Fire chief, 3 other firefighters are leaving Medina FD

‘I can no longer work for an administration that doesn’t fully support a vision that aligns with mine.’ – Fire Chief Matt Jackson

File photos: Fire Chief Matt Jackson led tours of the Medina fire hall on March 12, 2023. He shows photos that highlight concerns in the fire hall and on the ladder truck.

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department will soon be without its fire chief, a second long-time leader in the department, and two other firefighters.

The Medina Village Board on Monday accepted the resignations of Fire Chief Matt Jackson and two firefighters, Tiffany Petry and Dylan Schreader. Captain Jonathan Higgins also submitted a letter that he will be retiring after 18 ½ years with the Medina FD, including the past 11 years as a captain.

Jackson has been with the department for 19 years, including the past 5 ½ as the fire chief. The department has lost several new firefighters to lateral transfers where the pay is far more in neighboring counties.

But Jackson cited a strained relationship with some of the board members and reluctance by some on the board to move forward with needed infrastructure upgrades.

Jackson, in a letter dated May 21, said he will be formally resigning as fire chief on July 12.

Jackson said the past year has been “a constant battle” with some of the board members “to ensure adequate equipment and a safe work environment for our team.”

Jackson said the budget approved by the board on April 28 left the fire department too short on funds. The budget also reduced the fire department paid staff from 20 to 16.

“I cannot balance the budget this board has adopted while maintaining a safe and effective response for the department, the Village and the adjacent communities we serve, and I will not compromise my reputation, integrity or character at the cost of their health and wellness,” Jackson wrote in the resignation letter.

The work environment with the board “has remained consistently negative,” he said. Jackson has tried to adapt and engage constructively with board members, but he said he can no longer perform at the highest level in the current circumstances, nor does he see a positive path forward with the village.

“I can no longer work for an administration that doesn’t fully support a vision that aligns with mine,” he wrote.

Jackson said the decision to resign wasn’t made lightly because he values the hard work of the firefighters in the department.

He said he is committed to a smooth transition of his responsibilities.

“We have built an amazing team and an outstanding leadership cadre, and I am confident this transition will take place with minimal interruption.”

Pictured from left include Medina Fire Department Captain Jonathan Higgins, and firefighters Dylan Schreader and Tiffany Petry. The photos show Higgins and Schreader assisting youth during fire department open houses.

The board has other positions to fill in the fire department besides the fire chief.

Jonathan Higgins, a captain with the Medina FD since 2013 and firefighter with Medina for 18 1/2 years, sent a letter to the board that he will be retiring on Aug. 6 with his last day at work on July 8.

“It has been an honor working with a very dedicated and talented group of firefighters over the years,” Higgins wrote in his letter.

He also commended the village employees in the Police Department, DPW, and Clerk’s Office.

“Working with this group of individuals definitely made things much easier to provide a great service to the residents of Medina,” Higgins wrote. “I also want to thank all our neighboring fire departments for their assistance over the years. I appreciate all the opportunities that have been provided to me while being able to serve this great community.”

Tiffany Petry resigned as a firefighter, sending in a  letter June 6. Her final day with the Medina FD will be June 20.

“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to have worked in this position the last 18 months. I have learned a great deal from my Officers and fellow Firefighters during my time with the Medina Fire Department.”

Petry shared with village officials that she was made sick by fumes from the ladder truck, and that carbon monoxide exposure should be a major concern for the board.

Dylan Schreader, a firefighter/EMT with Medina, also announced his resignation, effective June 22. He is joining the City of Tonawanda Fire Department. He said it is a new opportunity that aligns with his career goals.

“While I am excited about this new chapter, I will greatly miss the camaraderie, experiences and invaluable lessons learned during my time serving with the Village of Medina Fire Department,” he wrote in his letter. “I am deeply grateful for the support, mentorship and friendships I have developed here. Thank you for the opportunities provided to me, and for the chance to serve alongside such dedicated professionals.”

Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the village will put a call to civil service to try to fill the openings in the fire department.

Jackson was able to get the board to move forward with replacing a ladder truck but the board has yet to reach a decision on an addition to the fire hall. Some of the board members also have tried to rescind the fire truck purchase and see if Medina could get out of buying that truck for close to $1.7 million. The truck is due to arrive in December but the current fire hall isn’t big enough for it.

The Medina ladder truck from 1996 is shown in March 2023 when the fire department had an open house showing the tight quarters at the fire hall, especially for the ladder truck which only has 2 inches of clearance in pulling in and out of the fire hall. The ladder truck was recently taken out of service due to disrepair.

Jackson and the fire department suggested a two-bay addition and additional work on the current building which is cramped with eroding floors, cracking walls and other deficiencies. But the price tag for an addition and work on the current building would likely top $4.5 million, an engineering firm said.

The board scaled the project down to just a one-bay addition at about $1.4 million, but no final decision has been made.

Mayor Sherman said she expects she can soon announce a temporary spot for the new truck.

The board on Monday noted the current ladder truck has been taken out of service after an inspection on May 28 from Sam’s Apparatus Maintenance showed many problems with multiple exhaust leaks, a crack on right side of windshield, the need for new muffler, and left rear brake shoes are contaminated with gas and oil and will need to be replaced.

The truck also has worn tires, leaking oil, a non-functioning backup alarm, and other valve leaks.

Board members said they inquired about canceling the order for the new truck and said the village would face a $340,000 fee for that, and would be without a new truck. The village would still need to replace the 29-year-old truck. Putting in a new order for a ladder truck, waiting for an addition to be built, would likely put a nee truck at about $2.2 million in today’s pricing. That’s about $500,000 more than Medina’s contract from March 2023, and Medina might have to wait four years for the delivery with a new contract.

Sherman said having no ladder truck in service for an extended period could also affect the village’s ISO ratings and push up property insurance costs for building owners.

“Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this,” said Trustee Debbie Padoleski. She has spoken out many times about the escalating taxes in the village.

Trustee Mark Prawel said the village should still keep the old truck maintained and in service. The village mechanic will try to put together an estimated cost to get the 1996 ladder truck back in service. Board members said it may be cost prohibitive to sink a lot of money into the old ladder truck.

Sherman said there may be other financing options for paying for the new truck, including leasing that could make it more affordable for the village. She said she continues to explore options for the village.

She said she continues to seek state and federal assistance, especially with the addition, and remains hopeful the County Legislature will unfreeze the local sales tax share with towns and villages. The 10 towns and four villages haven’t seen an increase in the sales tax revenue since 2001. Collectively the 14 municipalities share $1,366,671 with Medina getting $159,630 in 2025. The county keeps about 95 percent of the local sales tax which totals about $24 million locally.

Trustee Scott Bielski said neighboring towns who rely on the village for mutual aid should be asked to help the village bear the costs of the services, especially with Medina FD going outside the village on many calls.

“We should ask for more assistance from the towns,” he said. “Do they want us showing up in a pickup truck?”