Trustees press for equitable treatment of Ballston Spa volunteer fire department as Milton offers 5% contract increase

The board spent substantial time discussing a proposed five‑year fire protection contract from the Town of Milton and a related dispute over a Length of Service Award Program, or LOSAP, for volunteer firefighters.

Why it matters: The contract determines how much the village is paid for fire protection and whether volunteer firefighters receive the same retirement/retention benefits as volunteers in nearby districts. Trustees said the village’s volunteer department serves a larger roster and argued students and taxpayers deserve equitable benefit structures.

What trustees discussed: Mayor Frank Rossi and trustees said Milton’s offer—5% increases per year for five years—would cover operating needs and truck payments but would not fund a LOSAP, which several neighboring departments have. Rossi described LOSAP as an established retirement/retention program that, for Ballston Spa’s larger volunteer force, would cost substantially more (estimates discussed at the meeting ranged from roughly $120,000 to $150,000 annually depending on design choices and look‑back credits).

Rossi said he proposed a shared approach: the village would contribute to seed the LOSAP and asked Milton to supplement funding so volunteers in Ballston Spa receive benefits comparable to those funded for other districts. He asked trustees to press Milton to “treat our fire department equitably” and said he was prepared to seek additional village contributions as part of a multi‑party solution.

Trustee Liz (last name not given in transcript) said the 5% offer covers operational needs and is reasonable for contracting purposes, but she and other trustees urged continued negotiation on LOSAP funding. Trustee Ben (last name not given) recommended accepting the contract to ensure continuity of services, with the understanding that LOSAP negotiation could continue.

Operations and transparency: Trustees and the mayor also discussed the fire department’s ledgers and capital spending. Rossi said some budgeted purchases (radios) were recorded in the prior-year ledger and that restoring accurate accounting would clarify reserve levels and the department’s ability to fund purchases while building reserve for a replacement ladder truck.

Next steps: The Town of Milton was drafting formal paperwork and requested a response from the village; Mayor Rossi said he would ask Milton officials to reconsider LOSAP contributions and that the town controller had agreed to host a three‑party discussion with village and town finance officials. Trustees did not take a final vote on the contract at the meeting but asked staff and Milton to continue negotiations and to provide clearer documentation of numbers and ledger entries.

Ending: No binding contract was voted at the meeting. Mayor Rossi asked Milton officials to consider a revised funding approach that would allow the village volunteer department to participate in LOSAP and pledged to report back.