Fire Council rejects nominee, approves 2026 slate

Key Actions & Decisions

• ◆ **Resolutions Passed**
• ◆ Approved 2026 officer slate for 21 nominated positions (Motion by J. Gilbert/2nd J. Streany - Carried)
• ◆ Approved substitution of UTV operator course for John Gilbert's missing Class #2 requirement, with stipulation he complete required classes before 2027 (Motion by J. Delaney/2nd J. Munson - Carried)
• ◆ Approved year-by-year substitution of FDNY bailout training for Dave Altamura, with noted NYS PESH risk (Motion by J. Munson/2nd J. Delaney - Carried)
• ◆ Approved Ryan Howles' transition from active to social membership due to moving out of state (Motion by J. Streany/2nd J. Gilbert - Carried)
• ◆ Approved Fire Patrol #1's Breakfast with Santa fundraiser for Dec. 14, 9am-noon, pending village approval (Motion by J. Streany/2nd J. Gilbert - Carried)
• ◆ Approved Hook & Ladder school leave requests for Daniel Markic, Christian Gaona, and Charlotte Gilbert (Motion by D. Vlad/2nd J. Gilbert - Carried)
• ◆ Approved dropping 10 members from Hook & Ladder rolls for inactivity: Eneo Decka, Benjamin Leuig, Jack Becker, Owen Mintzer, Eric Min, Thomas Kelley, Alden Hou, Jack Fahey, Giorgio Giorcelli, and Stefano Giorcelli (Motion by J. Munson/2nd J. Gilbert - Carried)
• ◆ Approved purchase of 5 FASNY museum raffle tickets at $5 each (Motion by J. Streany/2nd J. Gilbert - Carried)
• ◆ Approved $43.45 reimbursement to Chris Caterino for tablecloths (Motion by D. Vlad/2nd J. Streany - Carried)
• ◆ Approved $300 reimbursement to P. Dinkler for top responder gift cards (Motion by D. Vlad/2nd J. Streany - Carried)
• ◆ Accepted $100 donation from a Batten Rd family sent to Fire Patrol (Motion by T. Kaplan/2nd J. Munson - Carried)
• ◆ Approved August and September meeting minutes (Motion by J. Munson/2nd J. Streany - Carried)
• ◆ Accepted treasurer's report showing $19,691.15 in department accounts (Motion by J. Streany/2nd J. Delaney - Carried)
• ◆ Deferred handling of one member's attendance violation to department chiefs, with required appearance at November meeting (Motion by D. Vlad/2nd J. Karpoff - Carried)
• ◆ **Resolutions Failed**
• ◆ Nomination of Justin Cusano for Columbia H&L 2nd Lieutenant — NOT qualified due to missing CPR/First Aid, bailout training, NIMS ICS-200, and Fire Officer 1 requirements (Motion by J. Munson/2nd J. Streany - Carried: 6 in favor of disqualification, 2 against, 3 abstained)
• ◆ **Applications Reviewed**
• ◆ None (Planning Board/ZBA items not present)
• ◆ **Public Comments**
• ◆ No formal public comments; attendance included Mayor B. Pugh, Village Manager B. Healy, and Deputy Mayor L. Simon
• ◆ **Reports**
• ◆ **Mayor Pugh**: Announced November housing lottery for apartments at 25 S. Riverside Ave
• ◆ **Deputy Mayor Simon**: Echoed mayor's remarks
• ◆ **Village Manager Healy**: NO PARKING signs going up on Benedict Blvd across from Harmon by next Monday; hydrant discussion with Washington Engine deferred to after parking lot work; EMS building construction at back of Harmon Firehouse progressing well; Village Board will honor top responders; department website transitioning from .org to .gov per state requirements
• ◆ **Chief Dinkler**: Presented top responder gift cards; thanked members for fire fair turnout and school visits
• ◆ **Asst. Chief Colombo**: Confirmed house sirens voted out of use due to most responders living out of town; noted water leak behind ladder truck (recurring issue); EMS building and Washington work progressing
• ◆ **Asst. Chief Caterino**: Urged members to check in on each other heading into holidays; announced upcoming new member training
• ◆ **Investigative Committee (J. Karpoff)**: Presented full 2026 slate review; 21 nominees fully qualified, 3 had issues (Gilbert, Altamura, Cusano)
• ◆ **By-Laws Committee (J. Streany)**: Revised Bylaw 7.1.5 (membership classes) reformatted and distributed to companies for vote at next meeting
• ◆ **Fire Prevention**: Thanked contributors to fire fair; thank-you letter to ShopRite forthcoming
• ◆ **Fleet/Radios (J. Munson)**: Announced he will stop handling fleet, radios, and pagers at year's end
• ◆ **Unfinished Business**: 503(c) fundraising status nearly resolved; defensive driving course posting discrepancy clarified as interest-gauging, not mandatory