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Committee approves fire department operating budget amidst debate over charging nonemergency services
Summary
The Budget Review Committee approved the fire departmentoperating budget after members debated whether the department should charge fees for nonemergency work such as lift assists, pond testing and inspections. The committee also adjusted equipment and office-supply lines, increasing the final total.
The Budget Review Committee approved the fire departmentoperating budget after members debated whether the department should charge fees for nonemergency service calls and inspections.
Officials said rising vehicle maintenance, software and medical-supply costs have pushed operating needs higher. Committee members also agreed to shift small line items into equipment and office-supply accounts, which raised the final total for the department's budget.
Why it matters: The committee vote funds core fire and emergency medical services for the coming fiscal year and starts a local discussion about whether the town should recover some costs by billing businesses or private ambulance providers for nonemergency responses.
Committee discussion and details Committee members heard a multi-point presentation from fire department leadership showing a rise in recurring costs: software licenses, vehicle maintenance and expanded medical-supply loads to support additional paramedics. The department said vehicle-maintenance and mandatory testing budgets have increased and noted a $900 rental increase for the townradio towers. The department also reported a new $5,000 line for employee recognition.
Members discussed several categories where fees could be applied: lift assists when private-care providers or private ambulance companies request the departmentto move patients; annual testing and maintenance of fire ponds and dry hydrants when an association or developer is contractually responsible for upkeep; and plan-review and inspection fees tied to business or institutional inspections. Committee members emphasized that any fee structure would need a formal recommendation to the townselect board before the fire department could bill for those services.
Budget motion and adjustment A motion to approve the fire department operating budget was made during the meeting. Committee members noted two adjustments after discussion: transfers into the equipment line for hose and nozzles and an increase in the office-supplies line to reflect copier and postage costs. Those bookkeeping changes raised the departmental total from the figure presented earlier to a revised total that the committee approved.
What was decided - The committee approved the fire department operating budget as amended. - Members asked staff to prepare a formal recommendation to the select board if they want to pursue a schedule of fees for nonemergency services; no fee policy or ordinance was enacted at the meeting.
Next steps Committee members requested clearer cost estimates for proposed fees and asked town staff to draft the administrative steps that would be required to implement any fee schedule. Staff will return with recommended language and estimated revenue before the select board would be asked to act.
