HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2025-131 approving increased 2024 paymentMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
November 24, 2025
TB Resolution 2025-131: Approve Increase in Town of Ithaca’s 2024 Payment under the2020-2024 Contract for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Between the City of Ithaca and
the Town of Ithaca
Whereas,in Town Board Resolution 2019-184, the Ithaca Town Board approved a contract with the City of Ithaca for the provision of fire protection services and emergency medical services
for the 2020-2024 period in virtually all of the Town except for the Village of Cayuga Heights, New York and part of the northeast portion of the Town (the “Contract”),and
Whereas, pursuant to New York Town Law Section 184, the Contract set forth the annual sum the Town was to pay the City each year (the “Annual Sum”), as well as a methodology to adjust
each year’s Annual Sum if the Ithaca Town Board (acting as and for the Town’s Fire Protection District) and the City of Ithaca amend the Contract accordingly, and
Whereas, the Contract states that “Under no circumstances shall the totalamount paid by the Town in any calendar year, plus any adjustment for that year paid inthe subsequent year, exceed
the annual budgeted amount … approved by the Town … without
the Town’s prior written approval of any budget changes resulting in such increase”, and
Whereas, for 2024, the Contract listed $3,857,826 as the Annual Sum, and the City did not seek the Town’s prior approval to exceed that amount, and
Whereas, by letter dated May 28, 2025, the City for the first time informed the Town that the Ithaca Fire Department’s 2024 net expenses had greatly exceeded the amountbudgeted by the
City and Town, and
Whereas, for 2024, the Town was billed and has made payments to the City in the amount of $3,840,000, and the City has informed the Town that the Town’s 2024 Annual Sum based on the
increased net expenditures is $4,450,762.59, which is $610,762.59 more than the Town’s payments to date, and $592,936.59 more than the Annual Sum stated in the Contract, and
Whereas, the Town must prioritize the safety and welfare of town residents and general public who work and visit our community, by ensuring that adequate fire protection services and
emergency medical services shall be provided beyond December 31, 2025, and
Whereas,the Town is constrained to approve the unbudgeted 2024 expenditures imposed upon the Town by the City so that the City will resume negotiations on a 2026 fire services contract,
which needs to be negotiated, drafted, approved and executed by the City and Town, all before January 1, 2026, and
Whereas, pursuant to New York Town Law Section 184, the Town Board held a public hearing on the 24thday ofNovember, 2025 for the purpose of hearing public comment on a proposed Contract
amendment to increase the 2024 Annual Sum to $4,450,762.59, and
Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617, it has been determined by the Town Board that
approval of the Contract amendment is a Type II action because it constitutes “routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering
of priorities that may affect the environment,” and thus this action is not subject to review under SEQRA,now therefore be it
Resolved,that the Town Board approves the Contract amendment to increase the 2024 Annual Sum to $4,450,762.59, and hereby authorizes the Town Board members to execute such Contract amendment
on behalf of the Town of Ithaca Fire Protection District, subject to the review of the Attorney for the Town and further subject to the City of Ithaca’s execution of the Contract amendment.
Moved: Eric Levine Seconded: Pamela Bleiwas
Vote: ayes- Howe, DePaolo, Bleiwas, Levine, Johnson & Gutenberger