Brian McAvoy

ARKWRIGHT — Earlier this month, the Town of Arkwright had its regular board meeting cut short due to a power outage in the town.

Just after 8 p.m., Nov. 11, a worker from National Grid entered the Town Hall to give the Town Board notice that power was going to be shut off to address a downed power line that reportedly caught fire.

The Town was hit with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall that evening, with gusts surpassing 35 miles per hour. All throughout the Town, branches were scattered across the roads and signs were downed. Several Town Board members commented on how bad the drive in was.

The rest of the meeting was quickly wrapped up in less than three minutes, with the remaining items for discussion on the agenda pushed off until next month’s meeting, scheduled for Dec. 9. Supervisor Brian McAvoy stated there was not a need for a special meeting to wrap up the rest of the agenda.

Prior to the early dismissal, the Town Board did get some business addressed. A public hearing was held regarding the Town’s proposed local law to allow for a property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers whose primary residence is in the Town of Arkwright. No public comments were made.

Residents who are eligible for the exemption of 10% of their property taxes must be an active member of a fire department that is contracted for fire protection with the Town. Retired members with 20 years or more of service with the companies that currently serve the Town are also eligible, as are widows of former members.

The exemption is available as an option for members to choose in place of a tax credit that currently exists. The local law may be amended at a later date if the State guidelines pertaining to such exemptions are adjusted.

McAvoy said of the tax exemption, “It seems like the right thing to do.”

The local law passed unanimously and will be filed with New York State where it will take effect.