animal care at the discretion of the Dog Control Officer.
In other news
Under the new shared services agreement with the town of Cicero, the village is looking to hire a part-time codes enforcement position under the supervision of Cicero Codes Enforcement Officer Wayne Dean for a six month period, said Mayor Diane Browning. The position is for 19 hours each week at $15 per hour.
Mayor Browning was authorized by the board to sign closing documents with Lakewood Development on the Toll Road Park Project. Cole said no official closing date has been set, though it appears it will take place during the second week in April.
The next board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. April 8 at the Community Center.
