Lectures

Recorded Lectures

We are very excited to provide the fire & EMS communities with a series of live and recorded video presentations. Each presentation is a slide show with an audio narration.

Please provide us with your email to receive notices of upcoming lectures, or check back frequently to see our catalog grow!

This training is over 6 hours of important content that you can view at your own pace absolutely free. However, any commissioner reviewing this program, to obtain certification, must submit an application for a certificate from Pinsky Law Group. You can download the application by clicking on the “Completion Form” button below. There is a fee of $100 to obtain this certification. Viewing the video without obtaining the certification will not fulfill your legal obligation.

Completion Form


Click on the links below to view the Fire District Commissioner Training. The presentation must be viewed in order starting with the Introduction and then continuing through Part 1 to Part 6.

Fire District Commissioner Training Introduction
This video introduces you to the training program and provides information on how to obtain credit.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 1
This Part discusses proper terminology, leadership of the Fire District, who can serve as a Commissioner and more.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 2
This Part is intended for Commissioners, Secretaries and Treasurers and covers topics such as elections, hearings, meetings, open meetings law and freedom of information law.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 3
This Part is intended for Commissioners, Secretaries and Treasurers and includes important financial topics such as budgets, statutory spending limitations, procurement, reserve funds, duties of the treasurer and more.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 3-A
This Part is not mandatory, but is bonus material that is highly recommended for all Commissioners, Secretaries and Treasurers. This Part is all about Fraud Schemes and protecting the District’s finances. There is no completion code for this Part.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 4
This Part is intended for Commissioners, Secretaries and Treasurers. This Part details important topics like audits, purchasing policies and bidding.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 5
This Part reviews the fire district’s control over its fire companies.

Fire District Commissioner Training Part 6
This Part reviews a fire district’s obligations and permissions regarding travel, conferences, meals and more.

Should anyone desire a bound, full color copy of the presentation, they may obtain a copy for the price of $15.00 (includes shipping).

Please follow these instructions:

  1. View the presentation. The entire presentation must be completed in order to receive credit.

  2. There will be codes given at various stages of the presentation. Write down those codes or print out the certificate upon receiving each code. These codes are required to prove completion of the seminar on line.

  3. Write down any questions you want answered. Provide an email or mail address to which we can respond.

  4. Sign a statement as follows: “I hereby affirm under oath that I have viewed the entire presentation as required. You may and should use the certificate of completion which is also included on this website, but it is not required if you provide the codes, proof of codes, and the affirmation”

  5. Enclose the check for $100 per commissioner requiring a certificate. Add an additional $15 should you desire a color copy of the presentation.

  6. Mail the codes, the fee, any questions and the affirmation to: Pinsky Law Group, PLLC, 4311 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13214.

Real Property Tax Law §466-a was amended in 2022 to allow local government entities, including Towns, Villages, and Fire Districts, to opt-in to property tax exemptions of up to 10% of the assessed value for property owned by qualifying volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Under the law, exemptions may be extended to qualifying volunteers for the remainder of their life, as well as to the qualifying un-remarried spouses of deceased volunteers. A lecture and sample resolutions are provided below, free of charge, for your benefit.

Local Property Tax Exemptions for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers <–Click Here to View


Towns, Villages, and Fire Districts:

We have provided sample resolutions for your use to opt-in to these exemptions. Note that the samples provided are downloadable Word documents. Blue font indicates our firm’s notes to you while you edit the samples, while highlights indicate areas where an edit must be made.

Annual Tax Exemption Resolutions

Lifetime Tax Exemption Resolutions
Exemptions for Un-Remarried Spouse Resolutions
Sample Public Hearing Notices