BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

LOUISVILLE -- Louisville resident Gerry DeFiore has called for a community-centric focus from fellow residents, encouraging volunteerism to bring the community closer together. 

DeFiore made the comments during the town of Louisville's recent board meeting on Sept. 9. 

Though he took time in the first public comment period to chastise the town and board for water billing practices, DeFiore took time in the second public comment period to bring a more positive touch to the meeting. 

"We have a beautiful community, and we need to reach out like old communities," he said. 

DeFiore said in previous communities in which he lived, an emphasis on caring for the elderly was also at the forefront of many discussions. 

He said it was important for residents to establish "some kind of localized network to help those who are too old or too embarrassed to help themselves." 

For his part, DeFiore said he tries to do a few things each year, including keeping a fire hydrant in front of his home clear for fire crews during the winter months. 

"I've been doing this for about five years," he said. 

Massena Volunteer Fire Chief Tom Miller thanked DeFiore for taking the initiative to keep a hydrant clear. 

"Well, you deserve it. I would like to encourage everyone in this entire township...to step forward and take control of one of the fire hydrants," he said.

DeFiore said the efforts of first responders and the highway department during the winter months especially is "colossal" and one of the many reasons he tries to show appreciation to them for their efforts. 

He suggested an appreciation meal for the departments as a way to say thank you. 

"I think it would be something with regularity that people would be willing to step up and do those things, to show that these people, who are the ones that take care of us very well (are appreciated)," he said. 

DeFiore called the town staff "wonderful people" who take a great deal of time to assist the public, including DeFiore himself, with many issues from billing to maintenance and other needs. 

He called for collaboration with town officials in the name of bettering the community, including a program to assist the elderly. 

"I think those would be very good things to enrich this neighborhood community and bring it closer together. We don't need everything to be appealed," he said.