Agreement May Be Close

On Oneonta Fire Contract

Coccoma To Reconvene Court at 1:15;

Meanwhile, Lawyers, Clients To Confer

COOPERSTOWN – An agreement may be close.

Reconvening the hearing in state Supreme Court here shortly after noon, Judge Michael V. Coccoma said “there have been proposals” that City Attorney David Merzig and the lawyer for the Town of Oneonta Fire District #1, Terrence Hannigan of Delmar, should discuss with their clients over the lunch hour.

Coccoma said he will reopen the hearing at 1:15 p.m., in hopes both parties will be nodding their heads by then.

At this hour, Merzig is meeting with Mayor Gary Herzig and Acting City Manager Meg Hungerford, who were in the courtroom this morning.    Hannigan is meeting off-site with Fire District chair Fred Vople and vice chair Johna Peachin.

Coccoma convened this morning’s session at 10 a.m.  At 10:15, Merzig and Hannigan went into Coccoma’s chambers for 45 minutes to discuss a resolution to the stand-off.   At 11 a.m., Coccoma had another case to deal with, and by the time he reopened the hearing at noon both lawyers and their clients had had a chance to talk through the options.

If an agreement is reached this afternoon, Common Council and the five-member Board of Fire Commissioners would still have to approve the agreement.