POLAND, N.Y. — The Poland Joint Fire District’s routine monthly board meeting was anything but routine Tuesday evening.
Residents from the Poland Fire District gathered in the Poland Central School gym still looking for answers regarding the future of the Poland Volunteer Fire Department.
The joint district abruptly shut down the department in August. At the time the board said the closing would only be temporary until issues with the Poland Fire Department could be resolved.
At one point during Tuesday’s meeting Joint Fire District Commissioner Kelly Wenzel put forth a motion to reopen the department while working to resolve the issues, but since no one seconded the motion, it was defeated.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, accusations – often times heated – were made by both sides, placing blame on the current situation on each other.
“Where are the conversations? Everything I see here is we’re moving ahead. We’re getting this done,” says Town of Ohio Supervisor Deb Flemming. “People are moving to other fire companies. We’regonna start responding out of Poland. That still does diddly for the Town of Ohio. It does nothing for us up there. God forbid, every single one of you, with one exception, will get sued by me, and or by the town, if something happens to one of my residents”.
Joint Fire District Commissioner Kelly Wenzel spoke up adding, “My job as a commissioner is to put the best interests of these taxpayers at heart, and that’s what I’m doing. They’re taking their safety away. I’m trying to protect them.”
“You guys are spreading hysteria,” said Town of Ohio resident James Nightingale. “You guys gotta wake up. The stuff that’s been going on in social media, because he had an opinion that doesn’t match yours, or doesn’t match yours is absolutely ridiculous.So,man up and settle it.”
Some in attendance at the meeting called for an independent arbitrator to settle things. Attorneys for both sides are scheduled to meet again Wednesday
Residents let their feelings be known at Poland Joint Fire District Meeting