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Mayor urges hiring fire chief as village employee to handle inspections and training
Summary
Cayuga Heights' mayor proposed making the fire chief a part‑time, benefits‑eligible village employee so the chief can perform fire inspections, attend weekday training and lead grant work. Board members debated cost and process but did not vote.
The mayor of Cayuga Heights urged the board to convert the village’s fire chief into a part‑time, benefits‑eligible village employee to handle code inspections and free up volunteer capacity. “It's time to pay a professional what they're worth from my perspective,” the mayor said, arguing the move would professionalize the role and help retain and train personnel.
Supporters said the change would enable the chief to attend weekday training classes and perform fire inspections in a timely way, reducing a backlog of overdue inspections. Fire Chief George said he could take the training series offered in November, December and January and that placing inspections inside the fire department “just made sense” to ensure someone is on site during daytime hours. No formal motion or vote was recorded in the transcript; members discussed timing and the finance implications before pausing the matter for further information.
The discussion emphasized both operational benefits—having a staff member on site to drive trucks and respond to calls during the day—and personnel considerations such as compensation and benefits. Supporters said the role could eventually be expanded to full‑time in the next fiscal year; opponents cautioned that the board should review precise budget figures before approving a midyear change.
