By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Two trustees at the Tuesday night village board meeting disagreed on allowing the Department of Public Works to canvas for a motor vehicle operator.

The board voted 3-1, with Trustee Francis Carvel dissenting, to allow the DPW to look for applicants. Carvel also voted against a second motion to allow the Massena Fire Department to interview for a paid firefighter and fire driver. That passed 3-1 as well.

“We’re going to have a pretty tough budget year coming up with increases in health insurance and everything else that’s going on," Carvel said prior to the vote. "I think at this time we should wait and see what this budget comes out to be before we add anymore people. I know this is a retirement … take a closer look at these and see just what we need.”

Mayor Tim Currier said departmental budgets are due in two weeks.

“We’ll start to have a better budget picture once those roll in," Currier said.

“I have no problem waiting two weeks. I’m fearful of winter if and when it finally does hit,: Deputy Mayor Matt Lebire said. "We saw a couple weeks ago when we were down one person the roads were not as clear as they normally are. I’m concerned if we’re down what the impact would be.”

DPW Superintendent Hassan Fayad said the position is "90 percent paid from the water fund," and only is paid from the general fund for hours spent on snow removal.

At the board's second December meeting, Fayad warned the trustees that due to turnover, he may not have enough people to adequately clear the roads if he can't hire people.

“Two weeks ago, we had a storm and not enough employees to plow the snow. It depends on the type of service you want,” he said Dec. 20. “We’re going to have a tremendous turnover within a year and a half to two years.”