March Meeting Minutes 2026

EAST QUOGUE FIRE DISTRICT

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING

MARCH 5, 2026

The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the East Quogue Fire District was called to order by Chairman Stephen Gregory at 7:00 p.m.  Present were Commissioners Allyn Jackson, Stephen Gregory, Edmund Densieski, Robert Despres and Theodore Jankowski, Fire District Facilities Supervisor Dave Schaffauer, Medical Coordinator Brian Danowski, First Assistant Chief Mark Gregory, Second Assistant Chief Alex Gladding, Treasurer Jenine Oudeans and Secretary Lorraine Gregory.

FIRE DISTRICT FACILITIES SUPERVISOR REPORT

See attached report.

The application deadline for the Grant Program was extended to March 11, 2026.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

No discussion.

MAINTENANCE REPORT

Maintenance Report dated 2/1/26 to 3/5/26 submitted to the Board.

Commissioner Gregory requested First Assistant Chief Gregory to follow up on the problem of not being able to see the computer screen on the Brush Truck.

MEDICAL COORDINATOR REPORT

See attached report.

MATERIAL REQUESTS

A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, authorizing the purchase of the medical supplies requested from Bound Tree Medical, at a cost of $167.00.  Approved 5-0.

REPORT DISCUSSION

A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, accepting the resignations of Amit Patel and Justin Deak from the per diem paramedic program.  Approved 5-0.

Ms. Oudeans advised the Board that, since Mr. Patel had resigned his full time position in 2022 and the fact that the Employee Handbook was adopted on February 2, 2023, he would not be entitled to the accrued time accumulated prior to his resignation.

CHIEF'S REPORT

REQUESTS

1.  A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Jackson, authorizing the purchase of a new commercial grade tent to be used for FF & EMS rehab, from Amazon, at an approximate cost of $$250.00.  Approved 5-0.

2.  A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, authorizing the purchase of a gear dryer from Williams Direct Dryers, at an approximate cost of $6,000.00.  Approved 5-0.   (Note:  Commissioner Gregory suggested that the dryer be set-up in the Main Firehouse close to the gear racks rather than in the Steel Building.)

3.  A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, authorizing the purchase of four (4) Ice Rescue Suits, from MES, at a total cost of $5,600.00.  Approved 5-0.

4.  A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, authorizing the purchase of four (4) Personal Flotation Devices (PFD), from MES, at a total cost of $1,400.00.  Approved 5-0.

5. A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, authorizing the purchase of two (2) Ice Rescue Cinch Rings, from MES, at a total cost of $2,800.00.  Approved 5-0.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

1.  Commissioner Jankowski will contact Ann Bailey (SCWA) regarding hydrant installations.  SCWA plans on installing five before June and another five after June.  Chief Gregory asked about a better way of actually marking hydrant locations on the streets.  The Secretary advised that she had written a letter to the CEO of SCWA regarding the installation of markers on each hydrant, similar to those used in the Riverhead fire district, rather than stenciling the streets.  The response from SCWA was that the project would be too costly.

2.  Commissioner Jankowski is handling this project.

3.  Chief Gregory stated that he had spoken to Dave Parlato about having a section on the website that relates to probationary members and to also have a section containing blank forms available to the membership.

4.  The Secretary will request the Certificates of Insurance as soon as the new policy goes into effect and will have them forwarded to the appropriate individuals.

Chief Gregory advised that the Brush Fire Gear needs to be inspected.  Mr. Schaffauer will make the arrangements.

ATTORNEY DISCUSSION

Mr. Glass was not in attendance.  Commissioner Jackson spoke with Mr. Glass regarding use of the District credit cards.  Mr. Glass advised that the cards need not be stored “under lock and key” on the District premises and may be kept on the person of the card holder as a means of convenience.  Mr. Glass also advised that he no longer attends one meeting a year free of charge and that he is available remotely, at a cost of $300.00 per hour.

MINUTES

A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Despres, approving the Minutes of the February 5, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting.  Approved 5-0.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Ms. Oudeans asked for a confirmation of the pay rate for snowplowing.  Since the work entailed shoveling and snow blowing, the rate of pay is $25.00 per hour, per individual.

A motion was made by Commissioner Jackson, seconded by Commissioner Despres, approving the Treasurer’s Report as submitted.  Approved 5-0.

ABSTRACT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Commissioner Jackson, seconded by Commissioner Despres, approving the following Abstract of Bills for the General Fund:  February 10, 2026 consisting of 17 checks totaling $175,804.22 and February 27, 2026 consisting of 17 checks totaling $25,876.04.  On February 26, 2026 a transfer of $50,000.00 was made from the General Fund Money Market to the Checking Account and an additional transfer of $200,000.00 will have to be made from the General Fund Money Market to the Checking Account.  Approved 5-0.

COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

The following correspondence was received:

1.  Letter from the Department regarding the swearing in of Sean Ebrus and Mark Gregory and the Section 11 By-Law Amendment passed by the membership.

2.  E-mail from SCFRES regarding Records Check for New Members.

OLD BUSINESS

Commissioner Jackson advised the Board that a Blood Drive is scheduled for March 16, 2026 and will be held in the Steel Building.

Commissioner Jackson also advised the Board that the cost of the umbrella policy has doubled to $14,000.00.  A motion was made by Commissioner Jankowski, seconded by Commissioner Densieski, authorizing the Umbrella Insurance Policy coverage to remain the same at $1,000,000.00.  Approved 5-0.

Commissioner Jackson stated that, given the amount of alarms that the Department responds to, the accident rate is good and progress is being made on getting insurance for the antique truck.

A motion was made by Commissioner Jackson, seconded by Commissioner Despres, declaring the District cell phone previously used by ex-Commissioner Schaefer as surplus property and to have the phone number removed from the District’s billing.  Approved 5-0.

Commissioner Gregory presented the following two proposals for the necessary repairs and renovations to the Steel Building:

                                    G.F. Volz Jr. Carpenter           $24,872.00

(Proposal Attached)                $  3,400.00  (Optional Extra)

                                    Hunter Insulation                    $38,465.00

                                    (Proposal Attached)

A motion was made by Commissioner Gregory, seconded by Commissioner Jackson, accepting the proposal from G.F. Volz Jr. Carpenter in the amount of $24,872.00 and to include the Optional Extra of $3,460.00 which includes removing and replacing the racks where needed and the preparing and painting of the T1-11 boards.  Approved 5-0.

After a brief discussion, a resolution was drawn up and states as follows:

2026-18.  BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to the provisions of the General Municipal Law and the Town Law of the State of New York, that a sum not to exceed $45,000.00 be expended from the Buildings Reserve Fund of said Fire District for the purpose of making necessary repairs and renovations to the Steel Storage Building and be it

            FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution is adopted subject to a permissive referendum as provided in the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, and be it

            FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of the Fire District shall, within ten working days of the adoption of this resolution, publish a notice within the official newspaper of the Fire District setting forth the date of the adoption of the resolution and an abstract of the resolution concisely stating the purpose and effect thereof and that the resolution was adopted subject to a permissive referendum.

The adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote and upon roll call, the vote was as follows:

Chairman Stephen Gregory                ) Aye

Vice-Chairman Allyn Jackson            ) Aye

Commissioner Edmund Densieski      ) Aye

Commissioner Robert Despres           ) Aye

Commissioner Theodore Jankowski   ) Aye

The resolution was thereupon duly declared to have been adopted.

Dated:  March 5, 2026

             East Quogue, New York

NEW BUSINESS

At 7:45 p.m., a motion was made by Commissioner Jackson, seconded by Commissioner Despres, calling the meeting into Executive Session to discuss workplace procedures.  Approved 5-0.

At 8:05 p.m., a motion was made by Commissioner Gregory, seconded by Commissioner Jackson, calling the meeting out of Executive Session.  Approved 5-0.

A workshop was scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

At 8:08 p.m., there being no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Gregory, seconded by Commissioner Despres, to adjourn the meeting.  Approved 5-0.

Submitted by

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Lorraine Gregory, Secretary