The Sag Harbor Village Board was presented with a $100,000 check Tuesday to go toward the purchase of a new fire boat, 27east.com reported. The check was from Jack and Cheryl Morris, who own a house on Rysam Street.
The Sag Harbor Fire Department has been raising money for the purchase, which Trustee Tom Gardella said could exceed $600,000, for more than a year, the report said.
Last summer, the Sag Harbor Partnership sponsored a fundraising cookout at the Brick Kiln Firehouse that raised thousands of dollars. All told, with the Morris donation, the village has raised about $249,000, according to the report. That is nearly enough to match a $250,000 state grant that was originally intended to renovate the firehouse kitchen. With the help of State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., that grant money has been redirected toward the fire boat purchase.
Fire department leaders have argued that a fire boat is needed because of the number of marinas in the village, the possibility of boat fires occurring in the bay, as happened last year at least twice, and to help fight fires on waterfront homes, the report said.