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Ballston Spa board approves five-year fire protection contracts with Milton and Boston after language change
Summary
The Village of Ballston Spa approved two five-year agreements to provide fire protection to the Towns of Milton and Boston, with a contract language change clarifying how funds are to be spent and tracked; board and public comments focused on transparency and accounting for town contributions.
The Village of Ballston Spa Board of Trustees on a voice vote approved two five-year contracts for fire protection services with the Towns of Milton and Boston, adopting a change to contract language intended to make clear how town payments will be spent and tracked.
The board voted to authorize the mayor or deputy mayor to sign the agreements after trustees agreed to delete a clause requiring payments to be deposited "into a separate interest bearing account" and replace it with language reading that "all sums paid hereunder shall be spent only for the furnishing of such aid and fire protection and the use of apparatus, equipment, and fire personnel." The change was described in the meeting as intended to avoid conflict with the village's existing investment policy (section 38-2) and to make it clearer which expenditures are eligible.
Why it matters: The contracts direct town payments to a volunteer fire department that provides services to village residents and neighboring districts. Public commenters and trustees said transparency in how town funds are costed and spent is essential to maintain trust and to allow towns to complete their budgets.
Resident Mike, speaking during public comment, urged approval while stressing transparency. He cited guidance from the Association of Fire Districts and the Office of the State Comptroller about providing itemized cost information and access to fire-company financial records during contract negotiations: "The submission of an itemized statement of estimated costs will help promote a more transparent negotiation process," he said.
Chief Crow of the Ballston Spa Fire Department told the board the department supports the contracts. "We honestly feel over the next five years with the revenue we will be in a good position to move forward with our operations and any future apparatus that we're looking at," he said.
Trustees and staff discussed how to ensure town funds are used only for apparatus, equipment, personnel and fire-protection services rather than facility projects the towns did not intend to fund. Village counsel and county counsel were reported to be working on finalizing contract language and confirming the change would not conflict with the village's investment policy. Board members said the towns had indicated general agreement with the single-line change to section 3 and that the towns must hold their own public hearings after the village approves the contracts.
The board also discussed establishing and tracking a fire reserve fund; trustees said work to create the reserve has been in progress for months and that village staff and consultants are continuing to pursue it.
The board moved the two town contracts up on the agenda "out of courtesy" to the fire chief so the public hearing and town budgeting timelines could be met. Both motions were approved by voice vote with trustees responding "Aye." Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.
Ending: Village staff said they will continue to work with the towns and counsel to finalize contract language and to provide cost and tracking information to the towns as requested.
