Falconer Fire Department to Receive $325K State Grant | News, Sports, Jobs

From left, Falconer Village Trustee Alan Gustafson Jr., Mayor James Jaroszynski, Attorney Greg Peterson, Trustee Anthony (Skip) Cavallaro and Trustee Annette Miller conduct village business Tuesday Evening. PJ photo: Christopher Blakeslee

FALCONER – The Falconer Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $325,000 state grant.

Fire officials told Falconer Village Board members about the grant during a meeting this week.

“We were awarded a $325,000 grant from the state of New York called the V-Fire Grant,” said Bryce Webster, chief of the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department. “Part of the funds will be used to repair the department’s roof, purchase a new generator and for our recruitment efforts.”

The Volunteer Fire Infrastructure and Response Equipment Grant Program (V-FIRE) is a $25 million state-funded competitive grant program that provides funding to volunteer fire departments and counties across the state.

In addition to the V-FIRE grant, Webster also discussed the department’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Webster said the grant was approved, but the department would have to re-submit a request to FEMA if the board wanted the fire department to purchase mobile signage instead of the permanent, electric sign applied for under the SAFER grant. authorization.

“Sounds good,” Mayor James Jaroszynski said. “Price it in and see if FEMA will allow it.”

The SAFER Grant Program provides funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help communities meet industry minimum standards and staff 24 hours a day to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. Perform the traditional duties of fire departments.

Village Board members also approved the purchase of a new snow plow truck by the village Public Works Department. Avery Faulkner, the village’s public works director, has the authority to order vehicles with a sales price not to exceed $300,000; but Faulkner said the village would not need to spend that much.

“The selling price is well below the $300,000 mark,” he said. “Purchasing the chassis and cabin will cost $288,000. “But we will also get an $8,000 discount, making the total selling price $280,000.”

Faulkner suggested the village sell one of its old 2004 plow trucks at auction.

“I think it will sell for $20,000,” he said. “We can also apply this to the purchase of the new truck.”

Faulkner said he expects the truck to be delivered in the fall of 2026.

In other jobs.

– Falconer Public Library recently held a Lego Day from noon to 2 p.m. Library staff reported that many local schools, including Falconer, were off for an in-service day. More than 45 people attended the event. Participants created a Lego village while enjoying pizza and snacks throughout the program.

– Village Code Enforcement officials reported that the department has collected $3,026.70 in permit fees since the beginning of the year; It has issued three permits so far in November; and raised $100 in November.

– The Falconer Volunteer Fire Department has responded to 702 calls since the beginning of the year. In October, the department responded to 64 incidents, including 11 fires, 53 rescue calls, and provided mutual aid twice to the Jamestown Fire Department, four times to the Kennedy Fire Department, and once to the Frewsburg, Kiantone and Gerry fire departments.