ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The City of Ithaca is restructuring its Fire Bureau.

On June 3, Common Council members authorized the creation of a Deputy Chief position to serve as Fire Marshal and Emergency Manager during its regular voting meeting.

Officials say the change will help reduce a backlog of more than 300 inspections, improve response capacity, and generate additional revenue without increasing staff levels. Other items discussed at the meeting included the return of a tax-foreclosed property on Meadow Street to its former owner after payment of back taxes and fees, as well as bond financing for several capital improvement projects, including restroom and storage upgrades at Cass Park.

You can watch the meeting in full on the City’s YouTube Channel.