The Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department is hoping to raise more money in 2013 by changing the date and the theme of its annual ‘Big Money’ raffle to something bigger and better, and at the Dec. 13 village board meeting asked the trustees for their approval of the idea.

The new event would be called “The High Stakes Raffle and Casino Event,” and be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013 in the Allyn Arena, SVFD Chief Eric Sell informed the board in a Dec. 10 letter.

The new casino event would replace the department’s ‘Big Money’ drawing held every year during the Fire Department Field Days celebrations over the Labor Day weekend.

SVFD President Jim Buff told the board that other area fire departments hold similar casino nights for their fundraisers and bring in much more money than the Skaneateles ‘Big Money’ raffle does. In addition to money raised through the raffle tickets – which would still be sold – a casino night would also have games of chance, food and drinks that would also raise money, Buff said.

The SVFD already has received permission from town officials to use the Allyn Arena for the event on Aug. 3, Buff said.

The village board unanimously approved the request.

Also at the meeting:

—The board officially accepted the resignation of Pat Blackler from her positions as village historian and member and interim chair of the Historic Landmarks Preservation Committee. The board also gave Blackler a plaque of appreciation and recognition for her “unwavering and devoted” years of service to the village as historian since 1996.

—Mayor Marty Hubbard told the rest of the board that the bid opening for the new village hall renovation work occurred Dec. 12 and went well, having 24 total bidders. The project is now on schedule for the interior work to be done by the end of April 2013, at which time the village offices should be able to reopen in the new building, Hubbard said. The exterior work should be completed by the end of June, he said.

—Trustee Mary Sennett said the mock-up business signs erected by the chamber of commerce at the corner of Genesee and Jordan streets and Jordan and Fennell streets have been revised to give a better example of what they may look like. Both now have business names on the signs to direct shoppers to specific merchants, while the sign at the corner of Genesee and Jordan streets has been changed from a horizontal shape to a more vertical one.

“I think it was a good idea to put these signs out there and get some feedback,” Sennett said. “I’m interested to see what the merchants think.”

Trustee Sue Jones agreed that posting the temporary signs was a good idea to gauge public reaction and see if the signs would be beneficial to local businesses. “I have to say though, I’m getting more ‘nay’s than ‘yea’s,” Jones said of the public comments she has received.

—The board confirmed its next operations meeting for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, at the village hall to discuss grant results for the new village hall project and possibly to vote to accept the bids.

—The board cancelled a previously-schedule operations meeting for Thursday, Dec. 27, and rescheduled it for 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28. The meeting will be to discuss and hopefully approve the purchase of new air packs for the Skaneateles fire department.

—Village Director of Municipal Operations Bob Lotkowictz said the DPW has caught up on leaf pickup around the village and started doing tree work and cemetery work. He said the repair work on the wastewater treatment plant roof started Dec. 13 and should be done in a few days.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].