March 10, 2005 Public Hearing Establishing a Local Law To Allow For a Partial Exemption From Real Property Taxation on Property Owned By Certain Persons Who Are Members of Volunteer Fire Companies or Volunteer Ambulance Services Pursuant To Section 466-e of the New York Real Property Tax Law.

Present was Council-members Carlson, Frisbee, Pneuman and Supervisor Merrihew. Also present was Attorney for the Town Jeff Siegel and Gino SantaBarbara Town Planner.

Public Hearing called to order at 7:05pm, followed by the pledge to the flag.

Supervisor Merrihew read the legal notice as published in the Gazette Newspapers on February 25, 2005.

Floor opened to comments.

Walt Miller - Thousand Acre Road - Is in favor of the exemption. You can't put a price on the volunteer fire and ambulance services.

George Lent - Duanesburg Road - Asked if this was going to be a flat rate?

Supervisor Merrihew - Yes, with a minimum of five years service and still a member of the fire company.

Attorney Siegel - It is up to the fire company to decide whether volunteer is still a member or not, because if they are, they remain eligible.

Dick Weakley - Mariaville - Is all for it.

Jim Weakley - Mariaville - We have to do everything we can to get new members to join the department.

Supervisor Merrihew - Any member who has over twenty years service gets a full lifetime exemption. She doesn't believe you have to sign up for it every year after the twenty years. She had a call from Legislature Lazarri, they are already doing a lot of changes on the legislation.

Tom Bulman - Mariaville - Asked if can you combine that, if you were in different departments? If you were in one department for ten years and then you move into this district. Could you count that as your twenty years?

Mr. Weakley - Yes, as long as you get a letter from the other department, specifying that you have the time in.

No other comments, floor closed at 7:10 p.m.

Council-member Pneuman motioned, seconded by Council-member Frisbee to close hearing. All in favor.