CROTON-ON-HUDSON — Hours after crews fought a fire at 22 Palmer Avenue on Tuesday, March 31, the Croton Fire Council's meeting that evening started late — pushed back by the blaze — and opened with praise for the departments that responded. The village manager, who saw the response firsthand, expressed pride in "all the departments and our own" for the work at the Palmer fire, according to the minutes, and passed along what residents at the scene were saying: "It's great to know that they call, and we all come." The manager also reported that the county has changed its election districts, and with that comes a polling place swap: Grand Street will no longer be a polling place, while the Washington Engine firehouse will be — a change that takes effect with the June primaries. Deputy Mayor Len Simon, who attended along with the village manager, said the village is looking at legislation to give first responders — fire and EMS personnel — preference for affordable housing, which prompted a short discussion about eligibility. Simon also reported that the village signed the contract for the new Engine 119 on the 18th, just before the draft budget came out, and that a legislative package prepared by 2nd Assistant Chief Joe Streany went up to Albany. In the chiefs' reports, Fire Council President Chris Colombo praised the response: "Everyone did a great job and I am very proud of you all for a job well done," according to the minutes. Colombo added that all the firehouses were believed to be in good shape, and that work on the rear floor at the Grand Street firehouse is finished — the new lighting "looks great." Another chief arrived late after finishing with the fire investigators and thanked everyone who had responded. That report also included plans for demonstrations and training during Summerfest at the Grand Street firehouse, plus an apparatus update: Engine 119 is out of service, Engine 120 is back, and village mechanics want to start looking at handling the smaller jobs in-house. Streany gave no report. The council then worked through a stack of correspondence. It accepted a new membership application approved by one of the companies, forwarded a Montrose Fire Department parade invitation for May 30 to its parade committee, and voted to decline an invitation from the Millbrook Fire Department in Dutchess County. One member was dropped after moving out of the area, and letters were due to go out April 1 notifying two more members that they are at risk of being dropped for non-activity. The membership also approved meeting just once a month, on the second Monday, with a bylaw change in the works. From farther afield, the Greenville Fire District wrote to thank Croton for sending its tanker to cover their district during a large water main break. The mail also brought thank-you cards from residents around New York State, Valentine's cards from students at CET School, and notices ranging from Montrose FD and Cortlandt Engine's May 3 memorial breakfast to the Peekskill Fire Department's 200th anniversary dinner dance. Under new business, the council adopted a new conflict-of-interest policy. Members also weighed a personnel matter: a captain complained about a member who rode the rig and then refused to do any further work. Complaints from three companies followed, with a strong request that the member be suspended for 30 days for insubordination. After consulting the bylaws, the council referred the matter to the captain of the member's own company to handle — and advised the companies to get their complaints in writing. The council accepted a treasurer's report, relayed by email, showing $6,801.13 in the account. For residents, the effects will surface soon enough: the June primary will be the first election run with Washington Engine as a polling place, the replacement Engine 119 is now under contract even as the current rig sits out of service, and the village's push to give first responders a shot at affordable housing is still taking shape.