Mediation is set to begin in late September in an effort to resolve the ongoing dispute between Port Chester and Rye Brook. The dispute concerns an alleged breach of the shared fire services contract. Negotiations have crept forward slowly since it began several months ago and those involved are now ready to try a different strategy. Litigation will now be suspected and a mediation committee will be formed.

The 2013 agreement stipulated that Rye Brook would pay Port Chester to supply firefighter services overnight at the Rye Brook Firehouse. This arrangement changed when Port Chester eliminated its eight paid firefighters on May 2^nd and decided to move forward with an all-volunteer service. City officials claim this will save at least $800,000.

On May 12^th, Rye Brook filed a lawsuit against Port Chester. A day later Port Chester was ordered to temporarily restore staffing of the Rye Brook firehouse until June 1^st. Since that deadline, Rye Brook has paid overtime to firefighters covering the overnight shift.

The mediation team includes trustees David Haiser and Jeffrey Rednick, as well as village administrator Chris Bradbury and Mayor Paul Rosenberg. The first mediation is scheduled for September 20^th.

Port Chester’s mayor stated negotiations are “chugging along.” He has not returned calls from local media for a statement. Another person involved in the matter believes mediation should have been used from the start.

If no agreement is reached through mediation within the next two months, the lawsuit Rye Brook filed against Port Chester in May will move forward into the court system.