By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
While the partial audit of the North Syracuse Volunteer Fireman’s Association has turned up no issues, Mayor Gary Butterfield is concerned about a reserve account for the North Syracuse Fire Department.
Butterfield said at the Oct. 27 Village Board of Trustees meeting that he wants to look into the legality of the department’s reserve fund.
A brief summary of the NSVFA’s financial review showed “no exceptions” in any of the financial activity reviewed; in other words, there were no discrepancies in the association’s transactions or bank statements. The NSVFA has sent copies of the partial audit to the towns of Clay and Cicero.
“Historically, any money that was left over at the fire department went into a reserve account for them,” Butterfield said.
Butterfield said he learned from meetings of the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) that this is not legal; reserve accounts must be earmarked for a particular purpose within the fire department’s budget, such as for a piece of equipment or a capital project.
“It has to be designated. It can’t be thrown in a pot and used for whatever,” Butterfield said.
Village attorney Scott Chatfield said the village should look into the original formation of this reserve account, which Butterfield said was opened in 1990.
“I want to clarify, make sure we’re doing things the correct way,” Butterfield said. “It’s been bothering me.”
Butterfield also reported that the re-paving of the apron at Station No. 1 is complete. During paving, contractors from Salt Springs Paving Corporation discovered a “subterranean pond” and drainage pipes that had never been connected. The pipes are now connected.
Butterfield said the project went over the $43,750 bid that the board awarded to Salt Springs in September.
“When do we expect to see that number?” Trustee Diane Browning asked of the overage.
Butterfield said he did not know, but he expected the total cost to arrive soon.
Chestnut St. sidewalks complete
Also at the Oct. 27 meeting, Brian Bouchard of CHA Consulting, subbing for village engineer Amy Franco, updated the board on a few engineering projects. He said the installation of sidewalks on Chestnut Street is complete, but there are a few gaps that need to be filled in. Bouchard said if the contractor had not filled in the gaps by Monday, Oct. 31, the village would fill them temporarily with stone so Halloween revelers would not trip.
Depending on the weather, permeable asphalt and re-greening will soon begin on Route 11, Bouchard said. If the weather does not allow for roadwork, the work can be done in the spring.
