NORTH TONAWANDA, NY - : Firefighters in North Tonawanda feel it was a lack of respect when they got a letter from the city regarding fundraisers they wanted to hold at their fire hall. They decided to go directly to City Council to make their point.
President Robert Brennan of the Gratwick Hose Volunteer Fire Company terms it, "Just outrage in terms of why do we feel like we're working for the city but they're working against us - that's really the feeling that we got."
The leader of the volunteer firefighters delivered that message to city officials after he was sent a letter by North Tonawanda City Clerk, Dan Quinn, telling the fire company to cancel any remaining fundraising events for the rest of this year. That also followed an agreement to a five-percent budget cut in their city payment of $34,000, which is used by the volunteers in this community where paid and volunteer firefighters work together to battle blazes.
Brennan says, "Why would you want a fire company that serves this city where we make the majority of our income in the last quarter of the year with holiday parties and holiday meat raffles to cease and desist?"
2 On Your Side asked Mayor Arthur Pappas about the volunteer's concerns and whether it undercuts their ability to be significant volunteer force. He replied, "Well sure...but they're not asked to not have fundraisers. We're asking them to follow the city codes,the rules and regulations, and bring it before the council for approval."
During the Council meeting, City Attorney Luke Brown pointed out that a 2012 state comptroller audit had called on the city to make sure it was fully enforcing municipal law. He says a statute does require approval for such fundraisers. There was a question of interpretation when City Clerk Dan Quinn stated that Gratwick Hose had not properly listed a meat raffle in its March 2018 letter, which showed planned fundraisers.
But then, during the meeting, Brown told Brennan, "I don't see why you can't submit a letter saying can you approve these fundraisers for the rest of the year." Brennan replied, "Exactly my point Mr. Brown...exactly my point."
Brown concluded, "I think that's the easiest solution here."
Brennan now hopes that they got this issue straightened out. He says he will be specific in listing upcoming fundraisers for the fire company going into the new year of 2019.