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Bayshore fire commissioner urges higher funding as apparatus costs and new development strain village budget
Summary
At a public hearing, Commissioner Gary Lawrence said apparatus prices and lead times have spiked — citing a 100‑foot ladder that cost about $1 million in 2018 and now costs roughly $2.25–2.5 million — and asked the village to share in higher expenses tied to regional growth; residents pressed for town and developer contributions and discussed grant and insurance leverage.
The Brightwaters Board opened a public hearing with Gary Lawrence, who identified himself as a commissioner for the Bay Shore fire district, to outline the department's capital and equipment needs.
Lawrence said long lead times and sharply higher manufacturing costs are forcing the department to seek increased funding. “A 100 foot tower ladder truck that could have been purchased in 2018 for 1,000,000 ... Now it costs 2.25 to 2,500,000,” he told trustees, adding that build times have stretched from about 18 months to as long as four years for some apparatus.
Residents and trustees pressed on who bears those costs when large new apartment developments and hospital expansions are built nearby. One trustee and several residents said Brightwaters is being asked to shoulder part of the increase despite nearby Bay Shore developments that received multi‑year tax incentives. Lawrence said the district spreads costs across the community and suggested a joint approach with the town and with developers to address infrastructure needs.
Board members and the commissioner discussed possible relief avenues, including meetings with Northwell Health executives to seek support and exploring leverage with insurers if large institutions need better equipment to obtain coverage. Lawrence said the department was open to working with the village to pursue grants or shared‑funding arrangements, but emphasized that absent outside contributions the district must pass increased costs on to the community.
The board opened and later closed the public hearing without a vote on a specific funding increase at this meeting; trustees agreed to consider follow‑up working sessions with fire officials, town representatives and residents.
