Crews pouring foundation for new Bath fire station
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE An unidentified construction crew member works at the site of the new Bath fire station on East Morris Street.

BATH — Construction crews are laying foundations for a new $2 million fire station for the Bath Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire Chief Mark Conrad said the department has received “some inquiries” from union officials, who earlier this year declared the project required the payment of prevailing labor wages. Fire department officials protested that requirement would have added hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost of the project.

The construction company T. J. Taylor of Rochester is spearheading construction of the East Morris Street station, which will replace the current station off Liberty Street in the center of the village.

Conrad last month said attorneys for the fire department had reviewed the prevailing wage issue with the state Labor Department, arguing the fire department’s position that it is not required under state labor law to pay prevailing labor wages.

Bath’s volunteer firefighters have insisted the Labor Department misinterpreted documents outlining the relationship between the independent not-for-profit corporation and the Village of Bath, with which the fire department contracts annually for fire protection service.

The root of the problem involves a $2.4 million lowinterest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the fire department that will pay for the bulk of the construction. Repayment of the loan is the responsibility of the fire department, Conrad says. The Labor Department has countered public funds will be used in repaying the loan.

Both the Village and Town of Bath have sought to clarify the special relationship between the municipalities and the fire department, passing resolutions that stress there is no governmental connection between the municipalities and the fire department, which the resolutions described as “independent.”

Bath town officials have noted the municipality subcontracts with the Village of Bath for fire protection services, which then are covered by the principal contract the village signs with the fire department.