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Fire trucks accounted for, judge puts brakes on future sales
Posted at: 10/18/2012 5:56 PM
| Updated at: 10/18/2012 10:25 PM
By: Mark Mulholland
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JOHNSBURG - There's something missing from the truck bays at the Wevertown Volunteer Fire Company in Northern Warren County.
The department's three trucks have been sold or are in the process of being sold as the company disbands.
With about 14 active members, the company shut down in the spring following a dispute with the town over funding.
Fire chief Jarret Brown has been trying to unload the company's equipment, which has angered the Town Board.
"Jarret has been nothing but above board and dealing properly with trying to marshal the assets of the fire company," said Terry Hannigan, Brown's attorney.
Hannigan says Chief Brown worked closely with the bank to sell the company's most valuable truck, but he's been criticized for not getting the okay from the town, whose taxpayer money helped pay for the equipment.
Brown's attorney says the town has no say in the sale.
"It's not for a town to decide if they're going to take possession of the assets of a not-for-profit they put out of business," said Hannigan.
When the town heard Brown was selling the trucks, they sought and got a restraining order. But the most valuable truck had already been sold. Another sits idle in Glens Falls. A judge put the brakes on any future sale Thursday. Until it can be worked out.
When anything is sold, the trucks, the equipment, or even the fire house, the town supervisor wants the assets shared with the three fire companies that are left to cover Wevertown.
"It's not that we're looking at this as these are town assets, but they're community assets and we wanted to make sure they were protected," says Ron Vanselow, Johnsburg Town Supervisor.
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