Matt Dunithan, left, Dennis Darr and John Heckaman review paperwork during the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board meeting Monday night, May 12. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE  — The Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board approved sending Fire Battalion Chief Brian Richcreek to aerial training in Ohio later this year during its regular monthly meeting Monday night, May 12. Board President Matt Dunithan encouraged Fire Chief Mickey Scott in seeing if any other firefighters wanted to attend the training. Advisory Board member John Heckaman made a motion to send at least two firefighters to the training. The motion passed.

In new business, Dunithan reviewed what was discussed in the Turkey Creek Fire Territory Board meeting, which took place earlier Monday night. Scott pointed out the county council did ask for .4% for public safety.

Dunithan asked for a volunteer to sit on a budget committee for the fire territory. The committee will be made up of a town council member, township advisory board member, fire territory board member, Chief Scott and Joe Cazier, township trustee. Corky Wong volunteered to represent the fire territory board. Heckaman volunteered to represent the advisory board.

Battalion Chief Quinn Hunter came before the advisory board seeking to clear up some “gray’ areas regarding nepotism in the fire department. Hunter was not the operational chief when the policy was created and there are six family relations on the department ranging from full-time to volunteer.

Hunter told the board he feels the current policy is within state guidelines, which is vague. He made a few recommendations when it came to major events, such as the chief is off duty, then responds to a major fire where his son is in a supervisory role. Employees are prohibited from supervising family members.

Dunithan noted the change to the policy Hunter wanted to make was to state employees are “routinely” prohibited from supervising family members, allowing for flexibility should something non-routine occur, such as someone calling out sick or in an emergency situation.

“We’re just trying to do the best we can to not get into these situations without handcuffing ourselves,” Hunter told the board.

“I think common sense is going to take over,” said board member, Dennis Darr.

“I think one of the keys is putting in a definition of non-routine,” said Steve Snyder, township attorney.

Cazier was not at the meeting so there were no financial report or report on the cemeteries.

Heckaman reported he spoke to the property owner whose pier is in the township easement. The pier is still over the property line and a pergola has been added to the front of the homeowner’s house.

Snider recommended a call to the Area Planning Office regarding the pergola, while he sends a second certified letter to the property owner.