N.Y. Town Law § 183: Fire alarm districts

§ 183. Fire alarm districts. Whenever the town board shall have

established a fire alarm district pursuant to the provisions of this

article, the town board shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, plans,

specifications, estimates and a proposed contract for the installation,

extension and maintenance of a fire alarm system in such district. Upon

the completion of the plans, specifications, estimates and proposed

contract therefor, the town clerk shall give notice of a public hearing

thereon in the same manner as provided in this article for notice of

hearing upon the creation of such district. At such hearing, the town

board shall hear such persons as may be interested in the subject matter

thereof and may make such modification and changes in the plans,

specifications, estimates and proposed contract as the town board shall

deem expedient, and thereupon the town board may adopt or reject same.

So far as consistent with the provisions of this section, the town board

shall award contracts for the performance of the work and the supplying

of materials or may cause the same to be done by day labor under the

direction of the town engineer or any other town officer, in the same

manner as provided by section one hundred ninety-seven of this chapter

for the making of special improvements, and may enter into contracts

with persons or corporations for the use of their property in connection

with such fire alarm system.

After a public hearing as hereinafter specified, the town board, in

addition, shall provide for the furnishing of fire protection within

such fire alarm district and for that purpose may contract for a period

not exceeding five years with any city, incorporated village, fire

district or incorporated fire company maintaining adequate and suitable

apparatus and appliances for the furnishing of fire protection in such

district. Notice of such hearing shall be published in at least one

newspaper having general circulation in the district. Such notice shall

specify the time when and place where said hearing will be held, and

describe in general terms the proposed contract. The first publication

thereof shall be at least ten days prior to the day specified for such

hearing. The expense incurred by reason of the establishment of such

fire alarm district, the maintenance of said fire alarm system and the

contract for fire protection, shall be assessed and levied upon the

taxable property in said district and collected in the same manner, at

the same time and by the same officers as town taxes are assessed,

levied and collected and, when collected, the amount thereof shall be

paid to the supervisor of the town. The supervisor shall pay to the

city, incorporated village, fire district or incorporated fire company

furnishing such fire protection, the expense thereof pursuant to said

contract. The expense of the installation or extension of such fire

alarm system may be raised, in whole or in part, in the same manner as

the expense of maintenance or may be financed, in whole or in part,

pursuant to the local finance law.

If a fire alarm district shall be situated partly in each of two or

more towns any action which would be taken by the town board in the case

of a district situated in only one town shall be taken by the town

boards of the several towns acting jointly by a majority vote of the

members of each of such town boards, and the notices of public hearing

required by this section shall be given by the town clerks of the

several towns acting jointly.

By mutual consent of the contracting parties, and after a public

hearing held pursuant to notice in the manner provided in this section

in relation to fire protection contracts, any such contract heretofore

or hereafter executed may be (1) amended, (2) terminated, or (3)

terminated and a new contract may be entered into in lieu thereof, if

the town board, after such hearing, shall determine, by resolution, that

it is in the public interest so to do. Such notice shall state in

general terms the reason why any existing contract is to be amended or

terminated, and if a new contract is to be entered into the notice shall

also describe the new contract in general terms.