New York – Seeking Change for Fire Hearing That Falls on Simchat Torah

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    New York – A legally mandated public hearing date for fire agencies to unveil their annual budgets falls this year on a Jewish holy day, causing at least one fire agency to request a change in the legislation.

    The hearing date, required to be held the third Tuesday of October, is Oct. 21, the same day as Simchat Torah, which celebrates the reading of the Torah.

    Great Neck Vigilants Fire Department was alerted to the clash by its chaplain, Rabbi Marim D. Charry.

    “Certain communities with a large Jewish population, and people who observe this holiday, would not have the opportunity to be at the hearing. They will be having dinner at home with their families and going to synagogue to worship,” said Andrew DeMartin, chairman of the board of trustees of Great Neck Vigilants. He said the department asked state Sen. Craig Johnso (D-Port Washington), whose district covers the fire department, to help change the law.

    The fire department’s territory includes a large Jewish population. DeMartin said they will have the budget available as of Sept. 26 for review on the district’s Web site, and will take written questions to be read on the floor at the hearing.

    Johnson said he has written legislation to resolve the issue that he hopes to bring on the floor the next time the legislature is in Albany. The new bill would allow fire agencies to hold hearings on either the first, second, or third Tuesday or Wednesday, or first or third Monday in October of each year. The second Monday is Columbus Day.

    Jewish holy days can often fall anywhere in October, including Yom Kippur, the most holy of days for the religion.

    “It’s unfortunate because the Jewish calendar doesn’t match up to the Gregorian calendar that we use,” said Johnson, adding that all the other notification requirements stay intact. “It’s balancing open government with participation in government.”

    Assemb. Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), the original author of legislation mandating a statewide day for public budget hearings, said he was willing to work with Johnson on the bill. “I’m sure we can come to a successful and satisfactory conclusion,” he said.

    Sweeney crafted the legislation, as well as other bills, after Newsday published a series of articles on the lack of oversight of fire agencies. While districts were always required to hold budget hearings, they were sometimes held with very little publicity. The idea, Sweeney said, was to have one day so there would be more participation in the process.

    Budgets must be on the town and district Web sites at least 15 days before the hearing.


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