The Essex Junction City Council on May 28 authorized the city manager to approve a memorandum of understanding with CVE for a local fire-training site and heard an operations update from Fire Chief Chris Caborio.

Chief Chris Caborio told the council the department recently received a rebuilt ladder truck on Jan. 1 and absorbed roughly $36,000 in additional repairs to bring the apparatus "back up to spec." He said the department delayed some purchases, including planned radio replacements, to stay within budget and that those items will be ordered in the next fiscal year.

Caborio said the department roster is about 3025to32 people, which "really works for us," but noted training attendance and maintenance of required quarterly hours remain a challenge for some volunteers. "We have to maintain for anybody that's filling a role of firefighter... 10 hours of training every quarter," Caborio said, noting the department is following up with members who are training-deficient.

Training site and MOU: The council reviewed a proposal to build a training site on CVE property using stacked Connex shipping containers to simulate two-story structures and room-and-content fires. Caborio described the site as a local, low-travel option that would let firefighters do realistic live-fire and search-and-rescue exercises closer to the station than existing regional facilities. "You're literally 1 mile from the station," he said, citing convenience compared with training centers two hours away.

Councilor Brian asked about the initial cost estimate; the memorandum of understanding and related materials include a preliminary figure in the range of $7,000 to $9,000 for site work and Connex setup. Caborio confirmed the town would provide the containers and materials and said CVE was not charging rent for the space.

Public notice and schedule: Caborio said live-fire training would likely be seasonal and most active from April through November, with potential winter use depending on access. He said the department would notify dispatch and the public in advance of live burns and could provide at least a week's notice to allow public notification.

Action and vote: A motion to authorize the city manager to approve the MOU pending legal review passed by voice vote; council members recorded unanimous support in the meeting record.

Why it matters: Councilors said improved local training would allow more realistic, hands-on drills for volunteers and potentially increase training participation by reducing travel time. The MOU still requires legal review and operational planning before live-fire sessions begin.