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Brockton Fire chief highlights staffing growth, grants and lithium‑ion battery work
Summary
Fire Chief Bridal Nardelli said the department has grown in staffing and in grant-funded capabilities, and named deputy chiefs leading a regional lithium‑ion battery response initiative and a successful federal/state grant program.
Brockton Fire Chief Bridal Nardelli told the finance committee Wednesday that his department’s budget supports a larger, better‑equipped force and a grant-driven expansion of training and capabilities.
“Over my tenure here over the last 4 years as the chief, we have been able to grow this department not only in staffing, but we've been able to grow this department in its wealth of knowledge,” Nardelli said, thanking his command staff and budget staff for managing a roughly $37 million budget. He described grant activity and specialized initiatives led by deputy chiefs.
Nardelli highlighted two priorities: an emphasis on responding to incidents involving lithium‑ion batteries and aggressive pursuit of grant funding. He credited Deputy Chief Galligan and Deputy Chief Marchetti for pushing a lithium‑ion safety agenda “not only in the city, but throughout the Commonwealth.” He also credited a deputy chief who has brought “millions of dollars to this city from the federal government and the state government” for staffing, equipment and training.
Councilors asked about pending bills and department payment practices; Chief Nardelli said specialized equipment orders sometimes generate invoices months after delivery and that the department closely coordinates with the auditor’s office to encumber funds and process late invoices. He described internal controls used to avoid late payment of large items and said the department is in “very good shape” financially.
The committee did not take formal action on the fire budget during the hearing.
