By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- About two dozen Massena firefighters plus their chief showed up at Tuesday’s village board meeting seeking answers from the mayor as to why the village is sending two of its employees to South Dakota to inspect a new fire truck rather than volunteers.

Fire Chief Ted Krywanczyk said the department is purchasing a new pumper truck with an approximate $512,000 price tag. Part of the deal is Massena gets to send representatives to inspect it before delivery.

He and the volunteer firemen wanted to send David Sedlock and Tom Miller, but Mayor James Hidy decided to send Massena Fire Department Foreman Ken McGowan and Public Works Superintendent Hassan Fayad.

“We felt disrespected after all the work we’ve done, to send [Fayad] at the last minute … he’s a superintendent, he can read specs off a sheet like anyone else,” Krywanczyk said Wednesday.

He became upset at the Tuesday meeting when he asked Hidy during the opening and closing public comment periods to explain what was behind the decision to send Fayad, and each demand was met with a “thank you” and a nod from the mayor.

Village resident and former mayor Charlie Boots spoke up on behalf of the firefighters after the chief spoke during the closing comment portion. The discuss escalated to a heated argument between Boots and Hidy.

“I think you’ve been disrespectful to the firemen tonight,” Boots told the mayor. “People want to be informed.”

Hidy defended himself by saying the comment portion is part of “a village business meeting … it’s not a debate.”

The truck inspection date is to be determined. Krywanczyk said the village is still sending both McGowan and Fayad and will pay either Sedlock or Miller. The volunteers will use fundraising money to cover travel expenses for the other, Massena’s fire chief said.