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Volunteer firefighter alleges due‑process failures, improper legal spending at Grama Fire Company
Summary
Chris Solari, a long‑time volunteer and former chief, told the board his suspension was handled with conflicts of interest, bylaw violations and denials of due process and said the fire company spent taxpayer funds on outside legal fees to pursue a member.
Chris Solari, identified himself as a volunteer firefighter with the Grama Fire Company who has served more than 30 years and previously as fire chief, and urged the town board to intervene in what he described as a flawed suspension process.
Solari told the board the process was "tainted by serious conflicts of interest, bylaw violations, and denials of due process," and said he was denied access to documents and subjected to a biased hearing he said stripped him of state‑protected due‑process rights under General Municipal Law §209‑l. He also cited Town Law sections he said govern the town’s oversight of volunteer fire services and alleged the fire company failed to comply with FOIL and open meetings law requirements.
Solari alleged the fire company’s board approved roughly $8,000 in taxpayer funds to hire outside counsel to pursue action against a long‑time member and suggested total legal fees may now be closer to $30,000. He characterized a petition circulated by the fire company board as personal and said the company did not use funds for recruitment or retention as envisioned in the contract’s Section 11.
"This wasn't money spent to get rid of a bad member... This money, which is now probably closer to $30,000 in legal fees, was misappropriated," Solari said, and he asked the town board to "act swiftly to resolve this matter, restore fairness and integrity." He offered to provide documentation and testify.
Board members acknowledged the complaint and discussed potential next steps; several members said they were concerned about negative social media posts from fire company leadership that targeted board members. The town did not announce a formal investigation or take a vote on remedial action at the meeting. Solari's allegations involve internal fire company governance and alleged violations of state law; the board encouraged submitting supporting documentation and indicated it would consider the matter.
