Brockport Fire Chief urges safety

Police Chief says "buckle up"

With the fire and ambulance departments having logged 947 and more than 1400 calls year to date, respectively, Fire Chief Gregory Wing urges drivers to proceed with caution.

Wing said the departments are averaging more calls in a day than some departments average in a week. "We have seen a major increase in accidents where we have to use extrication equipment," he said.

The emergency crews are doing a great job, Wing said. "We are always there to answer the call but we don't like seeing so many injuries," Wing said.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Wing reminded all drivers that most vehicles weigh at least 3,000 pounds and that is a lot of metal. "Please mind the roads when you are driving," he said. "Pay attention so you can make it home for your family for the holidays."

At the November 18 village board meeting, Code Enforcement Officer Scott Zarnstorff reported his department completed 64 inspections in the month of October and has inspected more than 840 residences since the beginning of the year.

Zarnstorff's department issued 17 building permits in October and so far the village is just under $4 million in new construction. "My goal is to see the village have at least $4 million in new construction before the end of the year."

BPD to be enforcing 'Buckle Up New York'

In an effort to promote safety and save lives, the Brockport Police Department will be participating in the "Buckle Up New York" seatbelt campaign.

"We're going to be doing checkpoints for seatbelt compliance," Police Chief Daniel Varrenti said. "This is big for Brockport because these types of checks aren't normally done within the village limits."

There are three checkpoints scheduled at various points and times within the village before the end of November, Varrenti said.

The department received a grant from the New York State Governor's Transportation Board to help defray the costs of the program, he said.

Officers will be stopping each car, checking that occupants are wearing seatbelts and they will also be checking inspection and registration compliance. "There will be a zero tolerance," he said. "This is being done to promote living."