Committee approves two fire-department line-item transfers to cover trainings and personnel-related costs

The Finance Committee approved two line-item transfers requested by Fire Chief Broadhead to cover recruitment travel and personnel-related costs. Chief Broadhead told the committee the department needs $6,000 moved from tuition to travel/conference to recruit for new hires outside the usual region and cover associated hotel and meal costs. A second request transfers $12,500 from the fuel account into the physicals/supplies account to cover higher medical-related costs arising from injuries this year. The chief said the transfers would draw on existing supply accounts and are not new money. Councilor Brandt moved to approve the transfers; Councilor Harden seconded and the committee voted 3–0 to approve the adjustments. Why this matters: The transfers allow the fire department to fund necessary recruitment travel and medical-related expenses for staff without a supplemental appropriation. Discussion and next steps: The chief said available funds are sufficient to carry the department through the remainder of the budget year. The committee approved the transfers, which will be recorded in the department’s operating budget.