by Kristina Gabalski
The village presented Chief Henry with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition for volunteer service to the Village of Brockport as fire chief for the Brockport Fire Department in 2011-2012.Members of the Brockport Village Board said good-bye to two important community leaders at their regular meeting June 26.
Brockport Fire Department Chief Mike Henry will no longer be taking part in meetings as a village department head because the village will begin contracting with the newly created joint Brockport Fire District July 1. Trustee Scott Hunsinger also took part in his last meeting as a member of the village board. He decided not to seek re-election. Trustee-elect Bill Andrews, who was elected in the June 19 village election, will be sworn-in at the next meeting, July 10.
Andrews, who attended the meeting, told the board that if Trustee Hunsinger had been willing to stay on the board, he would not have run for a seat.
Chief Henry presented the village board, Brockport Department of Public Works and the Brockport Police Department with a plaque thanking them for 100-plus years of support to the Brockport Fire Department.
“It’s been an honor to provide services to the towns and village through good times and bad,” Chief Henry said during his final monthly report. He explained that the creation of the joint fire district means a managerial change, not a functional change, and that he would continue to be available to answer questions.
The village presented Chief Henry with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition for volunteer service to the Village of Brockport as fire chief for the Brockport Fire Department in 2011-2012.
Trustee Kent Blair told Chief Henry it had been an honor to work with him. “You are a blessing to the Fire Department,” he said, “and have been a professional no matter what.”
Village trustees voted unanimously during the meeting to authorize the mayor to enter into a proposed fire protection agreement with the Brockport Fire District to provide fire protection services from July 1-Dec. 31, 2012. As of Jan. 1, 2013, the Fire District will become an independent taxing entity, village attorney Rob Leni said.
Hunsinger also received praise and thanks for his four years of service to the village board as trustee.
Police Chief Daniel Varrenti said he and Hunsinger had developed a friendship that will continue into the future.
“As one of two liaisons to the Police Department, he learned first-hand what we do. I sincerely thank you,” Varrenti said.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Harry Donahue also thanked Hunsinger, who served as a liaison to his department as well. “We got a lot accomplished,” Donahue said.
Trustee Carol Hannan praised Hunsinger for persevering for four years. “He has a true love for the village and a great interest in the village,” she said.
During his final report, Hunsinger made a final proposal – that the village discuss smoking restrictions in village parks and buildings.
“It’s a project I will not be able to see through to fruition,” Hunsinger said, but added that Trustee Kent Blair would take it up for him.
“What a long and strange trip (it’s) been,” he said, quoting Jerry Garcia.
Trustee Hunsinger said he began four years ago working to look outside the box to make things better and noted he had been able to help preserve and save the village “from those wishing to harm it and do it ill will.”
He said financially, he feels the village has “righted the ship” and is working to “keep it sailing along.”
He lamented that his final meeting did not take place at the Village Hall on State Street, but rather at the Middle School.
“Until you sit in the big red chair (on the meeting room dais), you don’t understand what comes with it,” he said.
Hunsinger thanked many friends, family members, community members and Brockport leaders, including the Brockport Police Department which, “makes Brockport a safer place to live,” he said. He also thanked Chief Varrenti, “whose intelligence and dedication are to be respected and revered.”
“This is not a good-bye,” he concluded, “but a see-you-soon.”
