NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Wading River Fire District adopted a resolution on October 19, 2026 authorizing, pursuant to Article 11-A of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, a public referendum of eligible voters of the Wading River Fire District, and pursuant to Sections 175 and 176 of the Town Law, for a Special Election of the qualified voters of the Wading River Fire District in the Towns of Brookhaven and Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York, to be held at Fire Headquarters, 1503 North Country Road, Wading River, New York 11792, on December 8, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 o'clock P.M. and 9:00 o'clock P.M., for the purpose of voting by ballot upon the adoption or rejection of the following proposition:
THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE WADING RIVER FIRE DISTRICT, TOWNS OF RIVERHEAD AND BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, STATE OF NEW YORK IN A RESOLUTION ADOPTED OCTOBER 19, 2026, APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEFINED BENEFIT LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027 TO EXTEND THE MAXIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE CREDIT FROM 30 TO 50. THE MAXIMUM MONTHLY BENEFIT THAT CAN BE EARNED WILL INCREASE TO $1,410 PROVIDED ALL SERVICE CREDIT IS EARNED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027. THE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED FOR ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF THE WADING RIVER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DISTRICT.
THE CURRENT FUNDING CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PROGRAM IS $128,008.00. THE AVERAGE COST FOR EACH PARTICIPATING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER THAT EARNS SERVICE CREDIT IS APPROXIMATELY $1,113.11. THE FUNDING CONTRIBUTION FOR THE AMENDED PROGRAM IS ESTIMATED TO BE $287,096.00 FOR ONE YEAR AND $176,205.00 ANNUALLY THERAFTER, AND THE AVERAGE COST PER PARTICIPATING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER EARNING SERVICE CREDIT INCREASING TO $2,496.49 FOR ONE YEAR AND $1,532.22 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER. THE DISTRICT PAYS AN ADDITIONAL $6,300.00 IN ANNUAL ACTUARIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES WHICH WILL INCREASE TO $6,800.00 AS A RESULT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
Every elector of the aforesaid Town who shall have resided in the Fire District for a period of thirty (30) days next preceding any election of the Fire District who on the date of said election is otherwise qualified to vote and is registered under the provisions of Article 5 of the Election Law shall be qualified to vote.
Please note that only those persons who have registered with the County Board of Elections on or before the 23rd day before the Fire District Special Election day shall be eligible to vote. In 2026, such registration must have taken place on or before November 16, 2026.
Dated: Wading River, New York
October 21, 2026
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
WADING RIVER FIRE DISTRICT
Towns of Brookhaven and Riverhead
Suffolk County, New York
By: Amanda Telepan, District Secretary |
