EMS negotiations, more paid staff possible
Queensbury Town board member George Ferone and Town Supervisor John Strough have begun talks with the local EMS stations. Three provide fire and rescue services under contract with the town. The contract ends at the end of the year, but continues into 2022 if negotiation are not finished.
At the start of this year, negotiations pushed past January 1, and the board vowed to work earlier to avoid that delay.
“We’re hoping some good things will come of these discussions,” Ferone said during the meeting.
After the board meeting Strough said they may be looking to bring in a “professional” to help organize the discussions as they craft a five-year plan. A mix of volunteer and professional staff, the EMS companies have felt the strain, and if paying for more staff is the answer, Strough said, they need a full plan before going to the citizens and asking for more taxes.
Adk Theatre gets $7,500
The Adirondack Theatre Festival of Glens Falls was awarded $7,500 in occupancy tax revenues from the Town of Queensbury. Their application covers both the ATF and the Adirondack Film Festival. The money will go toward direct mail and digital marketing with a focus on Lake George tourists and on patrons from 30 minutes to two hours away. Queensbury residents make up about 25% of the theater’s audience, their application says.
The theater festival began over the weekend with the comedy “Slow Food.”
Occupancy taxes are collected at the county level from hotels, motels and short-term rentals such as Airbnb. The money, doled out by the town, is used to promote tourism and other activity.
Firetruck for South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Co
The South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company will get its day in front of the public Aug. 23. They need a new fire truck. They have the income to handle the payments on a loan, but they need financing. To get that, under the contract with Queensbury, they need approval from the town board, which must give the public a time to chime in, board documents say. The Pierce Pumper truck will cost $353,800 and replaces a truck from the 1980s. The purchase is part of the company’s capital expenditures. Financing at 2.99% comes from Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. The board approved the public hearing for Aug. 23.