On Nov. 23, a public hearing will be held in the Hubbard Auditorium located in the Ron Dougherty County Office Building at 56 Main St. in Owego, N.Y. regarding a joint fire district formation. (File Photo taken by Jim Raftis Sr.)
The Town of Owego and Town of Tioga Boards and the Village of Owego Board met to discuss the proposal for a joint fire district at a public informational meeting held on Monday, Oct. 26. A previous public information session was held on Sept. 22.
The Oct. 26 meeting did allow some time for public comment, although the intent of the meeting was for the boards to set a public hearing date as well as a timetable on when a decision will be made.
The public hearing date selected is Monday, Nov. 23 and will be held in the Hubbard Auditorium located in the Ron Dougherty County Office Building at 56 Main St. in Owego, N.Y.
The timetable included setting the next joint meeting of the Town Boards of Owego and Tioga and the Owego Village Board. That meeting has been scheduled for Jan. 6, 2016.
The Town Boards of Owego and Tioga and the Owego Village Board all need to agree to the new district. If agreed upon, the next step is to add it to the March ballot for voters, as a referendum to be voted on at the same time as Village elections.
If an Owego-Tioga Fire District is formed, it would encompass the Village of Owego as well as an adjacent portion of the Town of Tioga, a non-taxable property, where the Route 17C Bridge extends over the Owego Creek. The proposed geographic area meets the legal requirements for forming a joint fire district.
Also, if formed, the Owego-Tioga Fire District would include as many as five commissioners and have responsibility for fiscal and operational management. The proposal states a budget would be adopted in June 2016 and by September 2016 the Owego-Tioga Fire District would come into existence.
According to Owego Mayor Kevin Millar, the Nov. 23 public hearing is an opportune time for residents to come forward to understand the proposal and ask questions, the most anticipated of which are questions regarding financial issues including taxes, staffing, how the transition takes place, and how public safety is preserved, among other concerns.
Regarding taxpayer concerns, Millar shared, “Their control is much greater by working with the Village Board than with a fire district.”
Residents are encouraged to attend the Nov. 23 public hearing.
