Press release:
The Village of Oakfield will be holding a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25th, at Village Hall, 39 Main St. in Oakfield.
The purpose of the public hearing is to hear public comments the possible creation of a Fire Protection District or a Fire District that would encompass the Town and Village of Oakfield with the Oakfield Fire Department that would provide a better service to them and allow the Fire Department to become its own taxable entity or contract its services to local municipalities.
The Oakfield Fire Department is currently owned and operated through the Village of Oakfield and its budget with fiscal support from the Town of Oakfield. The Village would like to seek the input of the public, including, but not limited to, the Village and Town of Oakfield residents, to better decide if this process is in the residents' best interest.
This is the first step toward beginning this lengthy process.
If it is decided to be in the residents' best interest, more public hearings must occur. Joint meetings between the Village of Oakfield, Town of Oakfield and the Oakfield Fire Department must occur in the case of a Fire District as all entities need to be in a formally binding agreement, which will, in turn, be subject to public permissive referendum.
In the case of a Fire Protection District, the Village and Town may have a fire protection contract with the Oakfield Fire Department separately as it will become its own entity.
All parties that are interested in attending will be given the opportunity to speak in front of the Village Board of Trustees if they so chose.
NOTE: This is a corrected version with some language changes sent over by the village. It was copyedited for AP Style and clarity.
