Town of Brighton starts proceedings against West Brighton Fire Department

Posted at: 07/30/2012 1:05 PM | Updated at: 07/30/2012 8:36 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

The attorney for the West Brighton Fire Department says State Supreme Court Justice John Ark Monday did not grant a request from the town of Brighton to compel the fire department to hand over keys to the West Henrietta Rd. fire house to the City of Rochester.

The Town of Brighton had asked for a temporary restraining order to ensure that the firehouse continues to operate on August 1 when the Rochester Fire Department assumes primary fire and emergency services in the West Brighton district. But Judge Ark apparently did not agree.

West Brighton Fire Department attorney Brad Pinsky says there was discussion of perhaps holding off for a month until the results of a special election are known. Residents of the West Brighton Fire Protection District will be asked August 28th whether to abolish the current district. West Brighton volunteers collected enough names on a petition and are pushing for approval as a way to force the creation of a new fire district not subject to the decisions of the town board.

Moehle said the West Brighton Fire Department, through its attorney, has threatened to shut the RFD out of the firehouse even though the contract between Brighton and the West Brighton Fire Department requires the West Brighton Fire Department to transfer the firehouse and other assets so they can continue to be used.
West Brighton volunteers would act in a support role.

Town Supervisor William Moehle said, "The West Brighton firehouse was constructed with taxpayer funds and it must be kept open to serve the West Brighton community."

Pinsky says the West Brighton Fire Department has contacted the City of Rochester to see whether the Rochester Fire Department wishes to lease the firehouse.

Have a story you want our news team to investigate? Call us at 585-232-1010, click here to send us an e-mail or leave us a Facebook post or tweet.

Print Story