Barrington wants new contract

BARRINGTON—The Barrington town board agreed not to sign the contract with the Penn Yan Fire Department at the Wednesday, Jan. 26 meeting, until the document has been updated. Supervisor Fred Wright explained Penn Yan sent a contract to be signed, but said the department was working on a new one. Wright said the current document stipulates the town is liable if a fire track is damaged going to a fire call or if a firefighter is hurt responding to a call.
Wright explained this has been part of the contract since the early 1980s, but it would not be in the new contract. He said he did not want to subject residents to paying for a damaged fire truck. Wright added the town should still pay the Penn Yan Fire District when the bill comes in February.
The board agreed. Board member Ken Christensen Jr. said, “I stand behind Fred.”
In other business:
The board approved dog license fees for the town. The cost for spayed and neutered dogs will $6 and the cost for unspayed and unneutered will be $13. Clerk Joy Perry said the state gets $1 from the cheaper fee and $3 from the more expensive one. The remaining money is split with half going to the county and half going to the town. Perry said she contacted other towns and most in Yates County were going with $10 for spayed and neutered and $18 for unspayed and unneutered.
The board approved three public hearings for the next meeting. They will be on the possibility of Barrington residents benefiting from Community Block Grants; the town’s employee handbook; and to change the date of the annual board of assessment review. Andrea Haradon, coordinator for S2AY Rural Network, and Kathy Disbrow, Keuka Housing Council director, spoke to the board about the Community Block Grants. Haradon explained the deadline is May 27 and the grant money is for improving low and moderate income houses. The zoning board of appeals chairperson resigned and the town board is looking for people to fill the two empty seats and one alternate spot.
The next regular board meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m.